Hawthorn star Jarman Impey paid tribute to his late father-in-law on Thursday night after he starred in the Hawks’ 20-point victory against Carlton at the MCG.
The game was also a career milestone for Impey, who was carried off the footy pitch on the shoulders of his team-mates, after making a landmark 200 AFL appearances.
The much-loved half-back, 29, made his league debut back in 2014 for Port Adelaide, having been signed to the club as pick No 21 in the National Draft.
He’d join the Hawks in 2018 and got off to a flying start with his new side, featuring in every game of the Hawk’s season that year.
After being chaired off, he shared an embrace with his partner Annabelle on the touchline and later described the moment as ‘surreal’.
Opening up on what had been a difficult few weeks, Impey revealed to Channel 7 that his father-in-law had tragically passed away last week with the footy star dedicating his landmark achievement, making his 200th appearance, to him.
Shout out to my father-in-law, we lost him last week,’ an emotional Impey told Hamish McLachlan on Channel 7.
‘So there’s a lot of people in Adelaide that I’m thinking of.’
Impey stopped to pause for a moment during the interview as he began to well up.
‘[It’s] quite special being able to play for him and family and friends around.’
Earlier he had addressed his team and also thanked his wife Annabelle for supporting him throughout his footy journey.
‘Always friends and family, first and foremost. My wife plays a big part in it so thank you very much,” he said.
‘I have played across two clubs and I’m very grateful for the coaches and staff and players.
‘There are so many people I can thank and they know who they are, I keep a great relationship with all the ones that are closest to me so I feel grateful that they know how important they are.
