Young stars to feature in Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs

A host of the country’s most promising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural boys Australian Rules footballers aged 15-and-under have been selected in the 2024 Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs.

Ninety players will feature in the Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs. They will come together in Melbourne this week to take part in a football and leadership camp, which will commence on Monday.

The Flying Boomerangs squad comprises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, while the World Team features footballers with a parent born outside Australia. Both squads feature players from every state and territory.

Players will engage in a range of football and athletic training sessions, as well as cultural and leadership-building activities designed to further enhance their skillset both on and off the field.

The programs will have access to facilities at Arden Street Oval, Mission Whitten Oval, Trevor Barker Beach Oval and Wesley College, while AFL players Mac Andrew, Jason Johannisen and Buku Kamis will conduct Q&A sessions during the three-day program.

The camp will conclude with two talent showcase matches on Wednesday, October 2. The matches will be played at Tony Sheehan Oval within the La Trobe University Sports Park in Bundoora.

AFL Diversity Talent Programs Manager, Narelle Long, said: “We are excited to have our Flying Boomerangs and World Team squads coming together in Melbourne to take part in our development program.

“Both squads are stacked with promising young footballers who have the potential to become future stars of our game.

“The Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs offer a great opportunity for these talented young players to take part in a host of football, education, cultural and leadership sessions which will further develop their skills on and off the field.

“Wednesday's exhibition matches will give players the chance to put their talent on show and put their learnings into practice.”

Many players selected in the Flying Boomerangs and World Team squads will go on to feature in the Indigenous and Multicultural Academies and other talent pathways programs in future years.

The Flying Boomerangs squad features the sons and grandsons of several AFL greats, including Percy Burgoyne (son of Shaun), Zebedee Farmer (son of Jeff) and Sonni Te Moananui (grandson of Nicky Winmar).

The World Team also features several familiar names, including Mali Lual (brother of Essendon player Luamon) and Cooper Brancatisano (cousin of Gold Coast Suns player Maddy).

The Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs will be coached and mentored by a host of current and former AFL and State League players, some of whom have featured as members of the Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs in previous years.

The Flying Boomerangs coaching panel includes recently retired AFL star Chad Wingard, Collingwood forward Nathan Kreuger, former AFL players Brendon Ah Chee, Jarrod Lienert and Kyron Hayden and Lachie Edwards.

The World Team will be coached by Ali Hammad, Goy Lok, Adam Kaddour, Wally Kaddour, and Sebastian Gargana, with Port Adelaide star defender Aliir Aliir to assist as a mentor.

HOW TO WATCH: A live stream of the Flying Boomerangs and World Team matches at Tony Sheehan Oval will be available on the AFL Play YouTube channel on Wednesday. The first game will commence at 10:30am, with the second game to follow at 1:00pm.

Continue below to see the 2024 Flying Boomerangs and World Team squads.

FLYING BOOMERANGS

 
WORLD TEAM