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Toyota U16 Crusader Girls, Cairns 2-4.11.07
Our U/16 Pacific Toyota
Girls displayed a strong showing at the State titles over the weekend
3-4th November. Other teams competing included eventual winners PNG, Sth
East Queensland and Nth Queensland. Due to very hot conditions it was
surprising the quality of footy that was displayed. PNG 5.3 (33) Crusaders
2.3(15)
In our first game we come up against a very physical PNG who harassed our
girls into making mistakes and creating turn overs. On the other hand PNG
were using the ball creatively and this was evident by the score line.
Although convincingly beaten, our girls didn’t stop trying. When you
consider that the team only came together the Friday evening prior to the
titles we were happy with the overall performance. PNG 2.3 (15) Crusader
0.0 (0)
In game two
we come up against tournament favorites Sth East Queensland. Sth East won
the inaugural titles in 2006 and were keen to carry on that success. Our
girls obviously learnt something from the game against PNG and took it
right up to the Flames winning in most positions to set their first win
for the weekend. Crusaders 4.5 (29) SEQ 2.5(17)
Game three saw us pitted up against host team Nth Queensland. It was very
pleasing to see the Crusader Girls carry on their form the previous game
to convincingly defeat Nth Queensland. Crusaders 8.8(56) Nth Qld 1.1(7)
In all 12 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Communities are
represented. Girls were selected from our Ivan Gibson Championships held
in Bamaga on the 18th October. Communities represented were Weipa,
Napranum, Kowanyama, Pormparaaw, Lockhart River, Yarrabah, Bamaga,
Thursday Island, Dauan Island, Injinoo, Wujal-Wujal and Coen.
Captains Angie Nadredre Eileen Ludwick, V/Capt’s T’Kehya Nandy and Baibai
Mooka along with Yarrabah girls Tonya Ludwick and Carmille Pearson were
named in the All Stars team for 2007 which highlighted the carnivals best
players.
Angie Nadredre and Eileen Ludwick were joint winners of the Ivana Gibson
MVP award for the 2007 Pacific Toyota Crusaders team.
We
would also like to offer our sincere thanks to the Holloway’s Beach
Environmental Centre for our accommodation and Val from Fast Pasta and
also our terrific band of sponsors who are supporting our programs. We
would also like to thank, Laura Martin and Amanda Allen as coaches of the
team, Deb Bond and Ellie Martin for Managing and Deb Podolczak for being
our trainer. You are all outstanding role models and our girls were
fortunate to have you as a part of the team, thanks for giving up your
time and energy.
Our 2007 team had four girls who will exit the team as they are turning or have turned 16 in 2007. We have a very strong group of 14-15 year old girls who can come back in 2008 so we can look forward to another strong showing next year.
(Rick Hanlon, AFL Queensland
Development Manager, Kickstart Program)
PNG girls waltz away with under
16 crown
Papua New Guinea are set to return
home as heroes after taking out the under 16 AFL State Development
Carnival at Crathern Park yesterday. The competition pacesetters faced
their toughest test of the two day carnival in yesterday’s final, trailing
a determined Cape York side at halftime before finishing strongly to
secure a 5.2 (32) to 2.3. (15) victory.
The Papua New Guinean side had kept its opponents scoreless in each of its
three wins on Saturday against Cape York, North Queensland and South East
Queensland but went into half time facing a 2.3 (15) to 1.0 (6) deficit.
AFL Papua
New Guinea football operations manager Peter Cates said his side had
panicked after letting in a goal in the opening minute and had suffered
from big game nerves.
“They’ve never been in that position (playing a final) before,” he said.
“Last year they won one game by a couple of points and finished third so
this is everything they’ve dream of. They’ll be heroes when they get back
home. The win is great for the development of the code and other girls can
see what they can do if they stay at school,” he said.
Cates said his players had been required to sign code of conduct
agreements agreeing not to skip school, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or
chew betel nuts and believed the win would also help raise the status of
women in PNG communities.
Standout players for the PNG under 16 side included Mildred Veau, Slyva
Kotapu and Christine Puang while team coach Natalie Beno will stay on in
Cairns to learn more about the game as a guest player with the Manunda
Hawks in the local AFL competition.
Cape York coach Rick Hanlon said his side had simply been beaten by a
better outfit.
“PNG were just too good for us,” he said. “I told my team that sometimes
even when you lose games of football you’re just as big a winner because
you tried your best.”
Hanlon praised the efforts of captains Angie Nadredre and Eileen Ludwick,
Yarrabah’s Carmille Pearson and Lockhart River’s Avril Ameenyo. In the
other match yesterday, South East Queensland defeated North Queensland 3.4
(22) to 3.0 (18) to wrap up third spot.
(Courtesy The Cairns Post 5.11.07)
AFL girls in state focus
A huge weekend of women’s Australian
football kicks off in Cairns with the under 16 State Development Carnival
on Saturday at Crathern Park.
The ground will also host the opening round of the local AFL Cairns
women’s league.
The development carnival will host teams from Papua New Guinea, Cape York,
South East Queensland and North Queensland.
AFL Cape York’s Rick Hanlon is in charge of the Cape team and believes
they have an excellent group of young women who are excited at the weekend
ahead.
“We just recently had the Ivana Gibson Cup in Bamaga where we picked this
team from and I think it is a really good platform for the week ahead.”
Hanlon said.
“It’s a great group, they all fit the selection criteria of school
attendance and they all get on really well. The response from the schools
up there has been great, the girls can’t wait to get down here and it
provides that opportunity for them to get out of the communities for a
while and take part in a state titles which they certainly don’t do every
day.”
Australian AFL captain Jo Butland is in charge of the North Queensland
team made up mainly of Cairns players as well as some from Townsville and
Mossman. For the North Queensland team, the weekend will be more about
experience than winning the state title.
“By all reports the team did not go amazingly well last year but it is
such a good experience for them to get out there and have a kick with
girls their own age and have some fun,” Butland said. “It’s going to be
strange for them come Saturday to play on a full size field with 18-a-side
so it will be a good experience.”
Butland herself will be lining up with North Cairns in the local league as
the team gets their season under way looking for a fifth straight
premiership.
(Courtesy The Cairns Post 2.11.07)
FNQ
youth to strut South African stage
The
Far North has enhanced its reputation as a prime breeding ground for AFL
talent with five players selected in the AFL Indigenous Youth team to tour
South Africa next year.
Rex Liddy (Hopevale), Anzac Newman (Bamaga), Thomas Holland (Thursday
Island), Kieran Johnson (Lockhart River) and Peter Yagmoor (Cairns) have
been selected for the tour in February.
AFL Kickstart manager Rick Hanlon will also be involved as a tour
official.
Hanlon said the five Far North teenagers “all have something special about
them” as players and were selected after standout performances at the AFL
Kickstart Camp in Melbourne in August.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for them all…while there is obviously
football involved, the main purpose of this trip is about personal
development, about leadership roles and accepting responsibilities” Hanlon
said.
“And it’s the opportunity for a meeting of the two indigenous cultures and
for each to learn more about the other.”
Johnson and Yagmoor, both 14, play in the AFL Cairns Junior competition
while Liddy (St Peters Lutheran, Brisbane) and Newman (Abergowrie College,
Ingham) are on AFL scholarships.
Holland remains on Thursday Island but has been offered a scholarship to
prestigious Scotch College in Melbourne for next year.
Hanlon said Johnson and Newman were fleet-footed on-ballers who played an
exciting brand of running football.
AFL Indigenous Ambassador Michael long will lead the squad of 25 on the
two week tour that will include school clinics and three matches – two
against South African team the Buffaloes and a match to be played as a
curtain-raiser to a NAB Cup match in Pretoria.
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 25.10.07)
Cape
York program years ahead of Tigers plan, Hanlon lauds Richmond push
AFL
Cape York Kickstart Program manager Rick Hanlon has welcomed Richmond’s
proposed indigenous AFL institute, saying anything that expands
opportunities for youngsters from remote communities is a bonus.
The Tigers’ proposed Indigenous Football and Training Institute, slated to
opening 2009, would teach football and life skills to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander athletes at the club’s redeveloped Punt Rd grounds.
And while the idea was hailed at its unveiling in Melbourne last week, it
is not new, with Hanlon and his development staff having carried out
similar work throughout Cape communities for several years.
AFL Cape York has also proposed the establishment of an academy in Cairns,
using the former Cairns District rugby union headquarters in Buchan Street
as its base.
Far from rubbishing Richmond’s plans though, Hanlon is keen for the Tigers
to proceed, saying the more facilities of the kind throughout Australia,
the better: “Anything that creates opportunities for our kids, I’m in
there boots and all,” he said.
