Queensland’s top AFL scouts are on the hunt to find the next Karmichael Hunt, Tom Nicholls or Aaron Hall, with AFL Queensland inviting young athletes from all ethnic backgrounds to test their ability at a multicultural AFL combine at Metricon Stadium this Saturday.
The combine will be open to males and females aged 13 to 17 from different cultural groups, with no AFL experience necessary.
Testing will include agility, vertical leap, 20 metre sprints, beep tests and of course handballing and kicking.
AFL Queensland Diversity Manager – Brett Fragiacomo, said the combine would give young athletes the opportunity to see if they had the skills required to make it as an AFL player.
“The tests we do measure the key skills required to play AFL so even if an athlete has never played AFL before we can still assess their suitability for the game,” Fragiacomo said.
“This is particularly important for young people from multicultural backgrounds who may not have had the opportunity to play AFL before.”
GC SUNS Diversity Engagement Coordinator – Michael Gugliotta, told goldcoastfc.com.au playing AFL had acted as a great opportunity for multicultural youth in the past to finding a common ground in their local community.
“The multicultural space is an important area of focus for the GC SUNS community engagement strategies, and this weekend will be another great opportunity to engage with different cultural groups,” Gugliotta said.
The combine will give all participants the opportunity to progress further through AFL Queensland’s Multicultural Talent Pathway, with stand-out performers to earn selection into next month’s Unity Cup at Yeronga’s Leyshon Park.
If selected to develop further, talented Indigenous and Multicultural players will then have the opportunity to compete at state level and possibly the World Team at the 2014 National Championships.
The combine is scheduled to start at 10am at Metricon Stadium this Saturday (October 5) and will finish around 1:00pm.
For more information, please contact AFL Queensland’s Diversity Manager Brett Fragiacomo via brett.fragiacomo@aflq.com.au or by calling (07) 33033 5446.
