The thousands of kilometres that separate Tagai and Geelong is a clear indication of the differences between the two locations, but that hasn't stopped Cape York product Ernest Beckley ngeotiating the adjustment. The 17-year-old will start Year 12 at Geelong College as a prefect at his boarding house and house captain, obviously making his mark after arriving in Victoria on an AFL Cape York scholarship two years ago. Ernest is one of 25 indigenous players to have benefited from the initiative in the last eight years and to see him succeeding is no surprise to AFL state indigeneous programs manager Rick Hanlon. "He's jus a great kid, a real leader. He's modest, clever and grateful and has some strong ambitions," Hanlon said. "He plays in the school's first 18, but his ambition is to be an engineer and that's firmly entrenched." Hanlon first got to know Beckley in a hospital ward after the youngster was injured in a game. "I was just making conversation with him, got talking, and just thought 'what a great kid'," he said. Hanlon is also overseeing the construction of the AFL Cape York House on Buchan St, designed to house indigenous youth while they play Australian Rules and attend a Cairns school. The 30 inaugural borders will arrive in late Januray. "The AFL House is another dimension to what AFL Cape York provides. It's another arm to the program," he said. "The earlier they come, the more opportunity we have to provide a career opportunity."
Last Modified on 15/01/2013 09:13