INDIGENOUS COL OURS WORN WITH PRIDE
HERMIT Park Tigers will be looking to apply more pressure on Thuringowa in the race for the AFL Townsville minor premiership when they travel to Castle Hill PCYC to take on University Hawks today.
The Tigers took advantage of Thuringowa’s bye last week by smashing Curra Swans by 190 points to rocket to the top of the table.
However, Thuringowa has a game in hand and will start unbackable favourites to account for the Curra Swans at Muldoon Oval today.
The Swans have not won a game this year and have a percentage of just 23.95 through the first six round of the season.
Both matches get underway at 3pm today, with the Northern Beaches Suns having the week off with the bye. BRISBANE forward Allen Christensen says it is a source of great pride that Sir Doug Nicholls was a Lion.
Christensen said while the Indigenous Round had always held a special place in his heart, from his early days as a Bombers fan watching the Dreamtime at the G game, to have it now named after former Fitzroy winger, renowned pastor and activist Sir Doug Nicholls had given the club’s indigenous players an extra spring in their step this week.
“I think it is a massive honour for the boys who will pull on the jumper this weekend that Sir Doug wore the Fitzroy colours,’’ he said.
“His impact was profound throughout many places so to play for the club he also played for is something I and the other boys certainly don’t take lightly.
“I was a big Essendon supp o r t e r growing up and to see that first Dreamtime at the G and to be able to go to those games and then to see what this round has actually turned into, it is not only a great spectacle but it also shows a lot of respect and celebrates the indigenous culture. “It means a lot.’’ Christensen said he had noticed over the past two years the Lions had increased their efforts in trying to engage with the whole community, and was particularly thrilled with the work they did with indigenous groups.
The Lions board are hosting the club’s greatest ever Aboriginal player Chris Johnson ( pictured left) at a function at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
And the club has formed a partnership indigenous health program Deadly Choices, where Christensen serves as a mentor.
He is also on the committee of the Lions’ Reconciliation Action Plan.
“The Brisbane Lions care about us, they want to help us succeed,’’ he said.
“Behind the scenes there is so much going on.
“I am really proud to be at a club that cares so much about the Aboriginal people in the Brisbane area and also all around Australia.’’