Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield has been the inspiration for a new, personalised New Era cap designed by a young Cats fan.
10-year-old Billy Melbourne-Morrow enjoyed the unique opportunity to tour Simonds Stadium this week, and present his design to his football hero in person after winning a competition asking entrants to design their own New Era cap.
Watching on from the stands of the MCG as Dangerfield and the Cats defeated Hawthorn in round four, Billy spotted the joint New Era and AFL nationwide competition in the AFL Record and knew exactly what he had to do.
“I was at Geelong versus Hawthorn. I opened the Record and I saw a competition,” Billy proudly told Cats Media with his design on a screen in front and his idol seated alongside.
“When I got home, I decided to enter it. I drew a design but it wasn’t as complex as this but I wanted it to be very neat.”
“A few weeks later I got an email from the AFL saying I’d won and now I’m here.”
Billy sat down with New Era product manager Will Ryan and took his ideas from dream to reality, choosing a predominantly white cap with elements of navy blue and two key features: “DANGER” written in bold text and a Brownlow Medal added on the side for good measure.
“It’s a very personal design,” Ryan said of Billy’s creation.
“You can tell he’s actually designed it for Patrick. He’s taken that and really designed a hat that he wanted to give to Patrick.”
“I think that’s why he won. Billy really drew his ideas out and made it personal by putting in Patrick’s achievements.”
New Era product manager Will Ryan puts the finishing touches on Billy's design (Photo: Cats Media)
Dangerfield was clearly impressed.
“It’s sensational. I love the colours and it reminds me a bit of the Patriots in the NFL – which are one of my favourite teams,” he said.
“I think he’s done a brilliant job. It’s a lot different to what’s out there at the moment.”
Patrick Dangerfield looks over Billy's design (Photo: Cats Media)
Two caps with Billy’s design will be produced – one to be his own to keep and the other given to Dangerfield – and while seeing his design come to life will be a feather in Billy’s cap, it’s the overall experience that is once-in-a-lifetime.
“It’s been really fun designing the cap. A really good experience for me,” Billy said.
You can grab your own New Era cap here via The Cats Shop or from in store.
