Scotch College indigenous program produces three First XVIII footballers

AN INDIGENOUS scholarship program has helped Scotch College uncover three First XVIII footballers, including the nephew of a Magarey Medallist.

AN INDIGENOUS scholarship program has helped Scotch College uncover three First XVIII footballers, including the nephew of a Magarey Medallist.

Mates Brad McAdam, 16, Brandon Skeen, 18, and Reggie Madden, 15, came to Scotch via the Yalari program, which offers education scholarships to indigenous youth from rural and remote communities.

All three hail from Halls Creek, a northernWA town of about 1200 people in the Kimberley region, where they played footy together.grew up playing footy together.

The second cousins have become key members for division two school Scotch, which has had a standout season and last month beat division one's St Peter's College.

Brad, the nephew of 1989 Magarey Medallist Gilbert McAdam, says the chance to play college football with family is a thrill.

"Footy was a big thing for my family because my uncle (Gilbert) was a champion football player," Brad says.

"Brandon would come over to our place after school and we'd play footy.

"Now we both play in the backlines for Scotch and we know how we play and how to make each other better."

"Scotch has been really good to me so far and I'm enjoying it."

Brad says some people ­expected him to become a top footballer when he was younger simply because he was a McAdam.

"Because you had the McAdam name you had to show you were really good," Brad says.

"But at the same time people knew who you were, so it gave you an edge."

Brad will represent the WA Northwest team at next month's national under-16 championships. His long-term goal is to play in the WAFL or follow in his ­uncles' footsteps to the AFL.