Hanlon said the AFL Cape York Academy would be keen to work with the
Indigenous Football and Training Institute where possible. “It’s all about
furthering opportunities,” he said. “I think anything that offers
opportunities to kids – I don’t care whether they’re indigenous kids or
non-indigenous kids – is great. It’s about opening up doors and enabling
children to make a choice: tigers chief executive Steven Wright said the
Australian Indigenous Football and Training Institute would host training
camps for indigenous youths who demonstrated sporting talent.
“The objectives of the institute will be to identify and nurture
indigenous young people who have skills in sport, particularly AFL
football,” Wright said last week. “We will encourage players who exhibit a
real talent for the game, we will also focus on training in areas of
leadership, team play, work and socialization skills.”
While Hanlon’s Kickstart Program has been doing this for years, the
proposed Buchan St Academy would take things a step further: combining
football training with a residential program and opening further education
and job avenues to youngsters, from remote communities.
“At the end of the day the focus of the academy is (for the students) to
get full-time employment and hold full-time employment, whether that’s in
your community or in the middle of Melbourne,” Hanlon said.
“Footy has given them the opportunity.”
(Courtesy The Cairns Post 24.10.07)
AFL spreads
the message way up North
It’s a long way to go for a game of footy.
AFL Kickstart officers have continued to push the sport to the farthest
reaches of the country, holding the Chris Johnson Cup at Bamaga, on the
tip of Cape York last week. AFL Cape York Kickstart program manager Rick
Hanlon, staff and players from Djarragun College, made the two-day trek
from Cairns to Bamaga for the under 15 boys competition to choose players
for next year’s Crusaders representative side.
While at Bamaga, the Ivana Gibson Cup, an under 16 girls competition was
also held, with 22 youngsters chosen for a tour of Cairns later this year.
The Cup is named after the first girl to represent the Crusaders at the
state championships. Gibson, from Cooktown, was a member of the Crusaders
under 12 side in 2001 and went on to study at Peace Lutheran College in
Cairns. She is now considering her options for tertiary study. “She really
epitomizes what we’re trying to do,” Hanlon said.
School attendance is a key criteria for Crusader players. Hanlon praised
the commitment of players who took part in the carnival, especially those
who traveled from Cairns. The trip was two days each way, with an
overnight camping stop at Archer River. Students slept on the school floor
at Bamaga. “We spent four days driving for six hours of footy but what
that did was create opportunities,” Hanlon said.
(Courtesy The Cairns Post 24.10.07)
Race on to sign Crusaders
Rex Liddy
is a crack indigenous footballer from Hopevale on Cape York, and he aims
to emulate his cousin Matt Bowen and become famous as a football star.
But unlike his celebrated cousin, who plays for the North Queensland
Cowboys in the National Rugby League, the 14 year old’s game of choice is
Australian Football, and this week at Bamaga on Cape York, the cream of
the region’s youthful footballing talent was displayed during the Chris
Johnson Cup.
The carnival is a battle for the allegiances of sporting youth on the
cape. In both rugby league and Australian football, the search is on for
lithe athletes who can be trained to an elite level, and the outdoors life
that young people on the cape live is conducive to producing the sort of
athletes needed in professional football.
Mark Browning, a former Sydney Swans captain who played 251 games and was
present at the carnival, said the region would produce top level players.
“We’ve already got on kid, Rex Liddy, who is looking like a strong change
to get drafted,” Mr Browning said.
“The AFL are like ants. We’ll go anywhere to pick up kids and try and get
them involved in our game. AFL can have a really positive influence on
places like Cape York.”
The AFL has worked hard and established a lot of good will among
Aboriginal communities across the cape and through the Torres Strait over
the past 10 years. It has spent $500,000 a year running football clinics
and even holding regular football carnivals at remote communities.
This week, more than 100 children traveled for days across dirt roads to
attend the carnival in Bamaga, a mixed community on the tip of Cape York
and one of Australia’s most isolated towns. But what should have been a
banner day for the AFL was tainted by the train-wreck unfolding on the
other side of the country in Perth.
Kieran Johnson, a 14 year old from Lockhart River and one of the stand
outs of the carnival, shrugged off the Ben Cousins scandal.
“I don’t think it will stop me playing,” said Johnson, who has already
been identified as a future AFL player and attends a football academy in
Cairns.
“I love the game because I can keep running, but I know drugs are bad so
it is not a good thing.”
The carnival also showed Australian football had made great inroads on the
cape, with more than 40 children picked to represent the Crusaders
representative team at a larger football carnival in Cairns next month.
As for the results of the Bamaga Carnival, the Thursday Island Dockers won
the boys competition, while the Allstars, a combined team from Cooktown
and Weipa, won the girls competition.
“Courtesy of The Weekend
Australian 20-21 October 2007)
2007
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ‘BE STRONG, BE HEARD’ HOLIDAY PROGRAM
On Sunday 23rd September the AFL Kickstart staff, accompanied by
members of GymSports FNQ set off to Bamaga for the Western Central cape
and Northern Peninsula area ‘Be Strong Be Heard’ School Holiday program.
Equipped with trampolines, gym mats, 10m long monster air gym and all the
essentials for our great game AFL, we had all the ingredients for a
successful week with the children.
Tuesday 25th September –
Bamaga
The morning
started very slowly at the Bamaga Football oval, with no sign of children
within half an hour of setting up. The children decided to sleep in
instead. However, within fifteen minutes over 50 children had flooded the
ground, bouncing around and joining in on the activities. Children swarmed
the gymnastic and skill based stations, showing a huge amount of skill and
acrobatics. The morning concluded with an AFL game before lunch where the
teams were divided into this years AFL Grand Final teams; Port Adelaide
and Geelong. After lunch the clinic moved over to the community hall where
the air gym was put in to use, proving to be a hit with the children. The
day ended with games of touch and tug-o-war topping off what proved to be
a very successful day. We would like to extend big thank you to Bamaga
Sport and Recreation Officers Estelle and Sarelli, as well as the
community Elders and Parents who helped out and supported throughout the
day.
Wednesday 26th September – Injinoo
The day begun at
9am at the Injinoo Community Hall. Again there were little or no children
there for the first little while, however after taking the troopy in
search of children throughout the town we soon had an army of 40 children
participating in activities. The gymnastic stations were again a winner
with the children; who went for hours without even signs of slowing down!
Before we knew it the day was over; and after a quick talk to the children
about the basis of the ‘Be Strong Be Heard’ program it was time to move on
and leave some very satisfied Injinoo children. Thank you to Lillian, a
community volunteer in Injinoo, as well as the Injinoo Elders and Parents
that attended the session who were all a great help.
Friday 28th September – Napranum
Despite the
scorching heat, it was decided to run the program on the Napranum
basketball courts rather than the more confined space inside the Community
Youth Centre. The number of children was smaller than previous days,
however the 25 or so that participated was more than enough to pull off an
extremely enjoyable day. Again the children thrived on the gym activities,
but seemed to be even more amazed by Kickstart Member Jonno Byrt’s ability
to continually kick a football through the basketball ring from the other
side of the court. Before lunch an AFL match was conducted and the
enthusiasm seen this game was one of the highlights of the day. After a
lovely feed of sandwiches provided by the Youth Centre, the children
finished the day showing their aerial skills on the air gym. Thank you to
Andrew Burns and the Napranum Youth Centre for all their help throughout
the day. Also, thanks to the volunteers who prepared lunch for the
children and were extremely helpful.
Saturday 29th September – AFL Grand
Final Day – Aurukun
The Aurukun
School library was transformed into the MCG for the viewing of the 2007
AFL Grand Final. Balloons, streamers and teams jerseys filled the room
which created a fantastic football environment. This atmosphere was helped
along by a hotdog lunch for the children. Prior to the game, children were
handed out jerseys of the team they wished to support for the day, with
all but 3 of the children deciding to jump on the Port Adelaide bandwagon.
The atmosphere, attitudes of children and activities throughout the day
were great – so too was the result of the game. GO CATS! Thank you to
Sport and Recreation Officer Tony and Principal Richard Barrie for their
help in organizing and ensuring the success of the day!
