Community Spirit Shines: Under-12 Crusaders Light Up Sunshine Coast Football Championships

The Under-12 Crusaders football team, representing 16 communities across Far North Queensland, showcased remarkable talent and cultural pride at the recent Queensland School Sport Australian Football State Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

U12 Cape York & Torres Strait Crusaders pictured with Brisbane Lions forward Callum Ah Chee at the Queensland Representative School Sport Australian Football State Championships (Sunshine Coast).

The Under-12 Crusaders football team, representing 16 communities across Far North Queensland, showcased remarkable talent and cultural pride at the recent Queensland School Sport Australian Football State Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

The ‘Crusaders’ representative program brings together boys and girls, but unlike their more metropolitan based opposition, the Crusaders don’t have access to AFL ovals, let alone football clubs to practice with each week.

U12 Cape York & Torres Strait Crusaders participation at the Queensland Representative School Sport Australian Football State Championships (Sunshine Coast).

Under-12 Crusaders coach Matt Mellahn said for a majority of the team, it is their first time playing a full match of Australian Football.

“Our program is pretty unique as the players on our team only meet a few days before the carnival,” he said.

“We usually only have one training run together as a team before we play our first match. “Our team improves with every game they play together as they become more comfortable with each other and get used to a relatively new sport.”

Pictured: Jake O’Halloran. U12 Cape York & Torres Strait Crusaders participation at the Queensland Representative School Sport Australian Football State Championships (Sunshine Coast).

The team improved across the seven matches, however, AFL Cape York Programs and Participation co-ordinator Jake O’Halloran said the Crusaders representative program is about a lot more than just football.

“It gives young people an opportunity to gain valuable life skills, experiences and to be proud of their culture.” O’Halloran said.

“For a lot of young people within this team, it is not only their first representative sporting trip, it could even be their first trip away from their home community.

“It also gives young people an opportunity to take on further responsibility and provides a good opportunity for personal growth.

“Having former Crusader and former AFL House resident Fitzroy Greenwool working with our team has been invaluable.

“He and Tommy Holland were able to teach the team the war-cry and encouraged them to display their culture with pride throughout the event.”

U12 Cape York & Torres Strait Crusaders participation at the Queensland Representative School Sport Australian Football State Championships (Sunshine Coast).

The state carnival opened with the Crusaders team war-cry, a fitting opening to an event which kicked off during reconciliation week.

Brisbane Lions gun forward Callum Ah Chee paid a surprise visit to the Crusaders team, sharing invaluable advice about his start in footy, his career and everything in between.

The Crusaders quickly became crowd favourites, with guards of honour by other teams a common occurrence throughout the carnival.

In their final game, a ‘Crusaders’ chant erupted across the Maroochydore Sporting Fields.

Old Mapoon, Hope Vale, Badu Island, New Mapoon, Wujal Wujal, Weipa, Kowanyama, Cooktown, Mabuiag, Napranum, Murray Island, Thursday Island, Badu Island, Darnley Island, Saibai Island and Aurukun were all represented within the Under-12 squad.

In mid-August, AFL Cape York will host its flagship event in Bamaga (the annual Chris Johnson and Angie Nadredre Cup) which last year attracted over 250 participants.

The Under-12 Crusaders representative program is proudly supported by WCCCA, Torres Shire Council, Torres Strait Youth and Recreational Sporting Association, Weipa Town Authority and Bamaga Enterprises Ltd.

Originally published as Community Spirit Shines: Under-12 Crusaders Light Up Sunshine Coast Football Championships