The Richmond Football Club will begin engaging participants in its Next Generation Academy Program (NGAP) zone in September.
The Club will have a presence at ASHE fest Shepparton – a two-day annual event organised by students at the Academy of Sport Health and Education (ASHE).
The festival, held at Rumbalara Football Netball Club, aims to instil cultural knowledge and values in young members of the Indigenous community.
On the first day, about 350 primary school students from the region will partake in traditional Indigenous games, storytime with elders, traditional dancing and art and crafts, while the second day will attract about 250 secondary school students.
The following week Richmond will head further north, to border town Echuca, where it will have a presence at Echuca’s Reconciliation Cup on Wednesday, September 14.
Over 850 primary school students will be in attendance, alongside community elders and Richmond stakeholders.
Richmond will then hold Come and Try Talent Days in Swan Hill and Shepparton later in the month.
Tigers’ CEO, Brendon Gale, said the Club was committed to developing talent within its region.
“We’re excited to offer a high performance football talent program for emerging players from diverse backgrounds,” Gale said.
“The Richmond Academy is a vital part of the Club’s future. We are looking forward to unearthing talented footballers who will hopefully be the next stars of the Richmond Football Club.”
AFL Central Victoria General Manager, Paul Hamilton, was excited to be partnering with the Richmond Football Club.
“The Richmond Football Club are acknowledged leaders in multicultural and Indigenous engagement and we look forward to working with them in this space,” Hamilton said.
“The opportunities that will be provided for some of our Indigenous and multicultural youth will be unique and stimulating.”
“We are looking to form a strong bond with Richmond to assist in the growth of women’s football in the region. Working hand-in-hand with the Pioneers and our Bendigo Thunder team, we see an enormous opportunity for women’s football in our region.”
The Next Generation Academy Program will introduce the game of Australian Rules to both boys and girls, aged 5 to 18 years, who are from Indigenous and multicultural backgrounds, and provide pathways for coaches, umpires, and administrators.
The Tigers’ Academy area comprises the Goulburn Murray, Bendigo, Sunraysia and North Central regions – the Murray Bushrangers and Bendigo Pioneers catchments.
Richmond engaged key stakeholders from its Academy region in June, when it hosted a football education seminar at Punt Road Oval.
Richmond Senior Development Coach, Mark ‘Choco’ Williams, delivered a seminar on coaching and player development, while Korin Gamadji Institute Director, Aaron Clark, addressed the group of key community football members on cultural awareness.
Richmond’s General Manager of Player Personnel and List Management, Blair Hartley, spoke about the talent identification process and how to identify a diverse range of talented youth.
Registrations for the Come and Try Talent Days are now open. For more information or to register visit: www.richmondfc.com.au/richmondacademy
Key Richmond Academy September dates
ASHE fest Shepparton: Thursday, September 8 to Friday, September 9 at Rumbalara Football Netball Club.
Reconciliation Cup Echuca: Wednesday, September 14 at Victoria Park.
Come and Try Talent Day Swan Hill: Monday, September 19 at Swan Hill Football Netball Club.
Come and Try Talent Day Shepparton: Tuesday, September 20 at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
Grand Final Eve Football Carnival Bendigo: Friday, September 30 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
