AFL Victoria today kicked off the first stage of the Laguntas Indigenous Tigers program.
Supported by the AFL, the Korin Gomadji Institute (KGI) and AFL SportsReady, the aim of the program is to further develop the pathway to the AFL competition for Victorian Indigenous players, as well as providing training and education to support the off field development of the players and support staff involved.
Thirty-seven of the 50 Laguntas squad members chosen from across Victoria have gathered in Melbourne at the KGI at the Richmond FC for a five day camp – starting Thursday (June 6) and concluding with a game against AFL Victoria’s Country U16 squad on Monday (June 10) at Punt Road Oval.
As part of the camp, players will hear from AFL Indigenous Ambassadors Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) and Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn), and will be provided cultural strengthening sessions from a broad range of Indigenous community leaders and role models.
The players will also benefit from an experienced coaching team for the Laguntas Tigers, led by Head Coach Chris Johnson (Brisbane Lions, Current AIS/AFL Academy Coach) and Director of Coaching Terry Wallace (10yrs AFL Coach with Western Bulldogs and Richmond).
AFL Victoria General Manager Grant Williams said the program will help those involved enhance their knowledge of the expectations of the current talent pathways, while exposing them to best practice in athlete performance, within an intensive football program.
“We have identified a gap that exists for Indigenous players aged between 16 and 19, so one of the aims of the program is to increase opportunities for young Indigenous players to enter AFL Victoria’s talent pathway including the TAC Cup competition.
“Indigenous players already participating within a regional TAC Cup program will continue their involvement, however, if not selected they will have the opportunity to play with the Laguntas team and also be able to participate in the related off field development program that sits within it,” Williams said.
“This is a program designed to strengthen the cultural connection to the talent pathway in Victoria and will assist with players committing to and engaging in the program.
“All players representing the Laguntas team will be aligned to their respective AFL Victoria talent region which is determined by place of residence.”
The camp will conclude on Monday with the Laguntas Indigenous Tigers team playing the Vic Country U16 squad. The match will be the first of three games that will be incorporated into AFL Victoria’s talent pathway program match schedule.
Significantly, AFL Victoria has seen an increase in the number of Indigenous boys participating in our twelve regional talent programs over recent years, a trend that AFL Victoria’s Talent Managers would like to see continue.
“Our Talent Managers will play a key part in this new initiative in their role of developing talented young players in Victoria, their task is quite challenging given the number of overall participants in the state and the scale of the community League network,” Williams said.
The team will this weekend utilise the Korin Gamadji Institute facilities based at Richmond Football Club while at the same time undertake accredited education and training facilitated by AFL SportsReady.
Belinda Duarte, Director of the Korin Gamadji Institute, believes the Laguntas program fits in well with the aims of the KGI.
“The KGI is about providing pathways for young Indigenous people to grow and develop. The Laguntas program will give young Indigenous men an opportunity to challenge playing at the highest level of football as well as develop their skills and experience to build a career off the field.
“We’re extremely proud to be part of the Laguntas, and look forward to seeing these young men take on the challenges ahead.”
AFL Victoria’s Indigenous Programs Manager Aaron Clark believes the new program – which was announced in Februarythis year - will complement the successful U15 Kickstart program, which saw the Victorian side finish runners-up to WA in the Kickstart Championships in April this year. It will also help develop off field coaches and staff as well.
“The addition of the Barrawarn Program last year, supported by AFL SportsReady and Collingwood FC Foundation, has added five full time Indigenous trainees within AFL Victoria’s regional development network with the aim to increase football engagement amongst regional Indigenous communities including Shepparton, Morwell, Dandenong, Ballarat and Mildura,” Clark said.
“The trainees work closely with AFL Victoria staff in each region and assist them across the areas of NAB AFL Auskick, engagement with local football clubs and leagues, talent identification, welfare/community services and administration.”
Last Modified on 07/06/2013 12:21