Over 450 participants took part in the 2024 Woodside Energy Michael Walters and Aaron Sandilands Shield NGA Carnivals that took place on Monday 30 September and Tuesday 1 October.
Players from across the Club’s WAFL-aligned zones of Claremont, East Fremantle, Peel, South Fremantle, and West Perth participated in a four-week development program throughout September, focusing on fundamental skill development and game sense awareness.
The training block which consisted of over 800 students culminated with over 450 of the players competing in the Woodside Energy Michael Walters 12’s Shield and the Woodside Energy Aaron Sandilands 13’s Shield, with the support of students from the SEDA Sport, Business and Leadership program.
Fremantle Game Development Manager Wade Spilcker said the carnival was a great opportunity for both players and community coaches alike.
“The Next Generation Academy program, supported by Woodside, allows Fremantle to provide an essential link between community clubs and WAFL zones, where these players will continue to develop through their WAFL club talent pathways in the years to come,” Spilcker said.
“In addition to being a fantastic experience for the players, the program offered a valuable opportunity for community coaches, allowing them to gain experience coaching at a development level.
“It was also great to provide practical learning opportunities for many of our coaches who had been involved in the NGA and Community Coaching Academy throughout 2024.
Each carnival featured two teams from Claremont, Peel, and West Perth, and three teams from both East Fremantle and South Fremantle.
The Woodside Energy Michael Walters Shield was won by Peel Blue, who defeated East Fremantle Blue, while the Woodside Energy Aaron Sandilands Shield was won by East Fremantle Sharks, who defeated South Fremantle Red.
Sonny supporting his nephew Kyron at today’s @WoodsideEnergy Michael Walters Shield NGA Carnival 💜
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) September 30, 2024
Love to see it. #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/LpO7axkaON