MEMORIES of Harry Miller's 15-year-old self came rushing back as he worked with the newest batch of Flying Boomerangs last year.
The 18-game Hawk, now 32 and more than a decade removed from his AFL days, was part of the coaching staff under Barry Lawrence for the Boomerangs' eight-day camp in Fiji in December.
The Flying Boomerangs is a leadership and development program for the country's best under-16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander footballers from the annual Kickstart Championships.
Miller's career pre-dated the program, but he saw himself in these kids from various backgrounds, states and territories, some of whom will go on to AFL ranks in the coming years.
"I wish these opportunities were around when I was coming through," Miller told AFL.com.au.
"It was a dream come true to play AFL, but now I just sort of look back at my mistakes.
"Hopefully, I can transfer some of my experiences onto the young men I deal with, and talk about the peer pressures they deal with at a young age and how to say no to certain things."
Miller, whose football life has come full circle to Port Lincoln's Mallee Park, where he is the director of coaching, counts Daniel Wells, Graham Johncock, and Shaun and Peter Burgoyne as cousins.
Many of the Boomerangs squad members also have a family link to the AFL.
Jordon Kickett's surname ensures he captures attention on the football field, and he is potentially the most talented of this crop.
His uncles, Derek and Dale Kickett, played a combined 333 matches at AFL level.
There was also Joel Jeffrey (son of Russell), Lachlan Johnson (son of Chris), Ezekiel Bolton (cousin of Shai), Ira Jetta (cousin of Neville and Lewis) and Tyler Brockman (cousin of Greg Broughton).
Joining Kickett among the standouts were captain Deakyn Smith – who won the Michael Long Medal for his leadership and behaviour – Roy George, Jeffrey and Kynan Kenny.
But football, including a match against a South Pacific team, was only one part of the trip, which provided opportunities for players to learn about their indigenous heritage and Fijian counterparts.
West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui's family, including his brother Joji and uncle Semesa, welcomed the Flying Boomerangs into their village of Suvavou.
"It was about providing them with the tools necessary to make it in the AFL – not just as footballers, but in life as well," Miller said.
"We learned the great things that Fiji has to offer; from their religion, to their singing, their food, the way they dress and live, and listened to their stories.
"There are many things these young men are dealing with … they're at the crossroads of life, so it's really important they make the right decisions and we try to help with that."
