World Footy News

The World Team format that saw a mix of overseas and multicultural players form a team to play in the National Under 16 Championships has seen a watering down of the overseas based players component of the team as the concept has worn on.  Now there are no overseas based players involved with the team now made up exclusively of players with multicultural Australian based players that were born in non-English speaking countries (although the squad below seems to have some exceptions to this) .

The South Pacific Team now does not compete at this national tournament - they now compete in the Qld U16 State championships (that were held in May) and can make it to the National Championships and represent Qld. 

The AFL has also indicated that in future, if there is an outstanding overseas based junior talent identified by international affiliates they will "be open to accommodating these players either through the World Team or through another state talent program."

 

Matches for the World Team and Flying Boomerangs begin today at 4pm.

 AFL Media Release

The Flying Boomerangs is a personal development and leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men, meanwhile the World Team is made up of the best upcoming AFL multicultural players from across the nation.

Selected based on school attendance, leadership skills and football ability, the squads are made up of 25 Indigenous men and 25 multicultural men aged 14 -15 years-old and have been chosen by AFL Talent Managers following the 2015 National Diversity Championships held in Cairns in April.

The Flying Boomerangs and World Team squads will take part in a five day high performance training camp on the Gold Coast this week, coinciding with the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships.

As part of the training camp, the Flying Boomerangs and the World Team will play in two exhibition matches at Metricon Stadium and Southport Football Club.

Jason Mifsud, AFL Head of Diversity, said the programs are a great opportunity for the best rising Indigenous and multicultural players in the nation to develop on and off the field.

“The Flying Boomerangs and World Team will be exposed to the best training, coaching and mentoring from former AFL players including David Rodan, Brent Renouf and Eddie Sansbury, as well as personal development opportunities.

 

“Not only will the training camp provide AFL talent pathway opportunities, it is also about preparing our next generation of young leaders with the skills, qualities and experiences to become positive role models in their own families and communities.

“While on the Gold Coast the squads will be engaged in education programs, training at Goodlife Health Club which is a support partner of the AFL Diversity program and participants will also be given the chance to put their skills to the test when they play in two exhibition matches,” said Mr Mifsud.

2015 Flying Boomerangs squad:

Shaydan Close (West Kempsey, NSW), Cooper Kilpatrick (San Souci, NSW), Liam Holt-Fitz (Tennant Creek, NT), Patrick Puantjimi (Wurrumiyanga, NT), Michael Mummery (Malak, NT), Peter Wees (Moulden, NT), Philemon Nona (Badu Island, QLD), Phillip Solomon (Bungalow, QLD), Ari Miles (Yeppoon, QLD), Donald Wills (Smithfield Plains, SA), Dallas Barnes (Port Lincoln, SA), Mihail Lochowiak (Woodforde, SA), Tarryn Trindall-Thomas (Hadspen, TAS), Josh Chatfield (Warrnambool, VIC), Kyle Clarke (Shepparton, VIC), Luke Egan (Bentleigh East, VIC), Matthew Walker (Savernake, VIC), Eli Hill (Bunbury, WA), Duane Smith (Nollamara, WA), Durak Tucker (Australind, WA), Ryan Bennell (Bunbury, WA), Joseph Hinder (Kiara, WA), Sydney Stack (Northam, WA), Mitch Henry (Midland, WA), Heath Ryder (Eaton, WA)

 

2015 World Team Squad:

Minairo Frederick (Adelaide, SA, South Sudan), James Quinn (Darwin, NT, Vietnam), Naum Krauer (Alice Springs, NT, Brazil), Manguru Fredrick (Adelaide, SA, South Sudan), Nathan Mu (Darwin, NT, Timor), Jacob Ochieng (Wagga Wagga, NSW, Sudan), Thu Sa La (Geelong, VIC, Rwanda), Mathiang Chak (Melbourne, VIC, Myanmar), Deqlhan Files (Adelaide, SA, South Korea), Nathan Harapin (Sydney, NSW, Cambodia), Nelsom Sonntag (Darwin, NT, United Kingdom), Fred Ruremeshu (Perth, WA, Sudan), Mach Deng (Perth, WA, South Sudan), Dean Katsiris (Gold Coast, QLD, Greek), Ajak Dang (Shepparton, VIC, Greece), Rayma Tuputala (Brisbane, QLD, New Zealand), Toara Marango (Sunshine Coats, QLD, Vanuatu), Moustafa Sattout (Sydney, NSW), Mallie Tom (Cairns, QLD, Papua New Guinea), Haloti Fonua (Melbourne, VIC, South Sudan), Buku Khamis (Melbourne, VIC, Sudan), Bol Jok (VIC, Sudanese), Titit Nyak (VIC, Sudanese), Mar Gattick (Warrnambool, VIC, Sudan), Tom Ansell (Sunshine Coast, QLD, Scotland), Sandi Mathiang (WA, Sudan)

 

Match schedule:

Tuesday July 7: Flying Boomerangs v World Team at Metricon Stadium, 4pm

Friday July 10: World Team v Flying Boomerangs at Southport Football Club, 2pm