Subi congratulates Rio Tinto Indigenous Youth Football Scholarship recipients

The Subiaco Football Club congratulates the two Subiaco players selected from the WAFL Colts and WAFLW Rogers Cup competitions to receive the Rio Tinto Indigenous Youth Football Scholarship in season 2022.

Recipients were acknowledged at a special event at the Claremont Football Club earlier this week to celebrate the achievement amongst family, WAFL & WAFLW Clubs and Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Football Leaders.

Rio Tinto Chief Advisor Indigenous Affairs, Adam Lees, said that the program aims to increase the number of leadership opportunities for Indigenous Australians in both the football and mining industries in Western Australia whilst also providing greater support to male and female footballers from regional areas.

“Football plays an integral role in connecting and enhancing West Australian Communities through the strong values and behaviours that it instils in participants” Mr Lees said.

“Rio Tinto is excited to launch the scholarship program in partnership with the WA Football Commission to acknowledge, reward and provide further leadership and development opportunities for emerging Indigenous leaders through Football.”

As part of the program recipients will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, an Indigenous mentor through the WAFC, Indigenous Players Alliance and Rio Tinto, and ongoing support for all scholarships by the WAFC’s Indigenous Programmes Specialist.

Joey Ugle, Indigenous Programmes Specialist for WAFC knows firsthand the vital role that football plays in fostering and developing young leaders.

“As a proud Whadjuk/Minang man, somebody that has been through the pathway at the East Perth Football Club and somebody that is now employed in football I understand firsthand the positive impact that football can have in developing and empowering future leaders,” he said.

“One of the fantastic things about the programme is that it has the potential to positively impact emerging Indigenous leaders throughout the state given the strong connection that WAFL Clubs have to both regional and metro areas and we are pleased that Rio Tinto can be part of that.”

2022 Rio Tinto Indigenous Youth Football Scholarship recipients from Subiaco Football Club were Kieren Douglas / Esperance Senior High School and Millie Edgar / SEDA Leederville.

KIERAN DOUGLAS
Kieren has joined Subiaco from the Esperance Football Districts Association playing for Esperance FC and being part of the League premiership side in 2021 as a 16-year-old. After an impressive 2021 futures season, Keiren was invited to trail for the 2022 colts team. A natural athlete and strong leader, Keiren gelled with the squad well and was rewarded with a debut in round 1 of the 2022 colts season.

He is part of the Colt's extended leadership group, displaying qualities of determination, charisma and respect making him an ideal candidate to receive the Rio Tinto aboriginal leadership scholarship

MILLIE EDGAR

Millie has been a valuable player in the Rogers Cup program at Subiaco since 2021, prior to that playing in and was talent identified through her junior football club for selection in the Metro Central Development Squad. She has also been a member of the WAFC State 16s program in both 2021 and 2022.

Millie is enrolled in Year 11 at SEDA in the Fremantle Dockers Program for the remaining two years of high school, so she can focus on her football as well as gaining employment within the Police force once she finishes her formal education. At SEDA she is also a member of the Baldja Mob Leadership Program.

Millie aspires to play football at the highest level. She has seen her relative Tarnee Tester play in the AFLW for both Fremantle and West Coast teams and wishes to follow in her footsteps to represent the Murrawarri Tribe from Brewarrina (NSW) at AFLW level. Her short-term aspirations are to have a successful 2022 with Subiaco (after an injury-interrupted season 2021) in which she can develop versatility in her game by playing in a variety of roles. A proven and reliable defender, Millie would like to work into the midfield to lead from the contest, and have an impact up the ground, while using her defensive understanding to support her teammates.