Fitting tribute for North Melbourne superfan Scott Hough as children run out with favourite Roos in Bunbury
A heart-warming and fitting tribute paid homage to one of Bunbury's most loved North Melbourne superfans at the weekend with Scott Hough's two children running out with his beloved Roos at Hands Oval.
Sunday presented a special moment for two local youngsters who got the chance to run out with the North Melbourne players ahead of the history-making Bunbury clash, with their late father a Roos superfan who never got the chance to see his beloved team in the South West city.
Mila and Liam Hough stepped onto the oval in a tribute to Scott, who died in 2023 after a three-year battle with motor neurone disease.
It came as the rest of the AFL community celebrated their annual Big Freeze for MND round, with celebrities taking cold plunges around the country as punters donned blue beanies for the Neale Daniher-led cause.
Hough, a 2001 league premiership player with Bunbury, lost his lengthy battle with motor neurone disease in 2023 and was well-known as a North Melbourne fan.
So, when the top-level club was looking for youngsters to be mascots for the players as they ran through the banner on Sunday, Bunbury Football Club's Tom Busher and Jenelle O'Reilly knew just the kids.
Mila told the Bunbury Herald it was 'really exciting' to run through the banner with the players.
'I thought I was going to be famous,' she said.
'It was really good.'
Her favourite part of the day was North Melbourne winning — fitting for a young player whose favourite part of AusKick is getting to kick goals.
Adele Hough, Scott's wife, said it was heart-warming to see their children take part in such a fitting tribute to their dad.
'It was really heart-warming, they loved it,' she said.
'It was all heart-warming to watch them in front of the crowd.'
Ms O'Reilly said it was special to see the pair run out in honour of the club life-member, much-loved friend and well-missed premiership player.
Scott's love of football has been passed on to the young pair, with Mila playing AusKick for the Bulldogs and both kids excited to don their North Melbourne gear and watch the game.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
North Melbourne youngster Riley Hardeman confident he's ready for Fremantle Dockers clash
WA youngster Riley Hardeman is bringing plenty of confidence into North Melbourne's clash with Fremantle on Saturday after locking down a spot in defence. The second-year Kangaroo managed three games in his rookie year but has already featured eight times in 2025, working in North Melbourne's defence to provide rebound off halfback. He played 78 per cent of the clash against West Coast in defence, with two rebound 50s and an inside 50 to go with 236 metres gained. And after grabbing his first win in his first game back in his home state in Bunbury, Hardeman said he was 'excited' to face Fremantle in his maiden match at Optus Stadium. 'It's good to enjoy the win, but we'll be looking forward to Fremantle at Optus; it's very exciting,' he told The West Australian. 'Being able to crack into this side earlier this year and then finding some consistency with form and just building trust at the level is really good, and I will only continue to improve, I hope.' Hardeman faces a sterner task this week, likely to face a match-up on one of Michael Frederick, Sam Switkowski or red-hot rookie Murphy Reid. However, the 20-year-old says that being able to lean on the likes of Luke McDonald and Caleb Daniel fuels his self-belief. 'We've got a lot of experience (in defence) like Luke McDonald, Caleb Daniel that are really strong with their communication, making sure they're putting me in the right spots and they're looking after me,' he said 'Our system is holding up really well. '(And the come-from-behind win against West Coast) gives us a lot of reassurance we can come back in games.' The Swan Districts also gave Bunbury a glowing review after the South West's historic day in the AFL limelight, saying it reminded him of his roots and he was already excited to return in 2026. 'It was really fun playing out here in a really good atmosphere,' he said. 'It reminded me a bit of my old home ground at Swan Districts, Steel Blue Oval, just with the wide wings. It was awesome—plenty of room to run and carry. 'It speaks volumes to the support we have out here in Western Australia. I reckon my family was probably a very large contingent of the support, but it's why we came here. 'We have such a large following, and I can't wait to do it again.'
