NT boys and coaches selected for Boomerangs & World Team squads
Friday 8 July 2016
After a strong showing at the AFL National Diversity Championships in Townsville, AFLNT is proud to have eight boys selected for the Australian Boomerangs squad.
AFLNT Diversity Championships’ Kickstart coach, Shannon Motlop, has also been chosen as an assistant coach for the Boomerangs squad after his NT team finished with wins against all teams, except overall winner Western Australia.
Motlop said he looks forward to coaching some of the boys again in a few weeks time.
“I really enjoyed working with the whole group, they came together well to become a really tight team by the end of the Diversity Champs Carnival.
“All the boys performed well and did NT proud, the ones selected for the Boomerangs squad are great leaders,” Motlop said.
The Wanderers’ Joel Jeffrey, whose family is no stranger to representative football, is just one of the boys selected.
Kaiya Jones, who represents Waratah in the NTFL, as well as Brandon Rusca who plays for the Southern Districts Football Club join Jeffrey in the midfield.
Malcholm Rosas who plays for Darwin in the NTFL has been named in the squad as a defender, along with Nightcliff’s Kyle Gowley and Katherine’s Robert Campbell.
Dillen Brown from the Wanderers has been recognised for his swingman abilities and has been identified by the selectors as a medium defender and forward.
Zakorah Gibson, a small forward from Maningrida, rounds out the eight with his spot on the emergency list.
Over the coming weeks the AFL will finalise the team before the U16 National Championships on the Gold Coast in July.
There the Boomerangs team will take on the World Team.
AFLNT is also proud to have one player, Lodviko Cokanauto from Waratah named as a key forward for the World Team squad.
Our Diversity Championships’ All Nations coach and NT Thunder contracted player, Tony Olango has also been identified as an assistant coach for the World Team.
AFLNT High Performance Manager, Wally Galio said great opportunities awaited the players.
“The players that were selected were consistent performers over the seven game series and they deserve their spot.
“They continued to show good leadership on and off the field and when they head to the Gold Coast in July they will be better exposed to the leadership, cultural and educational side of the AFL,” Gallio said.