About 100 indigenous teenagers from across the state represented their Clontarf Academy in four matches at Warrnambool’s Friendly Societies’ Park last Saturday.

The event, which draws together teams from Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Mildura, Swan Hill and Robinvale, aims to foster mateship among boys aged between 12 and 17.

The Warrnambool academy side comprising students from Warrnambool and Brauer colleges was undefeated in its four games. The team, coached by year 12 student Josh Britton under the guidance of Warrnambool Academy operations manager, Luke McInerney and runner Jeremy Mitchem, claimed the Victorian Clontarf Football shield for the first time.

Clontarf aims to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men. It uses football to give the teenagers opportunities to succeed and in turn raise their self-esteem.

Warrnambool Clontarf Academy director Mick Riddle said the event was a big success.

“The boys were beaming during the carnival and after it,” he said.

“That’s what it is all about.”

He said the matches were played in a good spirit.

“It’s a really unique brand of football,” he said.

“There is never any malicious intent or disrespect to staff or the umpires. It is played with the same intensity and ferocity required with football. 

“But it is about looking after little brothers and helping them. If a bigger, older kid bowls over a little bloke, they stop what they’re doing and helped them up and check that they are OK.”

He said the older boys had to involve the younger players in games. Riddle said Warrnambool captain Taylem Wason, who was a joint most valuable player winner, had been an impressive performer and leader during the carnival.

Riddle said members of the Warrnambool and District Football Umpires’ Association, who volunteered their time to officiate, had raised the professionalism of the event. 

“They were really good,” he said.