Best-afield honours for WA pair in Multicultural, Indigenous showcase games

Two of WA’s brightest young talents received best-afield honours in the recent AFL Indigenous Academy versus Multicultural Academy showcase games in Melbourne.

Peel Thunder young gun Xaiver Little was named best-afield for the Indigenous Boys Academy in their 34-point loss to the Multicultural Boys Academy, 12.10 (82) to 7.6 (48), at Dingley’s Kennedy Community Centre.

Little, who was part of the AAMI WA Football Boys Summer Squad, impressed for the Indigenous side, coached by Fremantle great Roger Hayden.

Little played alongside fellow WA talents Djavian Narrier (Swan Districts) and Leedham Papertalk (Mullewa), while Gabriel Giltrow (Claremont), Tom Clements (Subiaco), Lucas Dravitzki (South Fremantle), Max Jones (South Fremantle) and Kobe Lam (East Perth) all played for the victorious Multicultural side.

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Little wasn’t the only West Aussie recognised as their team’s best player with West Perth’s Lunay van den Heever (pictured below) leading the Multicultural Girls Academy side to victory with a standout three-goal performance.

The Falcons talent, who’s also part of the AAMI WA Football Girls Summer Squad, led the Multicultural side to a 29-point win, 10.8 (68) to 5.9 (39), alongside fellow West Aussies Niah Catto (Perth), Avuya Nomlatyu (East Fremantle), Penelope Punaivaha (Swan Districts) and Hannah Seaborn (Claremont).

Tiama Collard (Peel Thunder), Alexis Edgley (South Fremantle) and Heidi Ireland (Peel Thunder) all featured for the Indigenous side.

All up, 16 of the State’s most talented young Indigenous and multicultural footballers were selected to take part in a high-performance camps in Melbourne.

WA Football’s Indigenous and Multicultural Relationship Manager and Dockers champion Michael Walters was an assistant coach for the Indigenous Boys Academy.

“The Academies provide an advanced football experience for our emerging Indigenous and Multicultural footballers,” AFL Diversity Talent Programs Manager Narelle Long said.

“Players will have access to a specialised development model focused on their individual needs to further assist them to reach their Draft potential, as week as tailored support to assist their growth off the field.”