THE 2008 Flying Boomerangs are continuing their personal journeys as part of a three-day leadership program in Melbourne this week.
Following a tour of South Africa in February, the group of 25 predominantly 15- and 16-year-old indigenous footballers have come from around Australia to learn about leadership and cultural identity through a series of sessions and activities culminating in the Long Walk onto the MCG.
AFL Indigenous Programs Co-ordinator Jason Mifsud said the boys were selected from a squad of 50 players from the national Kickstart program held last August, based on criteria including school attendance and leadership qualities they’ve displayed.
Mifsud, a former assistant coach at St Kilda, said while football talent was a consideration – seven Flying Boomerangs from the 2006 squad are playing with AFL clubs – it was not the primary factor in selection.
“All have the aspiration to play AFL football and a percentage will have the talent to do that,” Mifsud said.
“(But) the whole emphasis of the Flying Boomerang program’s not to produce AFL talent – though that’s a really positive outcome – but to develop indigenous leadership, and hence bringing them back for this three-day program.
“It’s really important for our young indigenous men to be really comfortable and clear about their identity and heritage and what it represents.”
Through the AFL Qantas Kickstart program, the Flying Boomerangs conduct a national tour each year and an international tour to South Africa biennially.
Part of the program exposes players to the key qualities of leadership by providing examples of indigenous leaders who share their stories through presentations and interactive sessions.
Community leaders such as Professor Mick Dodson, Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, help the group understand their cultural identity and history.
“In some families and regions and communities that’s been diluted for a whole range of reasons,” Mifsud said.
“To reconnect and provide some further affirmation about identity we feel is really important in terms of developing leadership.
“Because it’s hard to develop leadership if you don’t develop character and to provide that self-esteem and that confidence within the group we feel is really important in terms of furthering their leadership aspirations.”
Melbourne’s Austin Wonaeamirri and Isaac Weetra, Malcolm Lynch (Western Bulldogs), Nathan Krakouer (Port Adelaide) and Joe Anderson (Carlton) are several players who have gone on to bigger things after their Flying Boomerangs experience.
Mifsud said players needed the right combination of talent and personal attributes to succeed.
“Austin’s one example where even though he’s got great flair and talent he’s had to show a lot of discipline, commitment and resilience to get picked up via the rookie draft, and we’ve seen the benefit of that in the last couple of weeks as a Melbourne player,” he said.
“But he’s shown all those other qualities and characteristics all great leaders show … through resilience, decision-making, discipline, commitment.
“Those are the sorts of things we’re continually reinforcing both on the field and off the field.”
Round nine is the AFL’s Indigenous Round, highlighting the relationship between the game and Indigenous Australia. This year’s round features a number of events, culminating in the Long Walk and the annual Dreamtime at the 'G game between Essendon and Richmond on Saturday night. Click here for full coverage.
