Congratulations to the finalists of the 2014 Beach Energy McLeod Challenge, who will battle for the title in a curtain-raiser to Adelaide's Indigenous Round clash with the Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval next Sunday.

Last Friday, more than 220 talented Indigenous children were involved in the Beach Energy McLeod Challenge on Max Basheer Reserve. The Beach Energy McLeod Challenge is part of the Club's Indigenous programs run by retired Crows champion Andrew McLeod and his wife Rachael. It is a talent identification program with the next step for many being the Beach Energy Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program.

Twenty three high schools nominated year 8 and 9 children for the 9-a-side tournament, which involves both a boys and girls competition.

In the girls competition, Wiltja and an All-Stars' team comprised of students from Immanuel College, Para Hills and Unity College won through to the Grand Final. On the boys side, Rostrevor/Immanuel will go head to head with an All-Stars team made up of Salisbury High School, St Michael's College, Henley High School and Thomas More College students.

The schools included: Fremont Elizabeth City High School, Henley High School, Immanuel College, Le Fevre High School, Mannum Community College, Meningie Area School, Modbury High School, Ocean View College, Para Hills High School, Roma Mitchell Secondary School, Rostrevor College, Sacred Heart College, Salisbury High School, Seaton High School, Seaview High School, St Michaels College, Thomas More College, Unity College, Westminster School, Wiltja Residential, Windsor Gardens Vocational College, Wirreanda Secondary School and Woodville High School.

AFC/McLeod Indigenous programs background

The Adelaide Football Club, in partnership with the McLeods, have developed three key Indigenous programs to allow Indigenous youth access to similar opportunities that Crows great Andrew McLeod experienced during his career.

The programs use sport and mentoring to engage and educate Aboriginals youths, providing them with the experience, skills and knowledge required to seek independence, self-determination and the individual capacity to achieve their goals.

The Beach Energy McLeod Challenge, Beach Energy Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program, and the Future Leaders Program are unique in that they focus on continued mentoring of participants from across South Australia.