AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is pleased to announce seven Territorians have been selected in the 2018 Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs and World teams who play two exhibition matches at the 2018 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships on the Gold Coast this week.
Selected by AFL Club recruiters following the 2018 AFL National Male Diversity Championships held in Blacktown earlier this year, the respective squads of 25 young men has been chosen based on school attendance, leadership skills, and football ability.
The AFL Flying Boomerangs program is a week-long personal development and leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men aged 14-16 years old, supported by Rio Tinto. Meanwhile the World Team is made up of the best upcoming AFL multicultural players from across the nation who will participate in the week-long program.
AFL General Manager Game Development, Andrew Dillon, said the Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs are a great opportunity for the best rising Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural talent in the nation to develop on and off the field.
“The Boomerangs and World Team squads were selected following their impressive performances at the 2018 AFL National Diversity Championships in Blacktown earlier this year.
“These are more than just programs, we are now preparing the next generation of young leaders and footballers with the skills, qualities, and experiences to become positive role models within their communities.
“We look forward to watching Australia’s best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent play against the World Team in what promises to be two exciting games of football,” Mr. Dillon said.
AFLNT Manager of Talent and Pathways, Wally Gallio, said selection in the team provided development opportunities both on and off the field.
“It’s a great opportunity to experience both football and cultural experiences, learn from some great coaching staff and play against the best Under-16 talent in the country in the Championships.”
“These young men will become the next generation of Indigenous and multicultural sporting role models as they continue on their pathway into the AFL,” Gallio said.
2018 Rio Tinto Flying Boomerangs
Kai Watts (NSW)
Hunter McAuliffe (NSW)
Gundjarra Mununggurr (NT)
Preyben Tipiloura (NT)
Antonio James (NT)
Jamie Baxter (NT)
Taj Buitenhaus (NT)
Cody Harrison (QLD)
Preston Cockatoo-Collins (QLD)
Zac Bishop (SA)
Blayne O’Loughlin (SA)
Jase Burgoyne (SA)
Liam Flanigan (TAS)
Jonty McIvor (TAS)
Mackenzie Cowley (VIC)
Jordan Haynes (VIC)
Dallas McAdam (WA)
Kendyll Blurton (WA)
Richard Farmer (WA)
Lawson Humphries (WA)
Cole Agnew (WA)
Richard Bartlett (WA)
Jerrimiah Thorne (WA)
Jermaine Pickett (WA)
Toby Henry (WA)
2018 World Team
Harry Wichman (NSW)
Oliver Kozak (NSW)
Tomas Sase (NSW)
Ariki Lowe (NT)
Andy Wakefield (NT)
Austin Harris (QLD)
Zyton Santillo (SA)
Ben Burbridge (SA)
Weston Rata (SA)
Tony Aganas (TAS)
Kai Supartu (VIC)
Emiliano Alexio (VIC)
Alecsander McComb (VIC)
Youseph Dip (VIC)
Malik Elfakahani (VIC)
Moala Polata (VIC)
Zachary Cilecken (VIC)
Bol Wol (VIC)
Bol Dengdit (VIC)
Douth Jock (VIC)
Moostafa Noori (WA)
Seth Connor (WA)
Menno Inverarity (WA)
Ethan Regan (WA)
Riley Colbourne (WA)
*Please note Andy Wakefield was selected in the World Team but elected to play in the NT Team in the Championships.
Fixture:
Exhibition Match One
Tuesday July 10
Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs v World Team at Metricon Stadium Training Field, 2.40pm
Exhibition Match Two
Friday July 13
Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs v World Team at Leyshon Park, Yeronga, 3pm
Rio Tinto is the principal partner to all of the AFL’s Indigenous Programs. Rio Tinto is one of Australia’s largest employers of Indigenous people, employing some 1600 Aboriginal men and women across the nation.