Monday 1st October – Lockhart River
We arrived at the
Lockhart River Football oval at 10am Monday morning to commence the final
day of the ‘Be Strong Be Heard’ School Holiday Program. By 11am 25
children were enthusiastically taking part in the footy and gymnastic
based stations. A sandwich lunch was provided at the Lockhart River Kids
Club which was much appreciated. After lunch, Kickstart staff member Marc
Harbrow conducted an Emu Parade on the football oval which was a great
success. The sight of children willingly picking up rubbish was really
encouraging and created a great mood for the football match which was to
follow. The game itself was also a great success, with Crusader and Cairns
Scholarship holder Kieran Johnston showing off some of the skills and
leadership that has put him where he is today. The game finished off what
was another great day on the School holiday Program. Thank you to Lockhart
River Sport and Recreation Officer Rebecca Elu and the members of the Kids
Club for their help on the day!
Miles
A Head
It has been quite a week
for rising AFL star Miles Kerindun. On Monday 17th September he won the
Reg Lillywhite Medal for the best Under 18 player and on Wednesday he
added a premiership medal to his neck after his Manunda Hawks defeated
Centrals in the U18 grand final. They come as just rewards for the boy who
has made some huge and hard decisions to arrive at this place.
Kerindun 17, is from the remote Aboriginal community of Aurukun on the
western edge of Cape York peninsula. He moved to Cairns four years ago
through the AFL Kickstart program’s Rick Hanlon. The St Augustine College
student has persisted with his football, his education and when he walked
up on stage to receive his medal on Monday night there was no one more
proud than Hanlon himself.
“I don’t think people understand the enormity of just how difficult it is
for these kids to make a move like that at such a young age,” Hanlon said.
“There were times when Miles could have and wanted to throw in the towel
and say ‘enough’s enough, my family and friends are back there’ and not
come back. Hanlon is so impressed with Kerindun’s maturation that he has
offered him a role within the AFL Kickstart program itself as a
development officer who will travel throughout the Cape to communities.
The challenge Kerindun faced was not lost on the year 11 student himself.
“It was a pretty huge thing for me to leave my family and community and I
was pretty homesick when I first came down here,” Kerindun said. “And I
wanted to head home a bit but I reckon it was a big opportunity for me to
go to boarding school and play footy and I just came and did my best. Rick
(Hanlon) really helped me to stay and has offered me a job and I want to
be a role model for the kids up in the Cape no.”
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 22.09.07)
Miles started playing AFL through the Kickstart Program around 2003. His
talent and leadership shone through immediately and he made the 2004, 2005
and 2005 Crusader Representative teams. He received a Kickstart
Scholarship and relocated to St Augustine’s College in Cairns in 2005. In
2006 Miles also made the inaugural AFL trip to South Africa playing for
the U17 Australian Indigenous team in what I imagine was an overwhelming
experience. Miles is still only 17 years of age and has been a member of
the Cairns U18 representative team this year. Miles achievements are
magnified when considering the challenges that children face in remote
communities. Miles has been the face of the Kickstart Program in Aurukun
and continues to be positive role model for his community. He is loaded
with talent and promises to be terrific senior footballer in years to
come.
Dai
revels in new hunger
It is a minor miracle Daniel Dai
will even run out for Cairns Saints today in the AFL Cairns Grand Final.
The AFL Cairns 2004 Rising Star and 2005 Reg Lillywhite Medalist spent the
first half of this season not playing on the ball at Griffiths Park but as
fullback for Cairns Kangaroos first grade rugby league team. Working as a
development officer for AFL Cape York and the Kickstart program Dai spent
his working day immersed in Australian football and had lost some of the
passion for playing.
Then when he finally did decide to return, he almost transferred to
Manunda Hawks, his opponent today at Cazalys, to join friends Gabby Weetra,
Willy Allick and Jamie Scrymgour.However the senior players at Saints, the
people that had had a lot to do with Dai’s development persuaded him to
stay with the club. He returned to the top flight in Round 12 against
Souths this year and has been among Saints best every week since. His
first quarter against Manunda in the second semi final was particularly
brilliant where he alone kept Saints in the game as Hawks got off to their
customary flyer. The break, it seems, has done Dai the world of good and
he will play an important role in today’s decider.
“When you are working and playing AFL it becomes a bit stale and I needed
a break,” Dai said. But having that time off got me going again and from
the first game back I had the butter flies again and I wanted the ball and
I got straight back into it. “During that time as well I was thinking a
change would help me so I thought I might play with some mates at Hawks. I
forwarded on my clearance sheet to Saints and some of the older guys who
had been at the club had a talk to me and told me what I would be missing
out on and made me realise I should stay and I am glad they did, it was
the right choice for sure.”
Dai came to Cairns in 2002 as a participant in the Kickstart Scholarship
program. He is now among the most exciting players in the league and his
pace through the middle will be vital.
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 22.9.07)
Pacific
Toyota Under 11 Development Camp
The Under 11 development
camp was held on the 1st and 2nd September and was a great success, the
children were well behaved and enjoyed themselves. Their training was
conducted very well and their skill level was tremendous. Also their
knowledge and ability to play the game was outstanding, which made
selections difficult yet interesting. This was an all round success, as in
previous years.
The following players have been selected to represent their Communities
are the 2008 Under 12 State Primary School Championships in Brisbane from
7th June – 14th June.
Valent Kirk, Johnathon Tomsana (Horn Island), Didymus Blanket, Tupoti
Morseu, Zengrey Nona, Solomon Blanket (Badu) Jack Daniels, Peter Lui
(Bamaga), Elton Poonnkamelya (Aurukun), Tyson Smiler, Isaac Frank,
Jarmaine Turpin, Ronderson Crapp (Kowanyama) Michael Noah (Pormpuraaw) Zac
Freier (Weipa) Scott Accomm, Brandon Piva (Lockhart), Lachlan Green, Troy
Pengally, Henry Pope (Cooktown), Clifton Burns (Yarrabah)
Pacific Toyota Under
13 Crusader Championships
On the 2nd September 49
boys and 10 girls of the Under 13’s arrived eager and bright eyed ready to
commence with the Crusader Cup Championships. This year numbers were below
average, however the talent shown was still above par, and their overall
behaviour during their time with us was excellent. The Cook Cluster Cats
showed a consistent winning streak along with the Torres Strait Dockers,
which led them to a show down in the finals with the Dockers showing the
goods and winning the championships 7.11.53 to 3.5.23. This carnival is a
development pathway to select a team for the Under 14 Pacific Toyota
Crusaders to participate in the Country Championships in Term 2 2008.
Selection was again difficult as the performances of the various teams
have improved greatly over many years of participation in the Kickstart
program.
The following players were named:- Aquila Gela, Chris Namok, Shaquel Nixon, Alfred Bond, Jay Hudson (Weipa), Anton Wolmby (Aurukun), Ishmael Soki, Lorrie Loban, Willy Wosomo (Thursday Island), Yamba Bowie, Joseph Kebisu, Rittie Nona (Badu Island), Timothy Tamwoy, Jeremiah Sebasio (Bamaga), Sydney Smith (Laura), Jalaba Murgha (Yarrabah), Edward Daniels, Comrie Tabuai (Djarragun), Jack Gardiner (Cooktown) Byron Bernard (Kowanyama), Jack Gardiner (Cooktown) SHADOW PLAYERS – Tinus David (Bamaga), Shane Mimi (Djarragun), Joel Mitchell (Cooktown), Phillip Pelgrave (Lockhart), Medi Richards (Badu Island), Cyril Harris, Joel Stafford (Yarrabah), Dylan Castors (Djarragun)
Badu
Island Crusader Participants by Medi Richard
On
Thursday, June 9, I went down to Mackay with Mr MJ and some other boys to
play in the State Primary School Australian Rules titles.
When we got to Horn Island our flight was delayed. So we caught the 3.30pm
flight down to Cairns and we arrived there at 5.20pm. When we came out of
the Qantas plane it was windy and wet. Finally we walked over to the
baggage carousel to pick up our bags. We walked over to the Hertz counter
to hire a car, so we could go to Kuiyam Hostel. When we got there, we had
a team meeting with Rick, the guy who runs junior AFL in Far North
Queensland. Rick told us that we can go to Cairn Central for night
shopping. When we walked up stairs to the Eatery area I saw some of people
from Badu and some other islands. After shopping, we drove back to Kuiyam
and I went straight into bed. I was so excited looking forward to the long
journey to Mackay in the Crusaders bus.
The next morning we got dressed and we put our bags in the trailer then we
went off. Our next stop was Townsville. We bought ourselves some light
snacks and some bottle of Powerade. When it was time to go, we hurried
back into the bus. Then we drove off to Mackay. At midnight we arrived at
Mackay. Daniel, our coach, brought us some pizza for dinner. It was so
freezing that thick smoke was coming out of our mouths when we were
breathing out. That night we had to wear our jumpers to go to bed.
