DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday 27 June 2012
A DECISION to include Wadeye Magic into the Northern Territory Football League Division 1 on a permanent basis is some way off yet, but the community team will again take its place in the competition this forthcoming season in another 10-game trial.
The Magic proved its worth on the field last season in its first 10-game trial in the rebadged reserves last season.
The Wadeye team won eight of its games by the end of their trial -- its two losses were against last year's grand finalists -- and they were third on the ladder.
"At this stage Wadeye Magic will be playing 10 games in Division 1 in the upcoming campaign as they did last season," a statement from the AFLNT said this week.
"We are awaiting confirmation and ratification from the board about the level of Wadeye's participation (for the 2012-13 season) and also awaiting the official release of the NTFL draw.
"Dates on both of these at this stage are to be confirmed."
A report into the Magic's effect upon its community, and of the AFLNT's five-year long football program there, said that the team has proved to be a unifying force in the region, but that there is still alot of work to be done.
Wadeye, 270km south-west of Darwin, is the largest community in the Northern Territory with a population of over 2800 people. It made national headlines for all the wrong reasons several years ago after escalating anti-social behaviour and gang- related violence.
However, with the formation of its very own football team, which brought together its various clan groups, Wadeye has seen a notable improvement, says the report by consultants Colmar Brunton.
MAKING A MARK: A Wadeye Magic player takes a mark at ground level during the team's 10-match trial in the NTFL Division 1 last year. Image Epic Moments Photography
Last year, the community was presented with a one-off Australian government $100,000 grant toward the formation of Wadeye Magic and its initial entry into the NTFL.
Fifty players from Wadeye played for the Magic in its 10 games and selection was based on a 'no work/school, no play' policy.
Among several points in the report, handed to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affair (FaHCSIA), were for the Magic to host some of its games, reducing operational costs and to show that Wadeye is as safe to visit as any other remote town.
Other flow-on benefits the team has had on the community have included:
- The formation of a four-team senior football competition which has flourished since 2007;
- An effective local governance structure, the Wadeye Football League Committee, established at the same time;
- Umpires and coaches being trained, further enhancing the standard of play;
- Five trainees having been employed to help with coaching and running the junior program and for umpiring and administration of the senior league competition;
- That the program continues a strong club partnership program with AFL side Essendon Football Club.
"According to analysis of the most significant change data," the report says, "the top five changes that have occurred as a result of the AFL program are that people feel prouder to live in Wadeye; players are helped to stay out of trouble; players are role models to other boys and men; men/boys who play are more active/healthier; polayers are taught skills, i.e. discipline, respect, organisation, team work, leadership.
"These results underscore the intangible put powerful effect that Wadeye Magic, in particular, is having on peoples’ morale in Wadeye as well as the perceived positive effect the football program has on helping players stay out of trouble and become good role models who are more active and healthier and who are learning leadership skills."
The report says that having games at home would have several positive outcomes.
"The community would have the opportunity to watch their team and home games would bring in more money to the community, flowing on to other benefits such as private enterprise activities such as adventure tourism and retail," it says.
The success of the program could be used in other communities.
"(Football) is an ideal magnet to engage Indigenous youth," the report continues.
"The model is showing promising signs in most areas outlined in the Wadeye Football Club business plan.
"Further evaluation is required, but if the initial success continues and develops it could be well worthwhile to trial the model in other remote communities."
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 27/06/2012 19:31