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A MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Underthe Lights.

Fifteen-year-old boys. One football season. Everything that comes with growing up.

Filmed inside a Sydney junior Australian Rules football club, Under the Lights captures the moments that reveal who we are, and who we’re becoming.

All episodes

Original documentary · Free to watch.

Sound

About the series

What happens on the field doesn’t always stay there.

Under the Lights follows the Moore Park Tigers through a season of junior Australian Rules football in Sydney.

These are ordinary teenagers dealing with familiar situations: Speaking up. Recovering from setbacks. Learning when to lead.

At Macquarie University, we’re exploring eight capabilities we call the Impact Skills. They shape how we respond to pressure, work with others and navigate difficult situations.

This documentary brings those skills into focus through the experiences of real people.

No manufactured lessons. Just moments worth paying attention to.

Real stories One football season No knowledge of the game needed Exploring the Impact Skills

The stories

Six stories. One season.

Each film follows a different story from the same football club. Different people. Different challenges. Lessons that extend well beyond the game.

Coming soon Episode 3

Before Sunrise

Coming soon Every weekend, before the boys arrive and long before the first whistle, the work has already begun. Through Kirstin and her family, we meet the people who give their time to keep a community football club running. It’s a story about the commitments we make to others, often without recognition and with no expectation of anything in return. Collective Discipline
Coming soon Episode 4

The Experiment

Coming soon What happens when the coaches hand over control? Nick and Stew ask the players to organise their own warm-up. It’s a simple experiment in responsibility and leadership. But things don’t go entirely to plan. For the boys, it’s an opportunity to lead. For the coaches, the challenge is learning when to step back. Leading Without Authority
Coming soon Episode 5

Three Minutes

Coming soon Coach Nick wants his players to perform under pressure. But how much pressure is too much? A training experiment puts the boys to the test. Then, on game day, things take an unexpected turn. For Nick, there’s a difficult balance between preparing his players for pressure and becoming another source of it. Absorbing Pressure
Coming soon Episode 6

The Car Ride Home

Coming soon Stew is a football coach. He’s also Lachie’s dad. On the field, advice is part of the job. At home, it’s more complicated. As Lachie grows up, Stew begins to question when to offer guidance and when to hold back. Sometimes listening is the hardest part. Feedback Responsiveness