Next Generation Academies put on a show

Many of Victoria’s most promising young Indigenous and multicultural girls and boys footballers were in action on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 April, 2024 at WLJ Crofts Reserve, Altona, as part of AFL Next Generation Academy (NGA) program matches.

The NGA program, targeted at 12-15 year-olds, is a joint initiative between the AFL and AFL clubs aimed at the attraction, retention and development of Indigenous and multicultural players (both male and female), while growing overall participation and the talent pool in these under-represented segments of the community.

The NGA matches were played in a round-robin style, with each team playing a minimum of three matches across the day. Each day included a host of activities to help the players celebrate their Indigenous and/or multicultural heritage, including a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony performed by Uncle Mark Brown on the Wednesday, and Uncle Shane Clarke on the Thursday. At the halfway break, players and spectators were to treated to a performance by Ghanaian group African Beat Drumming and a Q&A with current AFL and AFLW players, Darcy Vescio and Mua Laloifi on the Wednesday and Isaac Quaynor on the Thursday.

The Carlton Blues Academy and St Kilda Saints Academy were the dominant sides over the two days, showing the gold standard of team chemistry that resulted in undefeated records in both the boys and the girls matches.

From Melbourne, Lily Brittain was a standout across the day, with her quick pace through the middle, alongside teammate Tiffany Boswell who displayed impressive speed. Lacey Ingram showed her dominance in the ruck for the Pies, whilst Lyric Mendoza from Essendon brought an element of toughness to every contest, not being afraid to get in and under at stoppages. Camryn Rabie was incredibly efficient with her ball use for the Hawks, whilst Deena Gerges was a standout in a very strong Carlton side, and Jemma Mok was dangerous inside 50 for St Kilda.

In the boys competition on Thursday, Denzel Jayasinha's ability to read the play and intercept was top notch for Collingwood, whilst Jye Cockerell and Artisan Sairat were standouts for the Western Bulldogs. Findlay Johnston put on a dominant display for St Kilda, with some impressive marks that he converted to goals, and John Tattersal was a great asset for Geelong in the back line. In the Melbourne side, Zye Bergles-Brown and James Goerlitz were everywhere, racking up plenty of disposals for the Dees.

The Next Generation Academies provide young multicultural and Indigenous people with an opportunity to participate in the programs directly connected to and delivered by AFL clubs. Each club has a designated region to conduct their NGA and/or Club Academy programs. This can bridge gaps between non-football playing youths and Australian Rules Football through the introduction to local football clubs and competitions across all areas of football such as playing, umpiring, sports training and coaching.

AFL Next Generation Academies also provide young people with introduction opportunities in other areas of the sport such as study and football education pathways, and they provide exposure for multicultural and indigenous youths to representative pathways such as the Coates Talent League.

Recent AFL players to come out of the NGA system have included the Western Bulldogs' Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (pick 1, 2020), Gold Coast Suns' Mac Andrew (pick 5, 2021) and St Kilda's Mitchito Owens (pick 33, 2021).

Matches played on Oval 1 across the two days were live streamed free via the AFL Victoria Facebook page, with full replays and match results available below.

For a full list of fixtures and results, click here.https://www.playhq.com/afl/org/afl-next-generation-academy/afl-next-generation-academy-2024/0a008748

2024 Girls Matches - Wednesday April 11 - Crofts Reserve, Altona

Oval 1

9:15am: Melbourne Demons 4.0 (24) v Collingwood 4.5 (29)

10:15am: Essendon Bombers 2.3 (15) v Hawthorn Hawks 2.6 (18)

11:15am: Carlton Blues 13.17 (95) v Western Bulldogs 0.0 (0)

1:15pm: St Kilda Saints 2.4 (16) v Essendon Bombers 1.2 (8)

2:15pm: Melbourne Demons 6.6 (42) v Richmond Tigers 2.0 (12)

Oval 2

9:15am: Essendon Bombers 6.4 (40) v Western Bulldogs 1.0 (6)

10:15am: Western Bulldogs 0.3 (3) v Richmond Tigers 4.7 (31)

11:15am: Hawthorn Hawks 3.7 (25) v Melbourne Demons 4.2 (26)

1:15pm: Richmond Tigers 1.5 (11) v Hawthorn Hawks 3.6 (24)

2:15pm: Collingwood 6.7 (43) v Western Bulldogs 1.0 (6)

Oval 3

9:15am: Richmond Tigers 0.3 (3) v St Kilda Saints 5.6 (36)

10:15am: St Kilda Saints 4.6 (30) v Melbourne Demons 2.3 (15)

11:15am: Collingwood 3.2 (20) v St Kilda Saints 1.1 (7)

1:15pm: Carlton Blues 8.4 (52) v Collingwood 0.3 (3)

2:15pm: Essendon Bombers 0.0 (0) v Carlton Blues 7.16 (58)

2024 Boys Matches- Thursday April 12 - Crofts Reserve, Altona

Oval 1

9:15am: Collingwood 6.10 (46) v Western Bulldogs 0.3 (3)

10:15am: St Kilda Saints 14.12 (96) v Essendon Bombers 0.0 (0)

11:15am: Carlton Blues 13.12 (90) v Geelong Cats 0.0 (0)

1:15pm: St Kilda Saints 5.8 (38) v Melbourne Demons 3.3 (21)

2:15pm: Richmond Tigers 11.9 (75) v Hawthorn Hawks 0.0 (0)

3:15pm: North Melbourne 1.0 (6) v St Kilda Saints 11.2 (68)

Oval 2

9:15am: Essendon Bombers 0.0 (0) v Richmond Tigers 12.18 (90)

10:15am: Melbourne Demons 9.11 (65) v Western Bulldogs 0.4 (4)

11:15am: Collingwood 9.5 (59) v Hawthorn Hawks 5.3 (33)

1:15pm: Geelong Cats 6.0 (36) v North Melbourne 12.8 (80)

2:15pm: Collingwood 1.3 (9) v Carlton Blues 8.6 (54)

3:15pm: Melbourne Demons 3.0 (18) v Carlton Blues 4.7 (31)

Oval 3

9:15am: Geelong Cats 1.1 (7) v Melbourne Demons 9.13 (67)

10:15am: Hawthorn Hawks 6.7 (43) v North Melbourne 5.1 (31)

11:15am: Richmond Tigers 11.7 (73) v North Melbourne 1.1 (7)

1:15pm: Carlton Blues 12.14 (86) v Western Bulldogs 0.0 (0)

2:15pm: Geelong Cats 2.2 (14) v Essendon Bombers 7.13 (55)

3:15pm: Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34) v Essendon Bombers 3.2 (20)