The Central Australian Redtails Football Club will travel to Melbourne in March to play VFL side Casey Demons.
A squad of 22 players and coaches will travel to Melbourne for the trip, which will include a tour of the Melbourne Football Club and meeting their coaches as part of the growing relationship between the clubs given Melbourne’s connection to the Northern Territory and Central Australia through the Next Generation Academy and AFL game in May.
Pre-season training for the Redtails started in November 2016 with numbers up to 40 players hitting the training track on a consistent basis.
Included in the travelling team will be members of the AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) Under 18 State Academy squad.
The Redtails’ purpose is to create a Football Club incorporating the Right Tracks Program to drive change in the community of Central Australia.
Its main aim is to create a team that gives strong and healthy pathways in behaviour, job readiness programs and lifestyle, while bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Central Australians and creating unity and pride for the local community.
Players can only participate in the team if they are employed, studying, engaged in employment pathways or in the Right Tracks Program.
Redtails president Rob Clarke said it was the perfect opportunity for the players to show their passion for the game and their commitment to creating a positive environment in their communities.
“Many have taken up employment and encouraged others outside the program to do the same.
“With the Redtails underage academies recently starting in Alice Springs the pathways to play at the highest level have never been more accessible in the Centralian region, and we thank the Northern Territory Government for its ongoing support.
“Make no mistake this is a massive challenge and we thank the Casey Demons for giving this opportunity to all involved and thank the Melbourne Football Club for their support and involvement,” Clarke said.
AFLNT CEO Michael Solomon said the Central Australian Football Club (CAFC) and AFLNT were working closely together to align programs and aspirations.
“With the support of the NT Government, we are all determined to see the CAFC program flourish and wish the team all the best for their upcoming trip to Melbourne.
“The Redtails is perched on strong, community-focused foundations and when combined with the extraordinary talent we see in Central Australia, the pathways into AFLNT programs and beyond are endless,” Solomon said.
The game will be played at 3pm on Saturday 4 March at Casey Fields in Cranbourne East.