World Footy News

After successive years being held in the tropics of Queensland, this year’s National Diversity Championships will move to western Sydney. Blacktown will become the hub of entertainment after Townsville hosted the event in 2016 and Cairns in 2015. It is the first time the event has been in New South Wales since being held in Coffs Harbour in 2014.

According to the http://www.afl.com.au website, “the National Diversity Championships encompass the National U15 Kickstart and the National U15 All Nations Cup. The 2017 National Diversity Championships will be held in Blacktown, Sydney from Saturday 8th to Thursday 13th of April.”

“The championships provide the pathway into our Flying Boomerangs and World Team programs.”

(Picture: Western Australia took out both titles in 2016)
Each year the tournament grows larger and more important as a pathway for players to realise dreams of playing at higher levels. The players have already followed varying pathways to be selected for their states and will receive exposure to talent scouts from AFL teams and be guided by specialist coaches. The event is also a highly important showcase of the indigenous talent within the Under 15 age groups, as well as the multicultural background players across the nation who have embraced the game.

“The Diversity Championships are an important pathway for our Diversity Programs, it provides talented participants for our Flying Boomerangs and World Team squads, umpires for our umpiring academies, and coaches for our coaching academy which is a unique opportunity to strengthen our game with people from culturally diverse backgrounds.”

“The Championships will see over 200 participants from Indigenous and Multicultural backgrounds come together and compete at the week-long tournament, with an additional 70 plus Indigenous and Multicultural coaches, umpires, managers, physios and trainers as support staff.”

“In addition, the cultural and social benefits beyond the games are many.”

The standard of football in recent years has been exceptional as these young and highly talented players display their wares. Many current AFL players have come through this pathway including Steve May (Gold Coast Suns), Curtly Hampton (Adelaide), Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast), Jade Gresham (St Kilda), Jay Kennedy-Harris (Melbourne), Karl Amon (Port Adelaide), Jarman Impey (Port Adelaide), Jake Long (Essendon) and a host of others across the AFL. There are also many players who have come through the All Nations pathway including Mabior Chol (Richmond), Reuben William (Brisbane Lions) and Gach Nyuon (formerly with Essendon) who are all from Sudan and have reached AFL lists via the All Nations Cup.

Western Australia are the current title holders for both the Kickstart Championships and the All Nations Cup, taking out the historic double last year in Townsville. Whilst the sandgropers raised the bar in 2016, you can bet that the other states are out to bring down the boys from the west, especially the New South Wales/ACT team as they hope to impress their local AFL clubs, Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans.

For more updates on the event, visit the AFL website at: http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/in...hp?id=1920