The next morning we went to have our first game against Darling Downs I
felt nervous. Suddenly the siren went on for our game. When we ran on,
everybody started cheering and waving to us. I played Centre Half Forward
it was very exciting but they did beat us. During the week we played Mid
East, Bundaberg-Wide Bay, and we won against Capricornia.
Finally for the first time in six years we won against Peninsula. The
Cruasader team has never beaten them. This was the highlight of the week.
A big esso to the AFL, Pacific Toyota, Tagai College and our other
sponsors.
(Courtesy of
Torres News 7.8.07)
Indigenous teens urged to live their dream
A group of Indigenous
footballers have been given a lesson in what it takes to succeed in sport
and life.
Have
a goal, believe in your goal and be your goal. Such was the simple advice
Cathy Freeman gave a group of Indigenous footballers at a training camp in
Melbourne. It is one thing for coaches to spout such maxims, another for
someone who has lived their own dream to say it. The Sydney Olympics 400
metres champion was addressing the 51 attendees at the 2007 Kickstart
Camp, a venture supported by the AFL and Qantas. Former Essendon champion
Michael long said the kids had come from “all across Australia, metro,
country and community areas” for a week-long camp that will culminate in a
curtain raiser game to the Melbourne-Collingwood clash at the MCG. Long
said his involvement with the project was “one of the great things I’ve
been involved with” since retiring from football. He said that the
education and life-skills part of the program was just as important as the
football. “It’s not just about football,” he said. “Football has given
them the opportunity, but it’s about their character and their leadership
qualities.”
Twenty-five of the camp attendees will be invited to go to South Africa
next year with Long and AFL youth and high performance coordinator Jason
McCartney. “This is about exposing them to things they might not see, but
sharing those experiences they might take away in life,” Long said. “They
mightn’t make it in football but what they can give back to the community
is just as important.” The group watched training at St Kilda and Essendon
where they saw James Hird cut his training session after only a few
minutes when he felt tightness in a calf – the opportunities and the
downside of football exposed at almost the same time. The kids attending
the camp are all 14 to 15 years old. McCartney enthused about two of them
in particular. Rex Liddy, originally from Hopevale, 30 kilometres west of
Cooktown, was snared from rugby league via a Michael Voss scholarship and
is now in Brisbane. “An outstanding talent,” said McCartney of Liddy, who
is the nephew of North Queensland Cowboys” Matty Bowen. “that’s one of the
challenges we face, the competition for elite talent. We’ve got him
playing AFL and he loves it.”
Steve May, 15 and already 190 centimetres tall, is from Darwin. “He’s got
all the attributed you’d look at in modern-day football; great endurance
base and tremendous agility,” McCartney said.
AFL football, and Kevin Sheedy in particular, has played a major role in
the development of Indigenous talent, a fact that Long acknowledged. Other
sports are also aware of the unexplored talent in Indigenous communities.
Athletics Australia and the Australian Sports Commission have selected a
pilot group of 25 Indigenous athletes for a talent identification program
under the name Jump Start to London 2012.
Basketball, too, has just named Patrick Mills in its squad to play new
Zealand in Olympic qualifying matches. The 19 year old, whose mother is
Aboriginal and father a Torres Strait Islander, grew up in Canberra and
played rugby before turning to basketball.
(Courtesy of The Age
16.8.07)
Indigenous Secondary
Schools Kickstart Championships
On Tuesday 21st August, AFL Cape
York administered the first of its annual Indigenous Secondary Schools
Kickstart Championships held at Abergowrie College, 40km west of Ingham.
This year after the late withdrawal of Djarragan College, Shalom and
Abergowrie were left to battle it out for the championship.
Abergowrie started slowly, allowing Shalom to score the first 5 unanswered
goals. Panic and poor decision making was evident within the inexperienced
Abergowrie side, with silly handballs and ineffective kicks regularly
resulting in turnovers. The speed and accuracy of Shalom was dominant
early in the match, with Susiah Burrarrwonga, Roland Cunnaworin and
Mitchall Tayler showing some outstanding skills. However, after a quarter
time speaking to from the coach and Kickstart Staff member Daniel Dai,
Abergowrie came out firing with a 5 goal second quarter. By minimizing
their use of handballs and choosing to kick long, Abergowrie produced some
inspired football, spurred on by Anzac Newman, Arthur Ketchell and Francis
Pearson. Despite these efforts, Shalom proved too strong, winning in the
end by 35 points; finals scores were Shalom 16.6.102 to Abergowrie
10.7.67.
Over the next few years AFL Cape York plans to expand the championship to
include Djarragan and other schools from Bamaga, Thursday Island, the
Western Cape and throughout the Cook Cluster to eventually become a
state-wide school based competition. The initiative aims to provide youth
identification by means of representative football and peer leadership.
The competition will provide the opportunity for kids to further their
football skills and ambitions by creating a path for talent discovery.
Furthermore, it provides the possibility of sport and education based
scholarships or traineeships with AFL Cape York for exceptional leaders.
Gowa takes fast steps towards Beijing dream
Former
Cairns athlete Otis Gowa took another step towards his Olympic dream when
winning the Melanesian Regional Championships 100m at Barlow Park on
Sunday. Gowa won the event in a time of 10.76 seconds capping off a
memorable meet where he ran personal bests in both the 100m and 200m
events. Although not getting ahead of himself and realizing Beijing is
still long way off, the 23 year old former Cairns AFL Kickstart
development officer is progressing well and exciting the right people.
“I had a quiet chat with Australian relay coach Cliff Mallett earlier in
the weekend – he gave me a bit of a confidence boost going into this
meet,” Gowa said. “He had seen me race earlier in the week and was just
giving me some encouragement going into the final. He said I was running
well at the moment and things could happen. So I got into that final and I
knew I wanted to cross the line first and that’s what I did.”
The young athlete, who won his battle with Hodgkin’s Disease last year:
repaid the faith with a strong finals run and is set now to head back to
Brisbane and continue his training ahead of the nationals.
Gowa is having his first season in Brisbane after moving from Cairns to
further his career and it is already paying dividends. With the Beijing
Olympics less then a year away, the youngster is vowing to keep chipping
away in the hope of realizing a dream. “It is only my first season there
and I have done pretty well I think,” he said. “Now in two weeks time I
head to Singapore which is another goal I want to achieve, to win over
there and hopefully run even better and get down to 10.6 seconds. “I am
just looking at making good progress from there to the nationals and then
Olympic selections. “And I think that is a realistic chance at the moment.
I am not putting too much pressure on myself. It if comes it comes, if it
doesn’t it doesn’t but I am just taking little steps towards it right
now.”
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 21.8.07)
Pacific Toyota Torres
Strait Crusader Carnival
The U/13 Pacific
Toyota Torres Strait AFL Crusader Cup was held on Thursday 2nd August in
Bamaga. The carnival consisted of 4 teams; Horn Island, Badu Island,
Thursday Island and Bamaga and was conducted in the usual 2 x 12 minute
halve round robin layout.
The extremely hard-fought competition in the top end produced some
scintillating football. Horn Island in their first year in the carnival
were impressive, but couldn’t quite match the size and skills of its
competitors. Whilst Badu finished the carnival victorious, nothing
separated them from the brut strength of T.I and paced agility of Bamaga.
Between these three teams it was nearly impossible to pick a favourite.
From an AFL Kickstart perspective it was outstanding to see some of the
more complex features of AFL football being put to use at such a young
age. The vision of these kids and ability to hit targets whilst under
pressure was a big stand out for our staff. Teams were running in numbers,
applying sheppards and even flooding back when necessary to effectively
impede the oppositions scoring.
The Grand final showcased the bigger bodied teams of Badu Island and
Thursday Island. After an exceptionally physical contest, the swiftness
and accuracy of Badu’s Medi Richard, Rittie Nona and Zengrey Nona proved
enough to secure victory by 13 points with finals scores; Badu 6.0.36 to
T.I 3.5.23. Ishmael Soki turned eyes throughout the carnival, along side
Willy Wosomo and Lorrie Loban for T.I, and if it wasn’t for the
inaccuracies of the T.I team we may have seen a very different result.
Bamaga and Horn Island clashed for third place, and in a relatively one
sided affair Bamaga secured a convincing win. A skillful mix of speed and
vigor from Bamaga’s Joe Bond, Kosi Tomwoy and Cookie Sailer proved far too
strong, whilst youngster Jack Daniels gave many onlookers a thirst after
continuously getting his hands on the ball. Best players for Horn Island were
Shawn Marshall, Vallent Kirk and Keith Haifoo. Final scores were Bamaga
9.4.52 to Horn Island 1.0.6.
