36 Territory boys will line up for the Northern Territory at the National Indigenous Kickstart Championships and the All Nations Carnival to be held simultaneously in Coffs Harbour, from April 11-16.
National Indigenous Kickstart Championships is an U15 selection Carnival for the highly regarded national ‘Flying Boomerang’s’ program, which will compete in the U16 NAB AFL National Championships coupled with an overseas tour which in recent years have been to places like South Africa and New Zealand.
"The Kickstart Championships has been an integral part of the pathway for our young indigenous boys to be exposed to a higher level of competition and demands of AFL football. The Flying Boomerangs program takes it a step further to develop and shape the whole individual which is fantastic for our boys particularly ones from remote communities," said AFLNT Talent and Education Manager Tavis Perry.
The NT Kickstart team will be headed up by NT Thunder Premiership Player and current Southern Districts Premier League Coach, Shannon Rusca and will be assisted by AFLNT Staff Members Josh Johnny (Alice Springs) and Sam Ellis.
"Shannon brings a wealth of experience in football at all levels, and we hope that he can assist to develop these young men into future leaders and onto bigger and better things in football."
The players will fly out from Darwin on April 9 after a training session at TIO Stadium.
The final squad is:
- Sheldon James (Lajamanu)
- Jamie Gurruwiwi (Gapuwiyak)
- Braeden Hamilton (Katherine)
- Jayden Braun (Katherine)
- Dominic Grant (Wanderers)
- Leslie Maroney (Wanderers)
- Jeff McDonald (Wanderers)
- Justin Cooper (Jabiru)
- Leon Dhamarrandji (Galiwinku)
- Denzel Marika (Galiwinku)
- Graham Wurramarba (Yirrkala)
- Yimin Mununggurr (Yirrkala)
- Brayden McLennan (St Marys)
- Keenan Lake (Districts)
- Kyren Gavin (Districts)
- Rodney Baird (Palmerston) - Captain
- Wayde Shadforth (Alice Springs)
- Jamahl Bostock (Tennant Creek)
- William Bruce (Alice Springs)
- Brenton Watts (Alice Springs)
- Byron Cole (Alice Springs)
- Fabian Dickson (Yuendumu)
For the first time this year, the ‘AFL All-Nations’ Carnival will run in conjunction with the Kickstart carnival and will be 9-a-side U15 competition and players from this team will have the opportunity of being selected in the U16 ‘World XVIII Team’ that participates in U16 NAB AFL National Championships.
"The AFLNT Multicultural Program has continued to grow from strength to strength in line with the AFL’s all inclusive football model and this will be the first time a NT representative team will be entered into the All Nations Carnival," said Perry.
The NT All Nations Team will be coached by St Marys player, Josh Heath and assisted by AFL NT staff member, Ben Canton.
The final All-Nations squad is:
- Zain Lopez (Wanderers)
- Marcus Valastro (Waratahs)
- Iraklis (Hercules) Hatzigeorgiou (Nightcliff)
- Ryan Mu (Nightcliff)
- Nathan Mu (Nightcliff)
- Giuliano Spaddacini (Nightcliff)
- Alessandro Spaddacini (Nightcliff)
- Jabin Martin (Wanderers)
- Jerry Thomas (Buffaloes)
- Daniel Otim (Buffaloes)
- Samuel Barbu (Tracey Village)
- Patrick Taban (Nightcliff) - Captain