Sydney Swans embrace Red Centre connection in partnership with Redtails Pinktails

The Sydney Swans embraced their connection and partnership with Central Australia taking their First Nations Academy players on an important trip of Alice Springs. Check out the photos.

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

The Sydney Swans took a contingent of their ARA First Nations Academy youth to the Red Centre as part of a playing and cultural development program.

The trip built on an ongoing partnership with the Central Australia based Redtails Pinktails Right Track Program included matches in Alice Springs and Marn Grook.

Players earned selection following games against the QBE Swans Academy earlier in the year with the program a key part of the club’s First Nations strategy.

Former Sydney Swans First Nations player, Fred Campbell, is a development coach of the Right Tracks program.

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

Meanwhile the club’s newest AFLW recruits Sarah Steele-Park and Lulu Pullar were members of the Pinktails.

Sydney Swans First Nations strategy and development manager Jarred Hodges said the week “was purely about our next generation”.

“Not only athletically but personally and I think across the week we’ve seen tremendous growth in both areas, I’m sure those participants will go away with fond memories,” he said.

“Connection to country, connection to culture, connection to ancestors, stories, kin. And that’s the part I think I’m most proud of, is what the Red Centre provides in terms of connection.”

Hodges said building “positive social emotional well-being” gives Australia “the best chance of changing some of the statistics around our youth”.

“We want our kids and our people being strong in who they are, we want them to be able to walk around and proudly identify,” he said.

“But also we want them to give them the skills and knowledge that they can pass on to broader Australia as we all keep working towards a united country.”

PLAYERS SELECTED

GIRLS

Azalia Arangio - Central Coast

Bobbi Matthews - Coffs Harbour

Daisy Howlett-Fretwell - Central Coast

Elisha Windley - Central Coast

Emily Whitfield - Port Macquarie

Emily Hollingsworth - Shellharbour

Emme Langdon - Shellharbour

Evie Barnes - Central Coast

Grace Morris - Port Macquarie

Hayley Huff - Central Coast

Indi Berger - Sydney

Indiah Towers - Central Coast

Jazlyn Morgan - Sydney

Jersey Sloane - Port Macquarie

Kiki Tikkeros - Shellharbour

Maddie Brydson - Sydney

Mercedes Baxter - Central Coast

Myla Tucker - Central Coast

Olivia Parker - Central Coast

Savannah Newton - Central Coast

Xahra Donovan - Coffs Harbour

Zoe Calo - Central Coast

BOYS

Alexander Farrell - Central Coast

Asher Mckiernan - Central Coast

Carson Blacksmith - Sydney

Cayden Norris - Central Coast

Hayden Oliver - Central Coast

Hayden Raveneau - Central Coast

Jakob Frankl - Sydney

Jenson Sweep - Sydney

Jesiah Smith - Sydney

Joel Smith - Central Coast

Josh Jarrett - Sydney

Jude Couzens - Coffs Harbour

Jude O’Neill - Shellharbour

Lenny D’Orazio - Shellharbour

Maliyan Reynolds - Sydney

Myles Sweep - Sydney

Noa Frankl - Sydney

Oswayo Childs-Haslam - Coffs Harbour

Pharrell Trapman - Sydney

Thomas Hooke - Central Coast

Zane Ward - Shellharbour

Zave Mckiernan - Central Coast

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

A contingent of youth boys and girls from the Sydney Swans ARA First Nations Academy went to Alice Springs and Uluru as part of a cultural development program. Picture: Benjamin Cuevas

Originally published as Sydney Swans embrace Red Centre connection in partnership with Redtails Pinktails