Seven of Victoria’s best under-16 Indigenous players will travel to Fiji this week for the 2017 Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs Leadership Program from December 2-9.
Currently in its twelfth year, the Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs is the national under-16 male Indigenous development program.
Twenty-six talented Indigenous players from across the country will participate in the eight-day camp which focuses on personal and career development, leadership and cultural identity.
Of the 26 players selected for the program, Victoria produced the second most representatives (seven) behind Western Australia (eight), followed by Northern Territory (five), South Australia (three), NSW/ACT (two) and Queensland (one).
After impressing selectors at the 2017 AFL National Diversity Championships in Blacktown earlier this year, Victoria’s Sage Tapner (Bunyip FC), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (South Warrnambool FC), Will Dwyer (Shepparton Swans FC), Deekyn Smith (Narree Warren FC), Kobi George (Berwick Junior FC), Lachlan Johnson (Calder Cannons) and Jacquin Mifsud (Sandringham FC) will have the opportunity to develop their skills in the annual Indigenous program.
The Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs program coincides with the AFL’s Under-15 Youth Oceania Cup where teams from across Fiji, Vanuatu, and Nauru will compete in a Lightning Series. In addition, the Boomerangs team will play a match against an All Stars team from the Oceania Cup.
The 2017 Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs will be coached by Barry Lawrence (WA) with Rulla Kelly-Mansell (TAS), and Harry Miller (SA) named as assistants.
