Playing on Domain Stadium was an amazing experience, according to 14 year-old Solomon James.
James was one of 41 lucky participants from non-traditional AFL backgrounds to have the honour of playing the curtain raiser to Matthew Pavlich’s last game of AFL football on Sunday afternoon.
“I really enjoyed it,” James said.
“I’ve watched people play here on TV and it was a great experience.”
The Next Generation Multicultural Academy began in 2016 to raise the participation of players who have not previously played AFL or who come from non-traditional AFL backgrounds.
165 players from backgrounds ranging from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Zimbabwe and South Sudan took part in a talent combine in the July school-holidays to showcase their speed, agility, jumping ability and football knowledge.
The players were invited to training sessions at Fremantle Oval and Domain Stadium throughout August and received education sessions from Fremantle Football Club’s recruiter Neil Ross and Strength and Conditioning coach Jackson Dennis on what it takes to make it to the top level and the final 41 were chosen to play at Domain Stadium
James, who is currently in the South Fremantle development squad, moved over from Sudan when he was three years old and started playing AFL when he was eight, said he enjoyed hearing from professionals in the sport
“It was good, how they were teaching us to make it to the elite level and develop our skills,” he said.
Fremantle’s Community Project Co-ordinator Sam Buhagiar said he was impressed with what he had seen from the players.
“They all worked really hard together and showed some great skills and some guys really stood up and showed some skills we didn’t even know about,” he said.
“The boys came together today not really knowing each other.”
Fremantle players Hayden Crozier and Tendai Mzungu are from Sri Lankan and Zimbabwe backgrounds respectively, while Clancee Pearce has an Indian background.
Other Western Australian multicultural stars across the AFL include Sydney’s Aliir Aliir and the Western Bulldogs Jason Johannissen.
All participants from the program will be invited back to Fremantle for further training sessions at the end of the year.
