The 2014 AFL Flying Boomerangs squad will take part in a high performance camp in Victoria, kicking off today, Monday November 17 in Melbourne.
The Flying Boomerangs is a personal development and leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men aged 14 -15 years-old.
Selected by AFL Talent Managers based on school attendance, leadership skills and football ability, the squad of 24 young Indigenous men will be led by Eugene Warrior, former Port Adelaide and Norwood player during the eight day experience.
Highlights of the camp include visiting Melbourne and Collingwood Football Clubs, an intensive training camp at HMAS Cerberus and a cultural session at Brambuk in the Grampians.
Jason Mifsud, AFL Head of Diversity, said the camp schedule specifically addresses the four key pillars of the program; Communication, Resilience, Decision Making and Identity.
“The Flying Boomerangs program is a great opportunity for the best rising Indigenous players in the nation to develop leadership skills, as well as provide talent pathway opportunities for participants to play at an elite level.
“During the camp participants will be exposed to the AFL training environment when they visit Melbourne and Collingwood Football Clubs. Their skills in communication, resilience and decision making will be challenged when they take on physical and psychological activities at the HMAS Defence base and finally the participants will learn more about their identity and Indigenous culture when they visit the cultural centre at Brambuk for storytelling, dancing and reflection time.
“As we’ve recently seen Boomerangs players such as Jay Kennedy Harris and Jarmen Impey go on to achieve recognition at AFL level, we look forward to seeing the next generation of Flying Boomerangs represented in the NAB AFL Draft held on the Gold Coast.”
2014 Flying Boomerangs squad:
Tyrell Hocking (Sailsbury, SA), Xavier Cubillo (Darwin, NT), Cameron Wild (Ceduna, SA), Nathan Kruger (Victor Harbour, SA), Adam Nichaloff (Alice Springs, NT), Jeffrey McDonald (Burunga, NT), Rodney Baird (Palmerston, NT), Dominic Grant (Darwin, NT), Tyrone Hayes (Lakes Entrance, VIC), Aiden Domic (Mt Clear, VIC), Joel Garner (Gruyere, VIC), Jamaine Morgan (Croyden, VIC), Tyran Mansell (Launceston, TAS), Liam Lupton (Canberra, ACT), Tere Yarran (Huntingdale, WA), Harley Stack (Ballajura, WA), Billy Johns (Koondoola, WA), Kris Ryder (Beldon, WA), Tyrees Miller (Quinns Rock, WA), Brendon Collard (Kalgoorlie, WA), Gregory Humphries (Bunbury, WA), Bowe Roads (South Perth, WA), Sachem Parkin-Owens (Stradbroke Island, QLD), Byron Cole (Alice Springs, NT)
Highlights of 2014 Flying Boomerangs High Performance Camp:
November 17: Players arrive in Melbourne for induction session
November 18: Visit to Collingwood and Melbourne Football Clubs before departing for HMAS Defense Base
November 19: Defense Fitness test, ropes and abseiling activities at HMAS Cerberus
November 20: Defense training activities including a mud run before returning to Melbourne
November 21: Visit to Collingwood and Melbourne Football clubs before departing for Brambuk
November 22: Cultural hike followed by camp fire, storytelling and dancing session
November 23: Return to Melbourne for Graduation Dinner
November 24: Presentation form the squad to AFL Executive before players return home