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Keys to the City of Bunbury open door for Zurhaar mirth
North Melbourne star Cam Zurhaar has become the butt of his team's jokes after being handed the keys to the city by Bunbury following the Kangaroos' 10-point win over West Coast on Sunday. Zurhaar kicked two goals during the final quarter to help the Roos to erase an 18-point deficit and win on a day where they'd sold their home game to play the match at Hands Oval. City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Migue is a passionate North Melbourne supporter and attended the team dinner that night. Zurhaar was shocked to be handed the keys to the city. 'It's a bit funny,' Zurhaar said. 'The keys are from 1970 and they open nothing. It's a bit of a laugh. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. 'It was weird to be honest. We met him last time when we came over for that practice round. It was a funny experience getting the keys. There were so many more boys he could have given it to but he decided to give it to me.' The Kangaroos victory came despite having 22 fewer inside 50s than the Eagles. Zurhaar said it was obvious the team needed to improve on that performance but he took positives from the way they remained in the contest. Zurhaar said former Sydney veteran Luke Parker's effort in the last quarter showed why the Kangaroos targeted him. Parker had 10 possessions and five tackles for the term and his ability to seize the key moments was vital when the game was on the line. North Melbourne added multiple experienced players to their young squad during the off-season with Parker, West Coast's Jack Darling and Western Bulldog Caleb Daniel bolstering the team. Zurhaar said they had provided the group with a calming influence. North Melbourne star Cam Zurhaar. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian 'Just that experience from Luke Parker was massive. He's been in those situations so many times and knows what to do. It was great to have him,' he said. 'Having older players around like Darling, Parker and Caleb Daniel - calm heads. they complement us so well. 'They bring so much. It's so valuable for us. they're three great players for our team.'
West Australian
7 hours ago
- West Australian
Newdegate youngsters Charlie, Joshua and Hunter ‘amazed' to end up on front page of The West Australian
Copies of The West Australian were flying off the shelves in Newdegate on Monday after three local kids decked out in West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne gear were photographed for the front page. Charlie Guelfi, 6, Joshua Guelfi and Hunter Tonkin, both 8, were among the 12,700-strong crowd at the West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne game in Bunbury on Sunday, June 8. The die-hard footy fans, who all live on farms in the Newdegate area, were snapped by AFL Media photographer Daniel Carson. Sibling rivalry was on show on the day, with younger brother Charlie — and his friend Hunter — decked out in Kangaroos merchandise while older brother Joshua was wearing his Eagles best. They made the 700km round trip from Newdegate to Bunbury with their families to attend the match at Hands Memorial Oval. Charlie and Josh attended the game with their parents Aaron and Liz Guelfi, who said the whole town had been 'amazed' to see the three boys on the front page of the June 9 edition of The West Australian. 'The whole of Newdegate has been rushing to town to buy the paper this week,' she laughed. 'The boys have been so excited, they have been saying 'we are famous, we are famous'.' 'The front page will be framed in our office for sure.' It capped off what had been a 'truly incredible weekend', Ms Guelfi said, after the three boys were chosen to race with the Eagles and Kangaroos mascots before the game started on Sunday. 'There was a lot of sibling rivalry on the day,' she said. 'Hunter has always supported North Melbourne and last year Charlie decided that he would too . . . we have no family over there, but he just loves the team. 'And Josh has always gone for the Eagles. So, there was a lot of banter and friendly competition on the day.' The three boys were hand-picked while standing near the rails to run with the mascots, taking part in a short relay race on the oval before the game. 'A North Melbourne official came up and asked if they wanted to take part,' Ms Guelfi said. 'They were a bit starstruck, I think . . . but they thought it was amazing to take part.' The game wasn't great viewing for a lot of the contest with the Eagles not kicking a goal until the second quarter and finishing with a woefully inaccurate 16 behinds, and the Roos barely scored after quarter-time before a four goal blitz late in the final term saw them edge ahead to win 9.8 (62) to 6.16 (52). As country people through-and-through, Ms Guelfi said the families had loved watching a game of AFL in regional WA. 'We were really excited to head to see both teams, and it was special to have a game like that in the country,' she said. 'It was just a really great day all around, to be picked in the mascot race and to be in The West Australian.'
