WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Record Article – Round 2
A host of young country Victorian footballers will take their talents to the national stage this
month as part of the Victorian Kickstart team.
With the addition of two players from Tasmania, the U15 all-Indigenous side will travel to Cairns
from April 10-15 for the National Indigenous and Multicultural Championships, boasting a list chock
full of players from country Victoria.
Selection trials held across the State proved hugely successful with the majority of the squad coming
from country regions.
Five players from the Goulburn Murray region and four from Gippsland headline the country
contingent in the high quality list of young indigenous stars.
Preparations for the Championships gathered momentum in March with two camps held to trim the
squad to the final 22.
A High Performance Camp in Melbourne gave the squad the opportunity to run through similar test
to those conducted at the National Combine each year and also learn about the professional
discipline needed to make it to the elite level.
The next step was a practice match with Ballarat’s St Patrick’s College and a Future Leaders Camp at
Brambuk, the National Park and Cultural Centre, in Halls Gap.
There the focus turned to bringing the players together as a tightknit unit and educating them about
their cultural heritage.
Sessions included boomerang throwing, a chance to hear from Aboriginal leaders and a special rock
climbing and abseiling challenge.
Indigenous Programs Manager Aaron Clark said the experience would be something the boys would
never forget.
“Identity plays a huge role in the lives of young indigenous men and this camp helps to increase their
knowledge of aboriginal heritage and the life and beliefs of their ancestors.”
“We also took the boys out of their comfort zone which helps increase their self confidence and trust
in each other.”
“Having so many boys from Country Victoria is fantastic and this process will help them return to
their respective communities as young leaders and role models for their peers.”
“Through this program we start to see genuine friendships forming between boys who live huge
distances apart from one another and these will continue to build as these boys grow into young
men.”
In another sign of the growing diversity in country football, five members of the Victorian All Nations
Squad (U15 Multicultural Tea,) also hail; from country regions.
Edward Gattek (Warrnambool), Ajak Dang (Shepparton), Thu Sa La (Myanmar), Matthew Salatielu
(Mildura) Monson Suamli (Mildura) have all been selected as part of the 12-man All-Nations Squad
to compete at the AFL National Indigenous and Multicultural Championships in Cains.
2015 Victoria / Tasmania Kickstart Team
Beau
Tyrin
Toby
Josh
Kyle
Coen
Rhys
Lochie
Luke
Mitchem
Todd
Dylan
Harold
Kai
Irving
Harrison
Blake
Jerome
Manny
Tarryn
Kailen
Matthew
Anthony
Atkinson
Bedford
Chatfield
Clarke
Cooper
Damon
Dawson
Egan
Everett
Garner
Garnham
Hood
Madgwick
Mosquito
Pepper
Schlensog
Sorgel
Thalasinos
Trindle
Walker
Walker
Dandenong
Goulburn Murray
Dandenong
Warrnambool
Goulburn Murray
Bendigo
Goulbun Murray
Warrnambool
Metro
Tasmania
Dandenong
Gippsland
Gippsland
Goulburn Murray
Gippsland
Gippsland
Geelong
Goulburn Murray
Bendigo
Tasmania
Mildura
Goulburn Murray