Keidean Coleman's love for footy began in the Northern Territory town of Katherine, where his family's sporting legacy runs deep. “We all grew up playing sports,” his Aunt Bernice remembers. “Every Sunday, we'd watch my Aunty play softball,” says Keidean. “My Dad was a good footballer, and so was my Uncle. AFL ran in the family.”
Despite the rich sporting culture, opportunities for young footballers in Katherine were limited. Keidean's early memories of footy were not on manicured fields but kicking around a battered soft drink bottle in his backyard, barefoot and full of dreams. “I just loved footy so much,” he explains with a nostalgic smile. “I didn't really care what I was kicking, as long as I was kicking something.”
Bernice had spent her high school years in Brisbane and retuned to the city after spending some years back in Katherine. “I went back home for a bit and after having my son, I made the decision to move back to Brisbane. I wanted to give my son better schooling and lifestyle opportunities.”
Following Bernice’s move, the opportunity came up for Keidean to move to Brisbane and stay with her to complete his schooling. “Katherine is a small town, and we couldn't really play footy seriously. Schooling wasn't going too good either.
“Coming down here, the main opportunity was for football. But Aunty said ‘you’ve got to go to school as well and get an education’. I think it worked out for the best,” Keidean says.
Brisbane bound: a new chapter begins
The transition to Brisbane was not without its challenges. Keidean, at the young age of nine, grappled with homesickness, while Bernice navigated the complexities of parenting an expanded family.
“When Keidean moved from Katherine to Brisbane to live with me, it was a bit of an adjustment,” Bernice admits, “but we made it work. New city, bigger place, starting all over again. It wasn't easy, but we took it one step at a time.”
Their first home in Brisbane was with Keidean's grandmother, a temporary arrangement that soon blossomed into a full house. “At one point, there were four boys living with me,” Bernice laughs. “It was crazy sometimes, but we have a lot of good memories in that house,” adds Keidean.
Keidean appreciates it wasn’t easy. “We were fortunate to have a house but there were a lot of sacrifices made by my Aunty and Nana,” he says.
As his number 1 fan, Bernice says she simply made sure she was there for Keidean and supported him to get to the next level in his chosen sport. “When I first moved to Brisbane, I didn't have a car, so we were getting around on public transport. But I always made sure he got to training and I was able to get him footy boots or uniforms and whatever else he needed.”
Keidean's talent quickly shone through at the Wynnum Vikings, the local club where he first put on a pair of footy boots. Bernice's brother, William, a father figure to Keidean, saw his nephew's potential and encouraged him to strive for more.
“My Uncle told me if I wanted to make the AFL, I needed to move to Morningside,” Keidean recalls. “He was a serious guy, and you can’t really say no to him!”
Morningside: the path to the AFL
The move to Morningside proved to be a turning point in Keidean’s footballing career. “It was a great club with strong pathways to the AFL,” Bernice explains. “Keidean's older brother had played there, and it felt like the natural next step.”
Keidean made the Brisbane Lions Academy aged 13. It was a significant milestone that cemented his commitment to the sport. “That's when I realised I needed to take footy seriously,” he said. “I had the talent, but I needed to put in the work.”
Keidean's dedication intensified. “I started training a lot more when I was in under sixteens,” he explains. “Monday, Wednesday, Saturday mornings – every day was about footy. It was tough, but I knew I had to work hard if I wanted to reach my goals.”
The draft: a dream deferred, then realised
2018 was a rollercoaster for Keidean. He performed well at the national Combine, showcasing his skills in front of the AFL scouts. But when the draft came, his name wasn't called. “It was heartbreaking,” Bernice recalls. “It made him question everything.”
However, Keidean's resilience shone through. “I went back home and talked to my family,” he says. “They reminded me that setbacks are a part of life. I came back the next year more determined than ever.”
In 2020, Keidean's dream finally came true. He was drafted by the Brisbane Lions, the team his older brother had always supported. “The Lions have been a great club for Keidean from the get-go,” says Bernice. “The fact that his oldest brother was born here and he's a big Brisbane Lions fan made it even more special for him.”
Bernice: the unwavering number 1 fan
Throughout Keidean's journey, Bernice has been his constant source of support. From driving him to countless games and training sessions to providing unwavering encouragement, she’s been his rock. “I've been on this journey with him from the very beginning,” she says proudly. “I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Keidean recognises the sacrifices Bernice has made. “She's been to almost every game I've played,” he says. “She's always the loudest one in the crowd, cheering me on.”
Their bond extends well beyond the footy oval though. Keidean affectionately refers to Bernice as “Mum Bernice”, a testament to the maternal role she has played in his life. He acknowledges Bernice’s role in his career: “I'm Keidean Coleman and Bernice is my number 1 fan!”
A legacy of love and determination
Keidean Coleman's story is one of perseverance, family and the pursuit of a childhood dream. From a backyard in Katherine to performing professionally on the AFL oval, he has proven that with hard work, dedication and the support of loved ones, anything is possible.
As Keidean continues to make his mark in the AFL, Bernice will no doubt be there, her cheers echoing through the stadium – a proud Aunt and the ultimate number 1 fan.
