The Year 6 student and Berrigan Saints player has been invited to join the Under-14 Wanderers junior AFL tour to Fiji in December 2026.
Will has long been known for pushing himself, and the family is now reaching out to the community for help to allow him to continue to do so.
They have launched a Go Fund Me page to help cover the costs of the footy trip.
“Footy has been a passion of Will’s since he was six years old,” his mother Amy Batten said.
“He’s always been used to playing up an age group. He loves the challenge.
“Last year he made it through the school system and was right on the edge of being selected for the NSW team.
“He played in the Riverina side, but didn’t quite make NSW.
“This year he’s aiming for the state championships again, hoping to take that next step.”
The Fiji tour offers Will the chance to play games across Nadi, Suva and the Coral Coast, while also experiencing a new culture.
“He’ll get to play eight games and get to know Fiji at the same time,” Amy said.
“For a kid from Berrigan, that’s huge. It’s not just footy, it’s seeing the world.”
The Wanderers program operates on a ‘pay your own way’ model, meaning families must cover travel and participation costs.
Amy said the community has already stepped up to help them make Will’s dream come true.
“People in the community have been amazing; they want to see Will get this opportunity.
“It’s a big financial commitment, and we had people reaching out to us to donate. So we’ve now set up a Go Fund Me.”
Amy said the support is a reflection of Will’s dedicate to footy.
The Wanderers junior AFL tour has been running since 2014, when it became the first Australian junior team to tour Fiji. It has continued annually ever since.
The 2026 tour is open to boys in the under-13 and under-14 age groups in the tour year, and runs from December 3 to December 12.
If you would like to support Will, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-will-get-to-fiji-dec-2026.
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