Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy staff including NGA coach Tendai Mzungu, Indigenous liaison officer Michael Johnson and NGA manger Darryn Fry are in the Kimberley this week.
The Kimberley is one of the regional allocations for Fremantle’s NGA, where the NGA aims to identify and develop young talent in the region.
Mzungu runs through what they have to been up to so far.
Click here for Tendai’s diary from Days 1 and 2.
Tuesday 18 June
We departed Kununurra at 645am heading toward Warmun, a small community 200kms South of Kununurra and home to Next Generation Academy member Leno Thomas.
We stopped in at the local Ngalangangpum School and played games with the kids who were far too quick and nimble for our aging bodies and they taught us the art of kicking goals between trees!
We stopped in at the Community Office to say hi to the locals and the staff, where we signed some High Vis workwear and posed for photos.
We jumped back in the car and drove to a small town called Frog Hollow, which is 30km south of Warmun.
There are only approximately 50 students at the school. The reception we received was unbelievably warm and welcome from everyone in the community.
We played a game of football with the kids on their school oval, which didn’t have a blade of grass on it. Didn’t seem to bother the kids as they competed for every possession and tackled like it was the final 30 seconds of a grand final.
We were overwhelmed by how much respect and love they showed towards us and each other. We also found out just as we were leaving that they were watching YouTube clips of Michael and myself the day before, in preparation for our arrival. Can only assume Jonhho’s highlights would have been a lot more exciting than mine!
We left Frog Hollow feeling like rockstars as the kids cheered and waved as we drove out of view. We began our trip across to Halls Creek, which was another 130km on the road heading south-west.
Halls Creek is home to two Next Generation academy members Isaiah Butters and Dallas McAdam. It also has a rich history of AFL talent coming from the area.
We were greeted by the senior students who assisted us with a training session for the year 4-6 students.
The senior boys set a great example for the young kids in the school. We gave the students posters, Fremantle shirts, shorts and some of the kids were lucky enough to be given match worn boots from players including Sonny, Bradley Hill and Nat Fyfe, who kindly donated their boots for the trip.
Kids were over the moon to learn that they now owned the same boots that their idols once wore. My size 14 boots didn’t gain much interest from the group.
By now we were well behind schedule after the fun of the day and proceeded on our way to Fitzroy Crossing which is another 300km West of Halls Creek and located in the center of the Kimberley.
We planned to arrive before sunset, but our earlier enthusiasm during our school visits meant that we did the back end of our trip under the stars.
We pulled into Fitzroy Crossing at 630pm and made our way into the Lodge for a much needed bite to eat. We were greeted by a number of locals who were keen to have a yarn and take some photos of Michael and I.
Despite there being obvious challenges in some of the regions across the Kimberley, one thing stands out. The boys and girls love their football. They play the game with such instinct and freedom and the love and gratitude they show to us with each visit is heart warming. A truly amazing day.
