New generation of Indigenous and multicultural talent on show
AFL NSW/ACT’s Multicultural and Indigenous Youth Leadership Program returns these school holidays, with 41 girls from across NSW and Canberra headed to Sydney to show off their skills at an intensive three-day program from 19-21 April.
These talented athletes will be given an elite experience at the program, held at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen, participating in sessions run by elite coaches, hearing from experts in mental health and wellness, learning about strengthening and conditioning, and hearing from long-time supporter of the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, Transport for NSW, about road safety.
Players will be visited by elite AFL and AFLW players, and for the first time will experience the Movember Ahead of the Game program, which helps young people build mental resilience and develop the tools to support friends and team mates when times are tough. The Ahead of the Game program will be delivered by expert facilitators including GIANTS AFLW players, Meghan Gaffney and Kaitlyn Srhoj, who deliver the program across NSW and ACT.
Attendees are a little younger than previous iterations for the Multicultural and Indigenous Youth Leadership Programs, with the age lowered by one year. This year, the program will be attended by 13-15-year-olds selected through the GIANTS Academy and the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, and through nominations and other talent testing.
While there are many city-based players attending, regional areas are well represented with Broken Hill, Nambucca, Wollongong, Newcastle and Wagga Wagga just a few of the locations players will be travelling from to participate in the program.
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The following players have been selected in the Indigenous and Multicultural Youth Leadership Program:
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Indigenous Youth Leadership Program Girls 2024
Countries represented in this group include: Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri, Cammeraygal, Dharug and Gumbaynggirr.
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| Name | Community Club |
| Indiana Milsom | West Wyalong |
| Kiki Tikkeros | Figtree Kangaroos |
| Olivia Parker | Killarney Vale Bombers |
| Caitlyn Ashpole | Port Stephens Power |
| Tylee Metera-Potts | South West Sydney Blues |
| Victoria Johnson | South West Sydney Blues |
| Jordyn McFadden | Wagga Tigers |
| Myla Tucker | Newcastle City |
| Lani Gray | Killarney Vale Bombers |
| Florence Peter | Ainslie Tricolours |
| Natalie Nawauwi | Coffs Breakers |
| Emily Hollingsworth | Albion Park Crows |
| Indiah Towers | Cardiff Hawks |
| Darcie Kickett | Tuggeranong Valley |
| Daisy Howlett-Fretwell | Killarney Vale Bombers |
| Poppi Flanders | Nambucca Valley Lions |
| Ruby Flanders | Nambucca Valley Lions |
| Sari Clarke | Shellharbour Swans |
| Brenna Fulton | Queanbeyan Tigers |
| Billie Hamilton | Ainslie Tricolours |
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Multicultural Youth Leadership Program Girls 2024
Cultures represented in this group include: India, Poland, Botswana, Indonesia and Philippines.
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| Name | Community Club |
| Madison Booysen | Northwest Lightning |
| Claire Bridge | Northwest Lightning |
| Lucy Crean | Northwest Lightning |
| Kate Crean | Northwest Lightning |
| Mei Olson | Newcastle City |
| Eabha Morrissey | Maroubra Saints |
| Ava Turley | North Broken Hill |
| Jade Miller | Weston Creek Wildcats |
| Ashtyn Roberts | Weston Creek Wildcats |
| Friyana Mistry | Willoughby Mosman Swans |
| Nikki McNeil | Manly Bombers |
| Felicity Hall | St Ives |
| Eve Froud | Weston Creek Wildcats |
| Tia Neave | Camden Cats |
| Emmy Gooley | Balgowlah Suns |
| Tiffany Tomlinson | Balgowlah Suns |
| Lily Reid | Eastlake/Ainslie |
| Maytal Goodman | Moore Park Tigers |
| Isla Bealby | Lane Cove Cats |
| Ameli Elepano | Manly Bombers |
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Talent pathway
Following two days of coaching, training and learning, players will get out on the park to compete in a match at Blacktown International Sportspark pitting the Indigenous team against the multicultural team. The match will be streamed on AFL NSW/ACT’s Facebook page.
The standout performers from this match will progress to national representative teams the Woomeras (Indigenous) and the Medleys (multicultural) joining interstate teammates later in the year to show their skills on the national stage.
Providing another talent pathway for Indigenous and multicultural players in NSW and the ACT is a key part of the program, but equally important is building leadership skills to ensure these players are the best they can be off the field as well as on it.
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Support from Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW has been an invaluable supporter of AFL NSW/ACT’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Program since 2014 and has imparted wisdom onto many of our young leaders about the importance of road safety and developing leadership in their community by reinforcing road safety messages to help our state move towards zero road trauma by 2050.
Thank you to Transport for NSW for its ongoing support of our young and talented leaders.
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