Great learning curve for boys in diversity titles
THE results did not eventuate for the Far North competitors at the 2018 AFL Male Diversity Championships but AFL Queensland State Football Operations Manager Barry Gibson says it is all about learning for the group.
Cape York Crusaders Philemon Asse, Ashton Koongotema, Storm Bloomfield, Shannon Shuan, Travis Cornthwaite and Daequan Connolly all represented the Kickstart team at the tournament while Cairns’ Austin Harris was in the All Nations team.
The Male Diversity Championships brings together 300 participants from indigenous (Kickstart) and Multicultural (All Nations) backgrounds from all over Australia for the week-long tournament in Blacktown, New South Wales.
Harris and his All Nations team claimed one win for the week while the Kickstart team went through winless but Gibson, who coached the Kickstart team, believes they will take plenty from the experience.
“They have all improved for the better from this week, which is the most important thing,” Gibson said.
“Some of these kids from the Cape just love their footy, down in Sydney it is a whole new world for them.
“We aren’t the most talented or biggest team, but the effort they give against the odds makes our coaching staff proud.”
Gibson was assisted by Cairns’ Sean Hunter and Greg Walker.