The club hosted nine participants from Indigenous sporting communities in a day of presentations from Essendon Football Club staff members on all aspects of a football club- both on and off the field.
In recent years, Essendon has formed strong partnerships with two remote Indigenous communities – Tiwi Islands and Wadeye – as part of the AFL Club Community Partnership Program.
Representatives from the Tiwi Bombers Football Club, the newly proposed Wadeye Football Club and the Rumbalara Football/Netball Club together with participants from Essendon’s VFL team, Bendigo Bombers, were involved in the affiliate day.
The partnership aims to use the Essendon Football Club as a vehicle to assist in the increased awareness of Indigenous issues in the broader community. The Indigenous Club Affiliate day provided the opportunity for representatives from the Indigenous communities to experience firsthand a range of presentations from administration and football staff including Brendan McCartney and Sean Wellman.
The presentations provided an insight into recruitment and player development, membership and fan base, sponsorship, governance and board interaction, and from a football perspective; developing an effective backline and developing youth.
Essendon has a long and proud history of supporting and nurturing outstanding Aboriginal footballers, including Michael Long, Gavin Wanganeen, Dean Rioli, Derek Kickett and Norm McDonald.
Essendon Football Club is dedicated to continuing this initiative to further sustain and develop the relationships established with the remote Indigenous communities of Tiwi Islands, Wadeye and Rumbalara.
