Chris Johnson on the AFL's Indigenous Programs
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Chris Johnson - once Fitzroy, then Brisbane Lions where he was a triple premiership player in 2001-03 - gave an inspiring and illuminating story of how the AFL and the football/sports industry, including the AIS, was seeking to develop and promote indigenous people, mainly Australians (but recently also from South Africa, Fiji and Tonga) via the conduit of Australian Rules football. |
Chris is currently titled AFL Engagement and Talent Co-ordinator for a national program and gave us an overview of the way in which this develops indigenous talent.
In the ultimate this could see an indigenous person become an Aussie Rules star in the AFL scene (like Chris is the past) however the program is far far broader in its outlook In the course of giving the opportunity for young indigenous people to achieve that ultimate, and in practice that is the select few, the program is probably more important in aspects of personal development, understanding/preservation of culture, and leadership. Trying to inspire future leaders in their communities is a major goal. For example in course of a team visit to South Africa they followed the Nelson Mandela Trail.
Another feature of the program set is encapsulated in the slogan “Footy Means Business” where young adults are systematically exposed to employment prospects through various corporate contacts, for instance Rio Tinto It was consistent with the aim to provide these people with life skills beyond football.
Chris described the mechanisms and steps (academies and competitions) by which young indigenous people progress through the early identification stage to various training and educational avenues built around the football theme.
One got the feeling that selection by the “gifted amateur” discovery process, would not match the detailed scientific testing to which about 150 boys were subjected to in aspects of physical endurance, speed, agility and personal character when finalising the makeup of the under 16’s team which tours overseas -”The Flying Boomerangs”.
Chris reminded us that in Australia 2.75% of the population was indigenous yet made up 4% of the football community and was spread across several hundred “nations” and dialects and relatively young. He mentioned that about 75% live in urban and rural areas.