There are few places in the world where football looks as magical as it does on Broome’s iconic Cable Beach and in 2025, the Kimberley 9’s Carnival, hosted by the Fremantle Football Club and Purple Hands Foundation once again delivered two unforgettable days of inclusion, connection and community spirit.

This year we were proud to support 111 students with disability to play alongside 492 of their mainstream peers across 2 days of football and fun, creating the largest all-abilities involvement in the event’s history.

With six All-Abilities classes, the carnival continues to grow its reputation as one of Australia’s most inclusive school sporting events.

Schools also reported something incredibly powerful as attendance for Education Support students surged — not just in the lead-up, but also long after the event. The excitement of participating meant students were eager to be at school every day so they wouldn’t miss out.

This is the true impact of inclusive sport: it inspires, motivates and changes lives beyond the field.

This year also saw the highest number of Fremantle Dockers players ever involved, with Bailey Banfield, Michael Frederick, Pat Voss and AFLW rookie Holly Egan joining the fun with the students.

The carnival also welcomed two very special guests with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch getting to witness inclusive footy firsthand. 

Their presence highlighted just how significant this event has become not only as a sporting event, but as a celebration of inclusion and community strength.

With Broome Starkick continuing to grow, the future for inclusive sport in the Kimberley has never looked stronger. The 2025 carnival showcased exactly what happens when a community believes in opening doors a little wider to build belonging and moments children and families will remember for years.