By RUSSELL BENNETT
“HE was half my age but I looked up to him.”
Doveton Eagles footballer and junior coach Dave Morison only met Axl Abson in May last year, but in that brief time the young player had a profound impact on him.
Indeed, the 16-year-old Axl had a profound impact on everyone he met in all facets of his life – it went far beyond the boundaries of any footy field.
So when he died suddenly from a burst appendix on 6 June, his loss was immediately felt right across the south east.
Axl was in Year 11, doing his VCE at Wonthaggi Secondary College – having the time of his life with the love of his life, Tiffany Purvis.
When his father passed away from cancer just over 12 months ago, Axl pledged to complete his studies.
Life hadn’t always been easy for Axl and his family – mum Laura-Lee, and siblings Jake, Georgia, Angus and Tommie.
But is passion – for what, and who he loved – and his pure zest for life drove him.
Axl started his football career at North Dandenong, before moving on to the Dandenong Saints where he spent most of his footy journey.
He came across to the Doveton Eagles in early 2014 after the Saints folded, and he stayed with the Eagles even after moving down to Phillip Island.
Each weekend he would wake up at 5am just to get a bus all the way back into the south-eastern suburbs just so he could continue donning the Eagles jumper.
“Axl was a born leader,” said the 31-year-old Dave, who still plays in the thirds for the Eagles.
“He was the glue that held the boys together when the team was low on numbers last year.
“Without Axl’s input – his knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the players who came over – the team wouldn’t have got up and going.
“I wouldn’t say he was a naturally gifted player – he just worked harder than everyone else.”
Dave described Axl as a clever footballer, but much more than that – a team man who cared about his brothers in arms ‘more than anything else’.
“Everything just ends up coming back to the type of young bloke he was,” Dave said.
“He had issues that he was dealing with but you never heard about them.
“He even encouraged his team mates to stay in school.”
“I’d say he taught me the true meaning of what it means to be a team mate.”
Axl adored the 17-year-old Tiffany. The two had planned a future together, and when he stayed at the Purvis family home over Christmas he was treated as one of their own.
Axl loved to play the bass guitar and even had his own band, Crimson Gates. He wanted to be an AFL footballer for Carlton, or even go on to become a commentator.
Last Thursday, Tiffany along with a huge number of Axl’s friends converged on Dory’s fish and chip shop in Wonthaggi to remember him. Their grief was united – as they were as a group in celebrating his life.
He truly touched everyone he met.
On Sunday, the Eagles’ clash with Officer was moved from Officer’s home ground to Doveton, where they held a minute’s silence before the game.
“It was just an amazing thing to be a part of,” said South East Juniors general manager Shaun Connell.
“Officer presented flowers in honour of Axl and they even named him as their best player in the match report.”
Officer won the match by 118 points, but the club opted not to publish the scores.
Prior to the game both sides lined up alongside the pavilion. Axl’s family shook their hands and embraced them.
The two teams have been playing in the same division for a number of years and have had a series of tough, hard-fought battles. But they were united in support of Axl’s family and friends.
“It was just an amazing gesture by them,” Shaun said.
“It was a remarkable show of support for what they’ve been going through.
“It just shows what a powerful thing sport can be.”
The City of Casey also vowed to hold a minute’s silence at a meeting to recognise his passing.
Shaun went to the funeral, along with players from Officer and Doveton, and a range of people across the south-east footy community. The Eagles celebrated Axl’s life by singing their song after the service.
A trust has been set up in Axl’s honour to help his family cover his funeral expenses, while a range of businesses, community groups and identities have pledged their support. Anyone who wishes to donate can visit www.mycause.com.au/page/105014/tragiclossof16yearold.
So far, more than $8,000 has been raised since last Friday.