When wrapping up the carnival, AFL Cape York named the 2007 Torres
Strait Dockers side that will compete in the Annual Pacific Toyota
Crusader Cup Carnival in early September. Those players named in the side
are; Joe Bond (Bamaga), Kossy Tamwoy (Bamaga), Cookie Sailor (Bamaga),
Jeremiah Sebasio (Bamaga), Tinus David (Bamaga), Trevor Nona (Bamaga),
Shawn Marshall (Horn), Ishmael Soki (T.I), Lorrie Loban (T.I), Keith
Laifoo (T.I), Willy Wosomo (T.I), Kassim Wave (T.I), Yamba Bowie (Badu),
Joseph Kebisu (Badu), Medi Richard (Badu) and Rittie Nona (Badu).
Emergencies are; Leron Bowie (Badu), Paul Tabuai (T.I), Aza Gabadi
(Bamaga), Ernest Beckley (Horn), Douglas Nona (Badu) and Windsor Bowie (T.I).
Some under 11’s with high potential have been selected to attend the 2007
Pacific Toyota U11 Development Camp in late August. The kids selected
include; Valent Kirk (Horn), Didyrius Blanket (Badu), Tupoti Morseu (Badu),
Zengrey Nona (Badu), Jack Daniels (Bamaga), Peter Lui (Bamaga), Johnathan
Tomsana (Horn) and Solomon Blanket (Badu).
Pacific Toyota Western Central Cape Crusader Carnival
On the 11th and 12th August 5
Western Central Cape teams competed in Weipa for the annual U13 Pacific
Toyota Western Central AFL Crusader Cup. Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Lockhart
River, Aurukun and Weipa battled it out against one another over the 2 day
carnival in a round robin format with 2 x 12 minute halves.
Weipa was the team to beat, finishing undefeated after some dominate
displays of football. Aurukun tried to match the powerhouse in the final,
spurred on by the speed of Francis Woolla and silky smooth skills of Anton
Wolmby and Angus Waia. However the muscle of Weipa proved far too strong,
piloted by captain Aquila Gela who impressed throughout the carnival,
along with Shaquel Nixon-Adidi and Chris Namole. The final score for the
match was Weipa 4.4.28 to Aurukun 2.2.14.
3rd and 4th positioning was contested between Lockhart River and
Kowanyama. Lockhart River was competitive all game with the help of
Phillip Pelgrave and Brighton Butcher whilst the skills of 10 year old
Scott Accoom also amazed the Kickstart staff. However their inability to
convert goals hurt them, as the sleek skills of Kowanyama’s Tyson Smiler,
Ashton Yam and Isaac Frank proved too classy in the end; Kowanyama 3.5.23
to Lockhart River 0.3.3.
It was not only the boys who impressed; the talent of girls such as Lydia
Sigai (Weipa), Dorelle Aiden (Kowanyama), Tammy Conrad (Pormpuraaw),
Marisha Wolmberg (aurukun) and Lillian Woolla (Aurukun) is exciting for
the future of Girls Footy in the Cape.
The standard of football displayed throughout the games was fantastic,
with the final producing some electrified vieiwing. Victorian Kickstart
Staff member Jonno Byrt stated “it is the best level of footy he has seen
for this age division”. However, whilst there was much focus on the
football aspect of the carnival, the attitudes of the children involved
was impeccable. At the conclusion of the event, coaches from each team
presented their Coaches Award for the children who has displayed the best
overall on-field and off-field attitude. The way in which children would
willingly help out around camp was a stand out for the Kickstart staff.
These awards were presented to Tammy Conrad (Pormpuraaw), Byron Bernard
(Kowanyama), Brighton Butcher (Lockhart River), Zac Freier (Weipa) and
Elton Pookamelya (Aurukun).
AFL Cape York announced the 2 representative teams that will travel to
Weipa in September to compete in the Pacific Toyota Crusader Cup
Championships. Those children representing the Western Cape Eagles are –
Francis Woolla, Anton Wolmby, Angus Waia, Antonio Marpoondin, Jarius
Yunkaporta, Wade Woolla, Reginald Blowhard, Marisha Wolmberg, Alvin
Pootchomunka, Lillian Woolla (Aurukun), Aquila Gela, shaquel Nixon-Adidi,
Chris Namok, Marion Callope, Timothy Van Loenhout, Lydia Sigai (Weipa).
The representatives for the Central Cape Lions are – Phillip Pelgrave,
Gerard Butcher, Benedict Macumboy, Stanton Belly, Brighton Butcher, Arthur
Pascoe (Lockhart River), Ashton Yam, Byron Bernard, Dorelle Aiden, Tyson
Smiler (Kowanyama), Renee Ambrum, Jamie Benjamin, Tammy Conrad, Serita
Tommy, Jordan Ambrum, Peter Tybingoompa (Pormpuraaw).
Finally, AFL Cape York picked a number of younger children to attend and
U11 Development Camp to be held at the end of August. Those selected
include – Elton Poonamelya (Aururkun), Brighton Butcher (Lockhart), Scott
Accoom (Lockhart), Brandon Piva (Lockhart), Arthur Pascoe (Lockhart),
Tyson Smiler (Kowanyama), Issac Frank (Kowanyama), Jermaine Turpin
(Kowanyama), Gilbert Zingle (Kowanyama), ronderson Crapp (Kowanyama),
Jordan Ambrum (Pormpuraaw), peter Tybingoompa (Kowanyama), Michael Noah
(Kowanyama), Zac Freier (Weipa), Steve Wust (Weipa) and Lyndsay Gibson
(Weipa).
Gowa Kicks up a gear as Aussie berth beckons
Former
Cairns sprinter Otis Gowa will look to take another giant stride towards
securing a sport on the Australian track and field team when he returns to
action at Barlow Park today.
Gowa took just 10.68 seconds to show why he is a genuine national team
prospect at the Oceania Grand Prix athletics meet on Tuesday night,
qualifying second for the men’s 100m sprint final on Sunday.
The former Cairns AFL Kickstart development officer impressed in a strong
field to finish behind only Fijian Jone Delia (10.52sec) and will fancy
his chances of another good performance on his old stomping grounds today.
Having won a battle with Hodgkin’s disease last year, the 23 year old is
now working hard to achieve his dreams. “I’m aiming to make the Australian
team but I’ve had a few niggles leading up to this meet so I wasn’t in the
best shape,” Gowa said. “But I felt comfortable out there.”
Gowa said it had been a tough decision putting his AFL development career
on hold but had been necessary in order to dedicate himself to achieving
his best on the track.
“My love for athletics was so passionate and to let people skip by me who
I would usually beat was a hard thing,” Gowa said. “Sometimes you have to
be a little bit greedy.”
Gowa, who has moved to Brisbane to pursue his goals with trainer Darryl
Walson, edged out Cairns competitor Andrew Yong, who was not eligible for
placings, but ran the third fastest time on the night of 10.90secs.
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 16.8.07)
Six groomed in leadership
If
Rick Hanlon has his way, six Far Northern Australian Football juniors
picked to attend the Qantas Kickstart National indigenous Camp, will soon
be followed by many more.
The six, all with connections to the AFL Cape York region, will take part
in a series of leadership and role model workshops, skill development and
fitness assessment sessions at the Melbourne camp beginning on Monday 13th
August.
Kieran Johnson (Djarragun College), Maxwell Luke (Djarragun College), Rex
Liddy (St Peter’s Lutheran College), Thomas Holland (Thursday Island),
Anzack Newman (Abergowrie College) and Peter Yagmoor (St Augustine’s
College) will make the trip along with AFL Queensland Development Manager
Rick Hanlon.
The week will culminate with the boys participating in a curtain-raiser
match to the AFL clash between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG on
Friday. They will also get to meet a number of leading indigenous
Australian sport stars including Cathy Freeman and Dean Rioli.
Hanlon said although all six players were gifted, their selection
recognized their efforts off the sporting field more than on it.
“There’s no doubt they have some talent but it’s more about the
combination of talent and that they’re really doing well at school and
attending school on a regular basis,” Hanlon said. “Peter is a Cairns boy
but all the other boys are from remote communities,’ Hanlon said.
“All of these kids have got leadership qualities. “They’re terrific boys,
I’ve known them all since they were nine and have known Peter since he was
six.”
While Yagmoor is a Cairns product, his late mother hailed from Hopevale,
and Johnston (Lockhart River), Luke (Kowanyama), Liddy (Hopevale), Holland
(Thursday Island) and Newman (Bamaga) all grew up in remote communities.
Hanlon said it would have been difficult for several of the youngsters to
leave their family surroundings but all had made a good fist of the
situation and were proving exemplary role models for children from their
communities.
