ADF Women Mentor Tiwi Island Aussie Rules Youth Girls

Twelve talented Australian Football League Northern Territory (ADF NT) Youth Girls from the Tiwi Islands will travel to Victoria this week (12-16 October, 2016) for a mentoring opportunity with the Australian Defence Force’s Australian Rules (ADFAR) Women’s Indigenous team.

The ADFAR Guyala Seahawks will mentor and develop the Under 16 indigenous youth girls squad as part of the Seahawks’ preparations for the Bendigo Koori AFL carnival.

Events include exposure to ADF life at Simpson Barracks and development opportunities with AFL clubs and indigenous programs in Melbourne.

The ADF Australian Rules Women’s patron, Major General Simone Wilkie said the ADF is excited to join with AFL NT in developing the young women from Tiwi Islands.

“By training with the Seahawks and participating in the Koori Carnival, we hope to see these young players realise their potential and, for some, achieve national selection in the AFL Women’s League in the coming years”, MAJGEN Wilkie said.

The Koori Carnival is being played from 15-16 October 2016.

ADFAR Women’s Program Manager and creator of the mentoring program, Lieutenant Colonel Dani Glatz, believes the Guyala Seahawks will also benefit from mentoring the Youth Development Squad.

“ADF personnel are natural leaders and will value the opportunity to pass on both their Defence and Australian Football experiences with the talented players from Darwin, Melville and Bathurst Islands.

“I’m expecting strong links to be forged between the Seahawks and Tiwi Islands Youth football community that will benefit Australian Rules Football, the ADF and indigenous communities in the Northern Territory,” said Lieutenant Colonel Glatz.