AFL prospect Marcus was playing in defence and Luke, a promising footballer with Swan Districts until a one-punch attack in Northbridge in 2011, was one of two Falcons runners delivering coach Bill Monaghan’s messages.
At one stage, Luke had to call his younger sibling off the ground for a spell.
“Luke doesn’t like having to go and tell Marcus to come off,” Gary said. “Marcus doesn’t like coming off.”
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READ NOWGary was one of three players’ fathers invited by the club to address the president’s pre-game lunch on Father’s Day. The others were Steve Johnson and Craig Browne.
“I spoke about the boys with their diet and the amount of commitment they’ve got to put in to be semi-professional sportsmen,” Gary told the Weekender at half-time.
“What sort of home life we as parents try and provide for them and try to keep everything steady and stable.
“They’re lucky, the boys are lucky.”
He praised the club.
“We’ve been associated with Swans and obviously the boys played there but me personally and my wife think this club is just light years in front; look at their international day,” he said.
“Everyone says Marcus might play AFL footy next year; we would still come down and support this club. I like it that much.”
Marcus is studying psychology at Curtin University and spends more than an hour travelling to training from home in the Helena Valley.
Luke is working for a financial planning company and, according to his dad, is “in a good position with his body”.
How did Gary feel seeing his sons out on the ground?
“Oh, fantastic,” he said.