This year the Adelaide Football Club plays host to the Don McSweeny Aboriginal Lands Cup, named after the late SANFL Hall of Famer for his unwavering support of the APY Lands and Maralinga football teams.
Played as a curtain raiser to the Crows’ clash against Collingwood this Saturday night, the APY Lands vs Maralinga game is always a highlight on the calendar.
These highly skilled young men will bring their game from home on the red dirt, where often they have wildlife to compete against, to the well-manicured, grandstand-filled Adelaide Oval.
The APY Lands team boasts names such as Dom Barry (Former Melbourne Demons), Amos Frank (Ex Hawthorn), Kieran Roberts (Woodville West Torrens) and Aaron Sharpe (West Adelaide) and will enter the contest as hot favourites.
However, the Maralinga team has a proud history of football, with Koonibba Roosters being the oldest surviving Aboriginal Football Club in Australia, providing plenty of experience. The Maralinga team features a number of players from Yalata, Oak Valley, Koonibba, and Port Lincoln and with names like Johncock, Betts, Miller, Peel and Benbolt lining up, the capability of the Maralinga team to cause a major upset should not be underestimated.
Having said that, the Don McSweeny Cup is not only about football, participants are also exposed to employment and educational opportunities as part of the development week put in place by SANFL’s Indigenous Programs Manager Shawn Ford.
Adelaide has a proud history of working with the SANFL, Maralinga and APY Lands sides to bring the game to fruition. This year the Club has supported both teams, organising a shoe fit out through Adidas for the Maralinga lads, providing assistance through our Indigenous Programs as well as hosting the teams at the Club for a training session and dinner.
Click here to find out more about Adelaide’s Indigenous Programs
The Maralinga football team pose for a photo inside Adelaide's West Lakes training base
Cam Ellis-Yolmen with members of the Maralinga football team
The Club organised a special fitting session through Adidas for the Maralinga squad
