As we look back a couple of weeks ago at AFL Indigenous Round and marvel at the contribution that Indigenous players have made to our game, I found myself sitting at the MCG dreaming about the next generation of Indigenous players coming through the system who could well light up the G in future years.
Two names that instantly spring to mind are Cyril Rioli and Marlon Motlop. Cyril more commonly known as “Junior” is the nephew of past greats Maurice Rioli and Michael Long (not bad blood lines!) Marlon is the cousin of former Kangaroos premiership player Shannon and current Port Adelaide star Daniel. Both these boys have had the benefit of being part of the 9th&10th Intakes of the AIS/AFL Academy and are highly likely to have their names read out very early in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.
Then I thought about even further down the track looking towards the 2008-09-10 NAB AFL Drafts. Who and where will this group of Indigenous players emerge from?
The Qantas AFL Kickstart Program is the program that provides young Indigenous footballers a chance to live the dream as many have done before them. This program is more than football though; once again it is football being used as the vehicle to achieve positive social outcomes for these Indigenous boys, most notably in education, heath and leadership.
The football component is an extension of the AFL Auskick program with the pinnacle being a 5 night football camp in Melbourne. This camp each year enables 50 of the best young Indigenous boys at U’15 level throughout Australia to experience something similar to that of a week at an AFL Club. The selection criterion is based around the following:
- Potential to play football at the highest level
- Leadership capabilities
- Attendance in school
During the camp these young men experience high performance fitness testing, training and recovery sessions with AFL experienced coaches, leadership and team building sessions along with a life skills and educational session with Michael Long and Cathy Freeman. Without doubt the highlight for the boys is playing a match under lights on the mighty MCG.
Opportunities like this just don’t happen without the wonderful support and financial commitment of our partners Qantas and the Australian Federal Government. The Qantas AFL Kickstart program is seen as an important element of the ’Sharing the Spirit’ community program which Qantas operate.
The AFL has identified the need to add another component to the Qantas AFL Kickstart program, that being the Indigenous Youth Series against South Africa each February. This comes off the back of the inaugural and successful tour by the Flying Boomerangs to South Africa in 2006. Some of the players from that tour making a name for themselves at AFL level are Nathan Krakouer (Port Adelaide), Brad Dick (Collingwood), Joe Anderson (Carlton), Malcolm Lynch (Western Bulldogs) and Isaac Weetra (Melbourne) The Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp is now used as a key component in the selection process for this series.
So we have a clear understanding of the program which will deliver our future Indigenous stars. Now let’s have a look at some of the players to look out for over the next couple of years who have participated in the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp.
Chris Yarran - WA.
- A member of this year’s 10th Intake of the AIS/AFL Academy and attended the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp in 2005.
- Chris is a silky smooth half forward who could develop into a quality rebounding defender.
- Eligible for 2008 NAB AFL Draft.
Michael Walters - WA.
- Attended the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp in 2006 and also represented the Indigenous Youth Team against South Africa earlier this year.
- WA State U’16 team later this year.
- Michael is a skilful midfielder with great balance.
- Eligible for 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
Clinton Garlett - WA.
- Attended the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp in 2006 and also represented the Indigenous Youth Team against South Africa earlier this year.
- He was selected in the All Australian U’15 Schoolboy team last year.
- WA State U’16 team later this year.
- Clinton is a tough midfielder with balance and great leadership qualities.
- Eligible for 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
Joshua Wittwer - SA.
- Attended the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp in 2006 and also a member of the Indigenous Youth team this year.
- Eligible for the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp this year and the Tour to South Africa early next year.
- Joshua is a very polished attacking half back/centreman.
- Eligible for 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
Thomas Kickett - NSW.
- Attended the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp in 2006 and also a member of the Indigenous Youth team this year.
- NSWACT U’16 team later this year.
- Eligible for the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp this year and the Tour to South Africa early next year.
- Was last month placed on scholarship by the Hawthorn Football Club under the AFL’s NSW scholarship scheme.
- Thomas is a lean and very courageous wingman with exceptional skill.
- Eligible for 2010 NAB AFL Draft (under scholarship scheme may not have to go through draft system)
Rex Liddy - QLD.
- Attended the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp last year along with representing the Indigenous Youth team earlier this year.
- Also will be eligible for both the Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp this year and the Tour to South Africa early next year.
- He was an All Australian U’15 Schoolboy last year as a bottom age (14 years old).
- He has been selected in the QLD U’16 team for this year as a bottom age once again (15 years old).
- Rex is a strong and athletic key position player.
- Eligible for 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
Rex is a wonderful example of how the Qantas AFL Kickstart program works. I watched him participate in a Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp in Weipa which was a selection trial for the Cape Crusaders team in September 2005. This camp was as much about football as it was about health and education. I have now had the pleasure of working and coaching Rex during last years Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp and the series against South Africa. I will now look forward to watching his progress throughout this years’ NAB AFL U’16 Championship in August. In amongst all his football commitments he is living the Qantas AFL Kickstart philosophy of school attendance and education by attending boarding school in Brisbane.
There are currently 71 Indigenous players on AFL senior lists which equates to about 10% of all listed players. With the range of quality programs being delivered across the AFL Industry to Indigenous Australians with the support of Qantas and the Federal Government, I have no doubt the number of Indigenous players that excite and ignite crowds around Australia will continue to grow.
Footnote: Qantas AFL Kickstart Camp will be held in Melbourne from 13th-18th August 2007.
