The NT Under 15 Squad has returned from the 2012 National Indigenous Under 15 KickStart Championships with a 3-2 win-loss record and six players selected in the initial Flying Boomerang Squad.
Ralph Dhamarrandji is congratulated by NTIS AFL Head Coach Brenton Toy after Indigenous Under 15 KickStart Championships on the Gold Coast. The Galiwinku local was voted the Best Player of the Championships (courtesy AFL Media)
The Championships, held at the Southport Sharks Football Club on the Gold Coast from 10-13 April brought together the best Indigenous talent in the country for a Round Robin carnival, with each team comprising 25 players selected from state and territory KickStart Camps earlier in the year.
NT Under 15 Coach Shannon Rusca said despite the squad having only a short time together, the development and performance of the group only improved as the week progressed.
"We basically got the boys together, got off a plane and played a game of footy’, said Rusca.
"Despite this, it was great to see the boys grow both individually and as a team as the week progressed and to win three out of five games was a fantastic result".
Rusca spoke with excitement about half-back flanker Ralph Dhamarrandji after the quiet Galiwinku local excelled in each game to be awarded Player of the Championship.
"Ralphy was a quiet lad when he first joined the team and to watch him grow as a half-back flanker in each game was fantastic,"
"He chopped off everything that came his way and defended strongly, he has great skills on both sides and a great ability to hit targets,"
"Everyone involved with the Under 15 squad is extremely proud of how the boys conducted themselves, especially Ralphy for a well deserved award".
AFLNT Indigenous Programs Manager Kevin Bruce added to Rusca’s sentiments, saying the success of the squad featuring boys from several remote communities was yet another example of the importance of investing significant time and resources in these locales.
"This team compliments AFLNTs over arching goal to provide football opportunities for all Territorians no matter where you live," said Bruce.
"The 23 players representing came from 10 communities in the NT including, Maningrida, Galiwinku, Yirrkala, Ngukurr, Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs, Hermannsburg, Tiwi Islands and Barunga,"
"There are exciting times ahead with an increased presence from AFLNT staff in remote and regional areas of the Northern Territory providing opportunities to the entire football community – young, old male or female".
Ralph Dhamarrandji, Harley Purantunamirri, Steven Mole, Ezekiel Frank, Brandon Parfit and Aiden Hill were selected in the initial Flying Boomerang squad of 43, to be cut to 25 ahead of the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships in Sydney 7-14 July.