BRITTANY and Mitchell Bell, the children of former Brisbane Bears AFL rover Corey Bell, have a new `big brother' in gun Gold Coast Football Club signing Maverick Weller.
The Bell family are just one of the number of generous Gold Coast host families who have opened their doors to the GCFC's relocated 17-year-old signings from around Australia.
Bell, who is the GCFC community programs officer, took in Weller -- an emerging midfielder from Tasmania -- after his family met with him on a flight from the Gold Coast to Melbourne in September.
The youngster was returning home after a visit to his new club and met Corey's wife Kellie -- who sat next to him on the flight.
"It was very funny how we met," said Weller.
"I was sitting next to a bloke who was in the wrong seat and Kell was having a bit of trouble getting her seat back and I was helping out. We started talking and she asked what I was up here for and I told her it was footy.
"And when Corey and I looked at each other from across the aisle, we knew each other straight away because I saw him in The Gold Coast Bulletin the day before."
It was not easy for Weller to pack up his life and move away from all his family and friends in Tasmania.
But he said the transition was made a lot easier after the Bells offered to take him in.
"It is a big decision for them to invite me to their house and I am very appreciative," he said.
"I know all the other boys got really good families but I am really happy with mine.
"I have really settled in and I love it -- I love going to training and being up here."
Kellie Bell said the family had no hesitation about lending a helping hand to the young man while he settled in to a new city.
"It was one of those weird things in life where he simply fitted in straight away with us and we all just clicked," she said.
"I put myself in his mum's shoes and thought that if I needed someone to look after my son, I would like someone to look after them like they are one of the family and to take care of them.
"It is nice being a bigger family at the moment and it is great for the kids."
Article & image courtesy of The Gold Coast Bulletin.
