DARREN MONCRIEFF
Monday 12 December 2011
THE white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Fiji will provide a stunning backdrop to the fourth overseas tour of the Flying Boomerangs, the international award-winning AFL Indigenous youth team.
The Boomerangs will play a series of matches against South Pacific teams that are this week playing in the Youth AFL Oceanic Cup.
Those teams are Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It's the third instalment of the Youth AFL Oceanic Cup, with Tonga (2009) and Papua New Guinea (2010) previous winners.
The 24-strong Flying Boomerangs squad will be coached by Brisbane Lions triple premiership player, Chris Johnson, now the AFL's community engagement and talent manager.
Alongside Johnson will be dual Norm Smith medallist and two-time premiership player, Andrew McLeod, plus former players Xavier Clarke (St Kilda, Brisbane) and Des Headland (Brisbane, Fremantle).
The squad was selected following the under-15 national AFL KickStart championships held on the Gold Coast in September.
The 2011 Flying Boomerangs:
New South Wales:Abaina Davis, Jordan Etto (Sydney), Kuiam Anu-David (Coledale).
Queensland:Zengrey Nona, Isaac Rokeby (Cairns), Joel Hagan (Toowoomba).
Tasmania:Dakota Bannister (Newham).
Northern Territory:Nakia Cockatoo, Jake Long (Darwin), Daniel Myers (Alice Springs).
Victoria:Djye Morgan (Shepparton), Bohdi Walker (Sale).
South Australia:Reece Hocking, Michael Coombes (Adelaide), Tyler McKenzie (Port Augusta), Peter Von-Heytmanek (Clare).
Western Australia:Jarrod Pickett, Jamie Ryder, Dylan Nelson, Dino Ross, Jermaine Lewis (Perth), Daniel Barnard (Geraldton), Anthony Champion (Kalgoolie), Warrick Wilson (South Hedland).
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 13/12/2011 11:17