The Count Me In Foundation promotes awareness and education of universal design principles in partnership with Australian Rules Football so that we can create a better and more participant driven inclusive community.
History
The Count Me In round was born from the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) who ran a Count Me In themed round for five consecutive rounds from 2009 through to 2014. Our Founder and Executive Chairman Rick Neagle acknowledges the great work done by the Western Australian Government who owns the WAFL. He also thanks the then Minister for Disability Helen Morton and the then Premier Colin Barnett who gave permission for us to use and in turn own the brand ‘Count Me In’.
COUNT ME IN AFL ROUNDS
Count Me In 2015
Creating awareness of Autism (ASD)
The inaugural Count Me In round 2015 creating awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Count Me In 2016
Creating awareness of Huntington’s Disease
Count Me In helped raise over $20000 for Huntington’s Disease awareness. Below is former Collingwood, Sydney Swans and Norwood football club champion Ben Wilson who is an ambassador for Huntington's Disease Awareness SA & NT. Ben also has lived experience of the disease
Geelong AFL Premiership Captain Tom Harley was the Guest Speaker at the pre-game function to the 2016 Count Me In round. Tom is pictured with Mitchell Neagle (and his father Rick), who tossed the coin before the game between the Norwood and Glenelg Football Clubs.
Count Me In 2017
Creating awareness of Intellectual Disability (ID)
Many thanks to the Little Heroes Foundation who gave Count Me In the opportunity to create awareness of Intellectual Disability by hosting a themed round in conjunction with Inclusion Sports SA prior to the annual SLOWDOWN match.
Count Me In 2018
Walker and Betts to be dunked
Creating awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Congratulations to the Norwood FC and Adelaide FC who created awareness of Motor Neurone Disease. Michael Taylor, Michael Aish, Eddie Betts, Tex Walker, Tyson Edwards all braved the cold water with a pre-game dunking between the two clubs at the Norwood Oval.
Crows AFL captain Taylor Walker and star forward Eddie Betts will take part in a public ice bath of sorts this Saturday afternoon when Adelaide and Norwood come together to support Motor Neuron Disease (MND) as part of their Round 13 SANFL clash.
Walker and Betts will join a host of other local sporting and media identities at Norwood Oval to be dunked by fans in ice and freezing water in support of former Crow and current Norwood player Mitch Grigg, whose father Chris has Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
With Grigg’s father recently diagnosed and Norwood past player Damien Lane losing his life to the disease, MND was chosen as the cause for Norwood’s annual ‘Count me in Round’, held during Round 13 in support of a different charity or cause each year ... click below to read more
https://www.afc.com.au/news/2018-07-06/walker-and-betts-to-be-dunked
Norwood champion Mitch Grigg leads Redlegs’ MND campaign to honour his father as he battles the disease
MAGAREY Medallist Mitch Grigg had - until this year - watched the annual MND Big Freeze at the MCG on the Queen’s Birthday holiday like so many others: Admiring Neale Daniher’s courage. But this year - and this weekend at Norwood Oval - the Redlegs midfielder and former Crow has a greater understanding of motor neurone disease after his father Chris was diagnosed with the ailment. “You never imagine it will affect you - and you’d never wish it on anyone,” Grigg said. “And when it does hit someone close to you, it is really hard. “But the more you talk about it; the more open you are about it,” adds Grigg, admiring ..... click below to read more
From the top clockwise Crows superstar Eddie Betts being dunked, Freddie Brincat, Lily Durkin, Rick Neagle and Ben Wilson (seated).
Autism Awareness Day 2016, 2nd April
Mitchell Neagle presenting the 2016 Showdown Trophy to Adelaide FC Taylor Walker and the Showdown Medal awarded the best player on the Ground Adelaide Football Club Forward Tom Lynch
COUNT ME IN THEME SONG
The Count Me In theme song is a version of the famous song written by Moving Pictures Lead Vocalist and Songwriter Garry Frost. The Count Me Foundation acknowledges the generous gesture from Garry who gave us permission to use his beautiful ballad ‘What About Me?’ which is primarily a song about a boy who has autism. Garry taught children with autism in his capacity as a school teacher before he made an impact in the music industry.
Count Me In also thanks professional singer Rachael Leahcar and the Tutti Choir who have performed the song in public as well as recording the following version of the same