INDIGENOUS stars of the future will be on show when the 2015 AFL Flying Boomerangs take on the Victorian Diversity All Stars on Saturday in Melbourne.

The Boomerangs – a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 14-15 – have been at a high performance camp that will culminate with the match at Punt Road Oval.

The squad has spent time with the Collingwood and St Kilda this week, as well as AFL National Academy head coach Brenton Sanderson. 

Selected on school attendance, leadership skills and football ability by AFL talent managers, the Boomerangs are led by head coach by Shannon Rusca, assistant coaches Daniel Charles and former North Melbourne player Eddie Sansbury, while the team mentor is former Melbourne forward Aaron Davey.

The Victorian Diversity All Stars have been selected from five multicultural academies based in metropolitan Melbourne and aligned to TAC Cup regions.

AFL Diversity Manager Ali Fahour said the game was a fantastic opportunity for the young men on both sides.

“The Flying Boomerangs program provides the best young indigenous players in the country the chance to develop leadership skills and a platform to go on and play at an elite level,” Fahour said.

“The camp is built around the four key pillars of the program - communication, resilience, decision making and identity, and having former players Eddie Sansbury and Aaron Davey involved allows the players the opportunity to engage with respected role models.

“Whilst there are talent opportunities for the players, the program is also about preparing the next generation of Indigenous leaders with the skills and qualities to become positive role models within their own families and communities."

The Michael Long Medal for the player who best represents the four pillars of the Boomerangs program will be awarded after the match, which kicks off at 11am AEDT.