INDIGENOUS representative side, the 2015 AFL Flying Boomerangs, has capped a successful week with a win over the Victorian Diversity All Stars on Saturday in Melbourne.
The group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, aged 14 -15 years old, spent this week at a high performance camp where they were guests of the Collingwood and St Kilda Football Clubs, as well as the Australian Navy.
Led by four goals from Shaydan Close, the Boomerangs were too good for the All Stars, winning 12.11 (83) to 3.3 (21), in an entertaining match at Punt Road Oval.
The squad of 25 boys was selected by AFL talent managers from around Australia based on their school attendance, leadership skills and football ability.
Boomerangs head coach Shannon Rusca told AFL.com.au that he was delighted with the result, but more importantly with how his team responded to the week-long camp.
"It was a fantastic win, the boys have had a long week where they've been tested mentally and physically, so to come up on a Saturday after a week was testament to the boys' character," Rusca said.
"They showed the resilience we've been ramming home to them all week.
"Everyone played their role, they knew their role and executed their role, and a big catch cry we had during the week was '100% team, 100% of the time', so I thought that was spot on.
"They'll now return to their communities and play local level footy and their next talent pathway will be their State 16s team, and hopefully we get a big chunk of them go through to that.
"That's our aim, to arm them with the right tools so they can move up into the national carnival."
The Flying Boomerangs perform their war dance before the game at Punt Road Oval. Picture: AFL Media
AFL FLYING BOOMERANGS 12.11 (83)
VICTORIAN DIVERSITY ALL STARS 3.3 (21)
Goalkickers
Flying Boomerangs: Shaydan Close 4, Ari Miles 2, Michael Mummery, Tarryn Trindall-Thomas, Mihail Lochowiak, Eli Hill, Cooper Kilpatrick, Heath Ryder
Vic Diversity All Stars: Jacob Dhieu, Riley De Martino, Riley Taylor 1
