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Perth's indigenous talent in good hands

Monday, February 6, 2017 - 10:01 AM

The Perth Football Club has more indigenous footballers than any other WAFL Club.

From the year 8 development squads right through to our league side, approximately 80 players are of aboriginal descent.

Considering this, the Club felt it necessary to help facilitate the development of these talented young footballers both on and off the field.

Enter Callum Walley and the regional accommodation program.

Walley, a senior player at the Demons, has recently been appointed as the Club's full time Aboriginal Engagement Officer (AEO).

This position is solely dedicated to overseeing the Club's large contingent of indigenous players and ensuring they mature into positive role models.

A regional accommodation program has also been recently implemented which sees Walley living in a four bedroom Wembley Downs rental with three of the Club's young indigenous players.

This initiative is designed to provide young indigenous players from our country zone a Perth-based accommodation to assist with the workload of WAFL football as well as training attendance.

With colts training on Friday night's before their Saturday morning games, the house will act as a pit stop for other young players who reside in our country zone, reducing travel on and around game days.

Young indigenous Demons Sydney Stack (16, Northam), Gordon Narrier (18, Northam) and Nicky Taylor (18, Tammin) are the three permanent residents living with Walley and are three of Perth's seven invitees to next week's state 18s talent week.

Damien Bennell, Bobby Hill, Cody Kickett and Zareth Roe are the other four Perth footballers invited to talent week, making all seven of the Club's invitees of aboriginal descent.

Regional accomodation residents Stack, Narrier and Taylor are all in need of employment and the Club asks anyone who may have potential work for these young men to get in touch by calling AEO Callum Walley on 0433 193 577 or the Club on 9362 4499.