(Compliments of The
Cairns Post 11.8.07)
Djarragun Victory
In a surprise win,
Djarragun took out the Under 15 age championship
Djarragun College took out the inaugural schoolboys under 15 AFL
championship with an upset Grand Final win against the more fancied St
Augustine’s College.
St Augustine’s went through the season undefeated with a core of quality
players controlling most games, including recent Michael Voss Scholarship
recipient Peter Yagmoor and fellow Brisbane Lions Academy squad members
Sam Michael and Luke Chitty.
After a slow start, Djarragun fought back hard in the second term led by
speedster Kieran Johnson from Lockhart River (also a Brisbane Lions
Academy squad member) to narrow the margin to two points at the main
break. Inaccurate kicking at goal from Djarragun in the third term allowed
St Augustine’s to stretch the lead to seven points at three quarter time
with strong contributions coming from Peter Yagmoor and Luke Chitty of St
Augustine’s.
In a thrilling last term, Djarragun put the foot down to finish with
plenty of run. The team converted three goals to St Augustine’s one and
took the Grand Final by a solitary goal.
Final score: Djarragun College 6.10.46 def St Augustine’s College 6.4.40
Best players: (Djarragun) – Kieran Johnson, Paul Walit, Alex Namai, Passi
Namai, Eddie Daniels
(St Augustines) – Peter Yagmoor, Luke Chitty, Georgio Phillips, Sam
Michael.
Goalkickers: (Djarragun) – Kieran Johnson 3, Alex Namai 2, Gehmat Hobson 1
(St Augustines) – Peter Yagmoor 2, Luke Chitty 1, Sam Michael 1, Ryan
Etherington 1, Georgio Phillips 1
(Courtesy of The Cairns post 7.8.07)
The next Matty Bowen could be playing footy for
the Brisbane Lions
AFL
scouts swooped on southeast Queensland last week so sift through dozens of
kids they won’t get their hands on for another two years.
Recruiters, player agents and coaches swarmed like ants to a picnic as the
country’s best teenagers took centre stage at the Under 16 National
Championships. Most were keen to sift through Division 1 contenders from
Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. But they would also have
gone home with the names of several Queenslanders in their notebooks as
the home state won its third Under 16 Division 2 title in four years.
Forwards Declan Bevan and Jack Stanlake and midfielder Jesse Haberfield
emerged as 2009 national draft prospects following the Young Scorpions
undefeated run which culminated against Northern Territory on Friday.
“This is my seventh year with the Under 16s and this would be the best
skilled groups I’ve seen,” said Queensland coach Neville Miller whose son
brad plays for Melbourne.
Rex Liddy, from Kenmore via Far North Queensland Aboriginal community
Hopevale, also auditioned well. “He kicks with both feet, has a major
sidestep and takes players on,” Australian Institute of Sport AFL Academy
head coach Alan McConnell said of Liddy. At 15, St Peters Lutheran College
boarder Liddy is a year younger than most of his opponents and will not be
eligible for McConnell’s program until next year. But the recruiters would
have noted his impressive bloodline – he is a relative of North Queensland
Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen – and his ability to find the ball in traffic
and to use it. Before Friday’s final game, Champion Data statisticians
recorded Liddy hitting 100 percent of his targets by foot. Playing as a
roving forward or on a wing, the 180cm schoolboy showed good pace, tackled
ferociously and has been likened to Fremantle’s Des Headland and Port
Adelaide star Daniel Motlop.
Brisbane Lions midfielder Scott Harding was another interested spectator.
Harding was there with his family to watch younger brother Justin who
booted six goals against the Territory. “His dream is to go straight to
the Lions,” said Harding’s proud mother Tulaga Baitela. “He wants to be
better than his brother. Forget school, the (championships) are all he’s
been talking about.”
Club scouts were on the lookout for speed, size and “just good
footballers”, Kangaroos football operations manager Donald McDonald said.
“They come in all shapes and sizes,” he said. “But if you can play, you’re
good enough whether you’re tall or small.” Sixteen year old Bevan, a
strong-bodied 195cm redhead with good aerial skills and an accurate left
boot, is an exciting key position prospect. And McConnell said there was
no shortage of “modern prototypes.” “There’s a number of players in that
185cm plus category who can run a bit,” he said.
"Rex is a recipient of an AFL Kickstart scholarship who was identified during the Regional Pacific Toyota Crusader Cup competition held in Cooktown in 2003. In 2004 Rex accepted educational scholarship to attend Peace Lutheran College in Cairns. After a very successful 2005 Rex was offered a full scholarship to attend St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane and to further develop his sporting potential."
(Courtesy of The Sunday Mail 5.8.07)
Yagmoor looks to the big time
OUTSTANDING midfield
prospect Peter Yagmoor could follow the path of Courtenay Dempsey and
Jarrod Harbrow as indigenous footballers from the Far North who graduate
to the elite AFL level.
Yagmoor, 14, has recently been awarded a Michael Voss Scholarship through
AFL Queensland. The scholarship gives Yagmoor the opportunity to continue
his education with St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane and join the AFL
Queensland Academy, which will cover his expenses as his football career
takes shape.
AFL Queensland Cape York development officer Rick Hanlon, also Yagmoor’s
coach at North Cairns under-14s, said the scholarships were awarded to
youngsters of rare talent."Peter certainly has a lot of potential. He has
some wonderful skills, he’s very silky when he moves around the ground,
has good balance and is a very good kick," Hanlon said.
Hanlon said Yagmoor, a St Augustine’s College student, had enjoyed a
"spectacular year" which included being a key member of the unbeaten North
Cairns junior team, selection in the Country Kookaburras and being named
as a shadow player for the Queensland schools under-15 side. Yagmoor,
who has a booming left-foot kick, started out with City Cobras in the AFL
Cairns under-8 Auskick program.
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 28.7.07)
Pacific Toyota Cook Cluster Carnival
Five teams from the South East
Cape Cluster travelled to Cooktown to contest the annual Pacific Toyota U13
boys/girls Crusader Cup on 24th & 25th July. Over the 2 day carnival teams
played under a round robin format with each game consisting of 2 x 15
minute halves. At the conclusion of the preliminary rounds Cooktown and
Yarrabah secured top and second position respectively on the ladder,
closely followed by a Bloomfield River State School, Rossville and
Hopevale Aboriginal Communities. AFL Kickstart staff noticed a distinct
improvement in the teams on the second day with Bloomfield showing some
amazing talent and combining well as a team, midfielder Sterling Bassini
from Bloomfield River showed amazing skill and vision and constantly won
the ball. Rossville were the big improvers of the carnival and showed that
they will be even more competitive in the years to come.
To determine official placings, 3rd and 4th teams Bloomfield and Rossville
played a
high standard semi final in which Bloomfield narrowly defeated
Rossville. In the grand final Cooktown proved too strong for a gallant
Yarrabah Aboriginal Community team winning by a solitary goal 4.5.(29) to
3.5.(23) Jalabah Murgha from Yarrabah tried to lift his team continually
winning the ball and pushing forward. To Cooktown’s credit they withstood
Yarrabah’s attack with excellent performances from Joel Mitchell captain
of the Cooktown team.
Each coach
presented
a Coaches Award and the recipients were: Derek Atkinson (Yarrabah),
Timena Bassini (Bloomfield), Oliver Hanran (Rossville), Joel Mitchell (Cooktown).
At the conclusion of the carnival AFL Cape York announced the 16
representative players to travel to Weipa to contest the annual Pacific
Toyota Crusader Cup Regional Championships and they are the following –
Albert Dear, Oliver Hanran, Jack Morris (Rossville), Sidney Smith (Laura),
Brandon Ray, Willy Walker, Leam Chookie, Sterling Bassani (Bloomfield),
Joel Mitchell, Jayden Ross, Jack Gardiner (Cooktown), Kaiome Ludwick,
Cyril Harris, Carmille Pearson, Jalaba Murgha, Joel Stafford (Yarrabah)
Teen talent’s chance to shine
There is a buzz about Rex Liddy.
Those in the know believe the 15 year old, a cousin of Cowboys rugby
league fullback Matt Bowen, will be the next footballer from Hopevale to
hit the big time. But unlike his famous relative, Liddy will make his mark
in AFL, not league.
The Far Northern product is this week representing Queensland in the under
16 national championship in Brisbane and AFL Queensland talent manager
Mark Browning said it was the perfect stage for Liddy to show his class.
“He is very, very talented. The move down here has been terrific for him.
He is starting to excel with the extra training and the exposure to the
higher level of play and in coaching,” Browning said.
