From tears to joy as Fifi, Fev & Nick reveal their first recruit for The Underdogs

The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick have added a new recruit to The Underdogs, the feel-good footy team made up of kids who’ve missed out on playing sports due to illness, bullying or challenging times.

11 year-old Jordan has autism and ADHD. His mum Melissa called the show to share his heartbreaking and very harrowing story of being bullied at school.

The story left Fifi Box in tears as she and Melissa connected mother-to-mother in a profoundly emotional moment on air.

Melissa said “He has sensory processing disorder and a little bit of separation anxiety – he’s a Mumma’s boy – but he also stims; he flaps his arms, so it’s quite an obvious sign when he gets excited, and the kids give him a hard time … (they say) ‘Oh, what are you flapping about?’ Absolutely riling him up because it’s not a normal behaviour for the other kids in the school.”

Melissa explained there was one particular incident with his peers which had left Jordan scared and distressed:

“He came home, and he squeezed me so tight. He was so upset. For the first time, he said he didn’t want to go back to school, ‘Please don’t make me go back there.’ It was horrible.”

Fifi: “(crying) Oh, Melissa! That’s fear … an incident like that can be so traumatic.”

Melissa: “(crying) I have to send him to school … I can’t protect him when here’s there.”

Fifi: “Melissa, that is heartbreaking, and any parent listening will understand how difficult that is for you. Little Jordan doesn’t deserve this … but we can help Jordan feel a part of our team. Included by us. We would love him to run onto the MCG with us. Would Jordan love to be one of our underdogs?”

Melissa: “Oh, he really would!”

Fifi: “Well, he’s going to be a star, Melissa. Jordan is going to feel a feeling that nobody gets to … how many Melburnians would love the chance to run onto the MCG, kick a goal, be on the telly? He’s going to be a star. We want him to feel loved, to feel a part of our team, and walk back into school like a superstar.”

On Saturday, 21 June, Jordan and The Underdogs will take to the hallowed turf at the MCG as the curtain-raiser to the Carlton v North Melbourne game.

Families across Melbourne can apply to have their child join The Underdogs here.

Listen to Fifi, Fev & Nick on Melbourne’s 101.9 The Fox from 6-9am weekdays, also on LiSTNR.