Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy has returned to the Kimberley this week.
NGA coach Tendai Mzungu takes us through day one of the trip alongside Indigenous liaison officer Michael Johnson and NGA coordinator Wade Spilcker.
Monday 2 September
It was time to escape the wet Perth weather and return to the beautiful Kimberley conditions for the third time this year.
Michael Johnson again made the trip up as part of his role as the Indigenous Liaison Officer, accompanied by NGA/AFLW Coordinator Wade Spilcker and myself, Tendai Mzungu - NGA Coach.
We arrived in Kununurra just after 3pm, where we were hosting a training session for their U16 Hub players.
They are preparing for the Kimberley Spirit U16 Carnival held in Fitzroy Crossing in mid September.
Along with taking the 30 players through a 90 minunte training session, we also invited coaches from local sporting teams in the region to attend as a practical workshop.
We had 20 in attendance, with male and female coaches across football and netball in attendance.
Whilst the NGA programs are there to support and grow the game in underrepresented areas across the state, coaches play a significant role in shaping these boys and girls on and off the field.
Michael Johnson and myself took the players through their paces, whilst Wade engaged the coaches in the what and the why of the session.
WA Police officers both from Perth and locally were in attendance to further connect with the players in the region.
They were also kind enough to put on a feed for everyone at the conclusion of training.
We finished the evening with a dinner with a young academy player and his mother, who we have recently signed into our elite talent program.
Whilst he is still living in Kununurra, he is looking to transition down to Perth to complete his education and follow his dreams of hopefully one day playing AFL football.
