Top First Nations and multicultural talent comes to town
The best First Nations and multicultural Australian rules footballers from across NSW and the ACT will converge in Sydney this week as part of AFL NSW/ACT’s Youth Leadership Program.
Forty-three boys aged 13-15 years are spending three days during their school holidays learning to be better leaders while honing their football skills. They will come together from 12-14 July for an elite footy experience which will include athletic training and cultural sessions as well as a visit from some AFL heroes.
On-field sessions at the program, held at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen, will be run by elite coaches, but there will be plenty of off-field content for players to soak up. Participants will learn about mental health and wellness, strengthening and conditioning, and road safety from long-time supporter of the First Nations Youth Leadership Program, Transport for NSW.
Following the practical and theoretical training, players will get to show off their skills in a match environment, when the First Nations team takes on the Multicultural team on Saturday afternoon (13 July). This provides an opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection in the national representative sides the Boomerangs (for First Nations players) and the World Team (for multicultural players).
AFL NSW/ACT Diversity Lead, Khobi Devine, said this program is about more than footy. “The First Nations and Multicultural Youth Leadership Program has taught scores of boys and girls plenty about being great players on the field, but even more about good behaviour off it,” Ms Devine said.
“Our aim of this program is to give participants an opportunity to be the best they can be and to take what they learn during the program back to their clubs and communities, where they can be leaders among teammates and peers.
“Thank you to Transport for NSW for its continued support of this program, which provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for so many young footballers.”
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First Nations representatives
Participants in the First Nations Youth Leadership Program come from across NSW and the ACT and represent Countries including Kamilaroi, Wiradjuri, Gundungurra, Gunditjmara, Dunghutti and Anawain.
| Name | Club |
| Koby Schneider | Lavington Panthers |
| Jordan Toogood | Pennant Hills Demons |
| Oswayo Childs-Haslam | Nambucca Valley Lions |
| Charlie Colwell | Manly Bombers / Northern Beaches Wolves |
| Coen Hardy | Miranda / Heathcote |
| Emakhi Munro | Nambucca Valley Lions |
| Hayden Raveneau | Killarney Vale Bombers |
| Talen Barnes | Deniliquin Rams |
| Billy Broad | West Wyalong Bulldogs |
| Joseah Driscoll | Orange Tigers |
| Paxton Fall | Griffith Swans |
| Riley Pargeter | Howlong Spiders |
| Oliver Slade | Gunghalin Jets |
| Fletcher Woodhead | Mulwala |
| Carson Blacksmith | Miranda Bombers |
| Alexander Farrell | Lake Macquarie Dockers |
| Zave McKiernan | Terrigal Avoca |
| Zane Ward | Kiama Power |
| Zef Clement | Terrigal Panthers |
| Max Slade | Gunghalin Jets |
| Callum Munns | Bathurst Giants |
| Boyd Hunter | Orange Tigers |
| Pharrell Trapman | Moore Park Tigers |
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Multicultural representatives
To qualify for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Program, players must have at least one parent born overseas. The following countries are among those represented in the multicultural program: Poland, Peru, Fiji, India, Egypt, South Korea and Malaysia.
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| Name | Club |
| Oskar Cookson | Queanbeyan Tigers |
| Lachlan Westcott | Weston Creek Molonglo Hawks |
| Max Colpan | Canada Bay Canons |
| Joshua Dann | Miranda Bombers |
| Dashiel Delaney-Fielding | Heathcote Hawks |
| Luke Duffy | Maroubra Saints |
| Finnian Herrig | Glebe Greyhounds |
| Alexander Piperkos | Easts Bulldogs |
| Edward Redfern | Port Macquarie Magpies |
| Hudson Savage | North Shore Swans |
| Oto Ryan | Port Macquarie Magpies |
| Tanish Patel | Ainslie Football Club |
| Ben Boxsell | Canada Bay Canons |
| Matai Joannou | Newtown Swans |
| Joshua Tancred | Maroubra Saints |
| Oliver Mat | Port Macquarie Magpies |
| Xavier Mat | Port Macquarie Magpies |
| Arlo Van Donnick | Canada Bay Canons |
| Oliver Sheridan | Northern Districts Juniors |
| Jesiah Smith | South West Sydney |
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Support from Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW has been an invaluable supporter of AFL NSW/ACT’s First Nations 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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