“Rex was probably a bit lazy 12 months ago and he played on his instincts
but now he is starting to grasp what is required of him to mature as a
player and it is paying dividends.”
Browning said Liddy would be one of the youngest players taking part in
the week long national championship but that he could compete equally
against the older boys.
“We probably see him playing as wing forward or as a running midfield in
this group but next year he will have more a key midfielder role,”
Browning said.
“In the future he could develop into a style of player like Daniel Motlop
from Port Adelaide. He has good speed, his short ball handling is very
clean and he is very skilful with his kicking.”
Liddy attends St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane as part of a Michael
Voss Scholarship.
Queensland opened the under 16 carnival with a convincing victory against
Tasmania on Saturday. The Young Scorpions generated twice as many scoring
shots as their rivals in winning 16.18 (114) to 11.9 (75).
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 30th July 2007)
Dotoi has more goals than just top footy
Never say Malcolm Dotoi does not
grasp life’s opportunities with both hands.
The former Cooktown youth is studying at one of Victoria’s most
prestigious schools, Scotch College, on a sporting and educational
scholarship.
AFL Kickstart manager Rick Hanlon plucked the talented footballer from
Cooktown and offered him a scholarship at Peace Lutheran College in Cairns
last year before Scotch came calling.
Dotoi, 15, moved down to Melbourne this year to start year 10 and has not
looked back. He is excelling in both sport and school and is relishing the
chance he has been given to develop. “It is such a great opportunity for
me, I am passing everything at school and that is pretty good for a kid
from the Cape,” Dotoi, who was back in Cairns this week doing work
experience with Skytrans and AFL Cape York, said. “It was a big move for
me, I was expecting it to be a really good school, a good education, good
sport and it has been that and more.” It was a massive move for a boy who
grew up in communities around the Hopevale area before moving to Cooktown
and then Cairns.
But Dotoi, who is a solid youth playing in the ruck and down back in his
Scotch College football team, had the backing of his family.
“I want to get a good education and become a better footballer while I am
here,” He said.
“It was a big move but my family really supported me, they said they would
go on what I thought was best for me.” Dotoi’s scholarship runs for three
years until he finishes year 12.
(Courtesy of The Cairns Post 21st July 2007)
Gabba thrills for local kids (by some of the children who played at the Gabba from Badu Island)
On Friday,
May 25, 12 kids from Badu went down to Cairns and slept at Kuiyam Hostel.
Kids from eight different remote communities were going to Brisbane to
celebrate the AFL dreamtime round, and we were going to play at half-time
of the Brisbane Lions/Collingwood game.
On Saturday early in the morning at 3.00am my fr4iends and I got up from Kuiyam Hostel. We got dressed and we were all ready to go down to Brisbane for the Gabba trip. Finally Mr MJ led us to the footpath beside of the road. Marc and Daniel, the AFL development officers, drove us to the airport and we all felt excited. When we got there half of our group with Mr Ahmat went crazy with excitement and and Mr Ahmat took some of our kids outside with him. Quickly and quietly Mr MJ and the other kids jumped out of the other troopy carrier, then he said to Mr Ahmat "to drop our bags at the baggage carousel". Carefully we walked over to the security checking. When we went through we had to go straight into the Qantas jet. When we got in the jet I started to feel sleepy when the plan left Cairns. Suddenly three ladies and a man walked around serving breakfast. I felt so tired I slept nearly the whole trip. Finally I started to hear people saying: "Look there's Brisbane". Finally the jet was dropping down. Slowly a lady came around and she told us to fasten our seat belts.
When we landed at the airport we started to freak out. When we walked out of the jet I started to think which side of the airport are we in. Suddenly Rick, who runs the junior AFL program around North Queensland, spoke to Mr MJ at the side of the taxi rank. Then we saw two huge buses waiting for us. A man who was driving one of the buses said to us "just put your bag in the bottom of the bus". He said to us "go in and find yourself a seat". We had to go all the way to Gold Coast and when we got there we had our lunch. Then we rode all the way to Brisbane to the Gabba stadium, where we were given our tickets. Then we went into watch the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood. (Medi and Angelo)
When I saw
32,000 fans cheering I thought they were cheering for me but they were
cheering for the Lions players. I wanted to pretend to be a very
good player like Jason Akermanis. (Solomon)
When we first ran out, me and the other three boys from different communities ran out with the Brisbane players as mascots. After that I ran back to Mr MJ to get dressed back into my other playing strip. When I was finished Mr MJ and I walked as fast as we could to find the others. On the half time siren, when the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood went inside, we ran out to the middle of ground to play against Palm Island. Then the umpire told us to setup in our positions. We started to play with Palm Island we let them score no points because we were too tough on them. When the siren rang we all ran around the poles and we went back to where we were sitting. On the way we ran and waved at 33,000 people watching us (Joseph)
A big Esso to DICTA, Department of Sport and Recreation, Department of Communities, Skytrans, Qantas, AFL Queensland, Indigenous Hostels and Tagai College for their wonderful support. (The Badu kids)
Pacific Toyota U14 Crusaders Representative Team - 9th to 11th June 2007
Under
14 Pacific Toyota Crusaders traveled to Townsville for the U14 Qld Country
Championships with 8 remote Communities being represented in the team.
Over the course of the Championships the Pacific Toyota Crusaders
showed they were very competitive against all other teams other than the
dominate Cairns team. There is no doubt that the participants from
Cape York are getting to understand the game and with further skill
improvement can only play better football in the future. The
improvement from game 1 to game 6 was extremely noticeable and a
discussion point amongst many who attended the Championship. Narrow
losses to Townsville (6 points) and Bundaberg Wide Bay (3 points) put the
team back to third place in the overall standings. Captain Kieran
Johnston, midfielder Maxwell Luke and ruckman Repu Kris were rewarded Qld
Country Kookaburra selection for their outstanding performance at the
Championships. Kieran and Maxwell were dual winners of the Sean
Kruger Medal awarded to the best & fairest player/players voted by
coaching staff. the popular Comrie Tabuai was awarded the Coaches
Award for his off and on field behaviour.
Full results
Day 1
Townsville
5.3.33 def. Pacific Toyota Crusaders 4.3.27
GOALS: – Javid Bowen, Hodrick Mudu, John Dau, Maxwell Luke
Day 2
Pacific
Toyota Crusaders 7.4.46 def. Mackay 1.5.11
GOALS: Maxwell Luke 2, Alton Matthew 2, Kieran Johnson 1, Ike
Purcell 1, Jalaba Murgha 1
BEST PLAYERS
– Elisa Jackonia, Jimmy Dau, Kieran Johnson, Repu Kris,Maxwell Luke, Alton
Matthew
Cairns 8.6.48 def. Pacific Toyota Crusaders 1.1.7
GOALS: Alton Matthew 1 BEST PLAYERS: Maxwell Luke, Paiwan Gaiden, Hodrick
Mudu, Comrie Tabuai
Pacific Toyota Crusaders 7.3.46 def. Capricornia 1.3.9
GOALS: Alton Matthew 3, Kieran Johnson 1, Hodrick Mudu 1, Jimmy Dau 1,
Repu Kris 1, Javid Bowen 1 BEST PLAYERS: Paiwan Gaiden, Maxwell
Luke, Jimmy Dau, Repu Kris,
Day 3
Bundaberg
Wide Bay 3.2.20 def. Pacific Toyota Crusaders 2.5.17
GOALS: Alton Matthew 2 BEST: Kieran Johnson, Maxwell Luke, Paiwan Gaiden,
Javid Bowen
Pacific Toyota Crusaders 4.2.26 def. Darling Downs 2.0.12
GOALS: Matthew 2, Dylan Castors 1, unknown 1 BEST: Kieran Johnson,
Maxwell Luke, Comrie Tabuai, Charles Cameron
Pacific Toyota U12 Crusaders Representative Team - 10th to 14th June 2007
The U12
Pacific
Toyota Crusaders attended this year's Qld State Primary School
Championships, children from 9 remote Indigenous Communities made up the
23 player team, day 1 the group gathered in Cairns and stayed at Kuiyam
Indigenous Hostel. At
6.00am the following morning our team packed up in preparation for the 10
hour journey to Mackay where the championships were held. While in
Mackay team stayed at Andergrove Van Park which was ideal with excellent
facilities and amenities. The following morning coach Daniel Dai
took the team for a training and skills sessions. This was the first
opportunity since the September 2006 U11 Development Camp for the children
to reform their friendships with other team members.
-
Day 1 of the Championships Pacific Toyota Crusaders played Darling Downs 14.13.97 to 2.1.13, Darling Downs were far better prepared, bigger and stronger than the Pacific Toyota Crusaders but to the credit of our team they never stopped trying and having fun.
