PORT Adelaide has become the first AFL club to launch an Aboriginal Academy, offering the club a sneak peek at some of South Australia's best indigenous footballers.
Through the program, which was created in conjunction with the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy (SAASTA), 30 of state's best Aboriginal players will get access to the Power's staff and training facilities at Alberton Oval for one day a week over 40 weeks.
But their time training as elite athletes will come with a catch – they must also adhere to a strict academic benchmark.
Participants must be enrolled to complete their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and maintain at least an 80 per cent attendance rate and they also achieve at least a C grade in all subjects.
While at Alberton, participants will also complete a Certificate III in sport and recreation.
So vital is the education side of the program that, if he had to choose, Power CEO Keith Thomas said he'd prefer to see one of the participants go on to graduate from university than get drafted to the AFL.
"Port Adelaide has a long history with the Aboriginal Power Cup and we learnt through that the value of trying to inspire students to commit to their education through the lure of pursuing sport as part of that experience," Thomas said.
"Thirty of the best young Aboriginal footballers from around the state will commit to continuing their studies, completing a SACE III certificate and as part of that journey they'll get a day a week to utilise the facilities at the Port Adelaide Football Club.
"The program will identify talented, young, Aboriginal footballers – there's no denying that and we think that's a unique element of the program.
"But the emphasis of this program is in the educational outcomes ... there will be no sense in trying to hide them and shepherd them through the system and pick them off at the end.
"If they're good enough they'll be playing state footy through the SANFL system and ultimately they'll have to be drafted if they want to play in the AFL."
While he admitted the program would offer the Power early exposure to young talent, Thomas said it had been cleared by AFL investigations manager Ken Wood.
The emphasis on education would set it apart from a straight talent identification program and any coaching of the participants would be conducted independently of the Power.
"[Ken Wood] was absolutely fine, we had him here in the boardroom, Peter Rohde (football manager) presented the proposition to Ken," Thomas said.
"I think what they're (the AFL) guarding against is direct coaching of players who have not yet reached drafting age.
"This program will be coached independently and the coaching will not be associated with the Port Adelaide club.
"The football component is in fact a very small component of the overall program.
"We explained that to Ken Wood at the AFL, we took it to the SANFL and they've got no concerns, they understand it for what it is."
The 30 players will also be selected independently of the Power, primarily by SAASTA with help from SANFL clubs.
The South Australian government contributed $50,000 to the initiative and although the Crows aren't involved in this particular program, Thomas said he would welcome their interest.
"I think it'd be a fantastic thing to do ... I think the more opportunities that are provided of this nature, the better," he said.
"We're happy to be first, but there's great value in this beyond us."