-
Each Country team has to play a crossover match from the Country Pool to the Metropolitan Pool, this year Pacific Toyota Crusaders matched up against Met East who overpowered the Pacific Toyota Crusaders 19.9.123 to 0.0.0 on Day 2.
-
Day 3 Pacific Toyota Crusaders match was against the Capricornia team, these matches are always very entertaining and competitive, on this occasion the Crusaders were too strong for the Capricornia team winning 6.6.42 to 2.3.15.
-
Game 4 v Wide Bay was again entertaining although the Bundaberg boys overpowered our team our lads were competitive in certain parts of the game and showed good signs 10.11.71 v 1.2.8.
-
Day 5 this was a game the Pacific Toyota Crusader children always enjoy playing as Peninsula is a part of the same region and a healthy respective relationship has been formed over the past 6 years. This game was one of the games of the carnival with both sides evenly matched, although Peninsula tried extremely hard Pacific Toyota Crusaders were able to hang on to a narrow victory and take the Regional Challenge Shield for the first time. Results - Pacific Toyota Crusaders 5.5.35 Peninsula 4.6.30.
Ritti Nona from Badu Island was voted the Best & Fairest player for Pacific Toyota Crusader Medal and Shaquille Nixon received the Coaches Award for outstanding leaderships.
Qantas AFL Kickstart Program
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 Marion Motlop. Cyril more commonly known as "Junior" is the nephew of past greats Maurice Rioli and Michael Long (not bad blood lines!) Marion 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 8th and 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, health 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 U15 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 U16 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 U15 Schoolboy team last year
WA State U16 team later this year
Clinton is a touch midfielder with balance and great leadership qaulities.
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.
NSW ACT U16 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 U15 Schoolboy last year as a bottom age (14 years old).
He has been selected in the Qld U16 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 Crusaders teams 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 U16 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.
(Courtesy of Jason McCartney the AFL's Youth & High Performance Coordinator)
Art makes mark for young footy fans
Children from some of
Australia’s most remote communities took time out from a busy weekend of
sport to see how other young Indigenous people are kicking goals in the
art world.
About 100 children from eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities took a special tour of UQ Art Museum’s Our Way exhibition of
Lockhart River art on Saturday (26 May).
The children, aged 10-12 years, were on an AFL “Kickstart” tour. Their big
goal was to mix with professional AFL players and run onto the Gabba
during Saturday night’s Indigenous Round of the AFL (on the eve of the
40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum).
But first the Our Way curator, UQ art historian Dr Sally Butler, showed
them the Lockhart River exhibition and explained the success of the young
artists – some of whom started printing and painting when they were only a
year or two older than the visiting children.
The visitors were from Lockhart River, Badu Island, Mornington Island,
Aurukun, Kowanyama, Palm Island, Woorabinda and Cherbourg, and some of
them had been traveling since the early hours of that day. Still, they
listened attentively as Dr Butler told stories behind the art and
encouraged them to paint about their own lives.
“Send us your paintings … the world wants to see your art,” Dr Butler
said.
The children’s tour was led by AFL Queensland Development Manager, Rick
Hanlon, who said their response to the art was terrific.
“As a part of our program that weekend we wanted to have an education
component, and we thought that visiting the University and visiting the
exhibition would be a great way to show the kids what other Indigenous
people are doing and how they see life, and encourage the kids to make a
difference,” he said.
“Indigenous Australians really connect with art and with sport - and if
the visit motivated one or two children, that’s wonderful,” Mr Hanlon
said.
“Courtesy of the University of Queensland – 27th May 2007”
Lions have a back yard of hidden gems.
As the AFL celebrates the indigenous
contribution to its game during this weekend’s round, Queensland’s remote
and untapped far north has emerged as a potential recruiting hot spot.
AFL’s development push into Cape York and the Torres Strait is yielding
some fantastic raw talent.
And architects of the code’s Kickstart program – a $500,000 initiative to
promote the game in remote communities – are convinced it is a matter of
when, not if one of its graduates is drafted.
“It will happen,” said the AFL’s Rick Hanlon, who for a decade has been
the Cairns-based Development Manager for Cape York.
During his time in the job, Hanlon has been responsible for the
development of Cairns’s Courtenay Dempsey and Jarrod Harbrow – two gifted
indigenous players bound for greater things. Despite playing for different
clubs, Essendon’s Dempsey and the Bulldogs’ Harbrow are flatmates and have
each played a handful of senior games.
Cameron Josiah, from Kowanyama on western Cape York, and Mornington Island
product Brandon Roughsey were prominent for the Queensland under 18
Scorpions in their 55 point win against Sandringham last weekend. “They’ve
got natural talent. Their gift is evident,” Hanlon said.
The next Crusader, as the Cape York representative teams are known, to
make an impact could be Rex Liddy from Hopevale, a speck of a town about
35km north of Cooktown. A relative of North Queensland Cowboys rugby
league fullback Matt Bowen, Liddy has made the Queensland under 15
schoolboys and Under 15 All Australian teams since moving to Brisbane two
years ago.
Thanks to an AFL Queensland scholarship, he boards at St Peters Lutheran
College and recently won selection as the youngest member of the State
under 16s. Liddy, a powerfully built midfielder who has been likened to
Fremantle’s Des Headland and Port Adelaide’s Daniel Motlop, said there
were plenty more where he came from.
“There’s heaps of others up there who are good at sport. There’s boys
better than me. Faster, quicker, smarter,” he said.
There are 71 indigenous players listed with the 16 AFL clubs.
So far none has been scouted from Cape York, despite it being in the
Lions’ “backyard”. But Brisbane utility Chris Johnson, a proud member of
the Indigenous Team of the Century, believes Liddy will eventually inspire
his peers and relations to follow in his footsteps.
Johnson, after whom the Torres Strait’s Chris Johnson Cup carnival is
named, is a mentor to Liddy and his 13 year old schoolmate Patrick (PJ)
Nandy from Wujal Wujal, north of Cairns. “Rex has got similar attributes
to Daniel Motlop. He kicks the ball a long way for a 15 year old,” Johnson
said. “If we can get Rex over the line it will give a lot of them hope. I
think he might get drafted before he lands on a rookie list.”
AFL Cape York is planning to establish a Cairns based academy for players
from remote areas of the north. It is based on the Clontarf Football
Academy, set up six years ago by inaugural Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham.
Clontarf has produced Hawthorn star Mark Williams, Richard goal sneak
Andrew Krakouer and highly rated Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder. The
academy’s mission is to provide football and educational opportunities for
disadvantaged children. The Cairns based academy will be used to house
students from the Cape’s remote communities while they attend school.
“The emphasis is on good education. It will help them make smarter life
choices,” Hanlon said. “If they decide to pursue an AFL career, they will
have the tools to do it.”
“Courtesy of the Sunday Mail – 27th May 2007”
Cape York brigade set for Gabba centre stage
Cape York
youngsters will feature prominently in a 96 member Queensland contingent
at the Gabba today as part of the AFL’s Indigenous Round ceremonies.
AFL Kickstart manager Rick Hanlon will lead the huge undertaking that will
see 10 children and two adults from eight communities – Cherbourg,
Woorabinda, Palm Island, Mornington Island, Kowanyama, Lockhart River,
Aurukun and Badu Island – travel to Brisbane today.
Once there the group will visit University of Queensland for a Lockhart
River Art Exhibition then go to the Gabba for the curtain raiser between
local school Djarragun College and Narangba Valley High School. The wise
eyed youngsters will then walk on to the Gabba and take part in the
welcoming ceremony with an Aboriginal leader before the Brisbane Lions
tackle Collingwood.
The eight teams will also play at halftime in the game and meet a number
of Brisbane players after the match in a trip of a lifetime.
This is another stage of the Kickstart program that we just did not
realize how big it was going to be,” Hanlon said.
“It is just a great opportunity for the kids, giving them the chance to
venture outside their comfort zone of the community and explore the big
world.
“Can you imagine how it will feel for a 12 year old kid from a community
of 500 people to walk out on to the Gabba with 30,000 people cheering them
and acknowledging them – that is a life-long experience.”
And like all Hanlon’s initiatives with Kickstart, the rewards go to the
young community leaders.
“The selection basis for the kids going is that they had to all be going
to school at least four days a week and have no history of drug abuse or
violence,” he said. “All these kids are role models and are trying to make
changes, it is half boys and half girls pretty much and will be a
fantastic trip for them.”
“Courtesy of The Cairns Post – 26th May 2007”