Its interesting how the AFL falls short compared to the Rugby League system with regards to assisting indigenous kids with talent in their transition into professional sport.
I can speak first hand on this through my profession.
As there is no draft system, Rugby league clubs can invest in talent at a much earlier age and therefore they are able to utilise the private education system through Boarding schools who take on indigenous kids via government or club funded scholarships.
An indigenous liaison officer is assigned to them to help them with any cultural difficulties during the transition. They live away from home for up to 6 years, they get a good education and are provided with excellent training facilities in most cases. They play football for both the School and the Club and their progress is closely monitored and supported. At the end of schooling life they have created friends from various backgrounds, become familiar with football club processes, and more often than not are equipped with the necessary tools to make a decent career out of Rugby League.
As the AFL runs a draft system, clubs are unable to make an early investment in indigenous or rural based talent like they do in League and therefore the AFL must set up an independent Academy if they are going to stop the increasing rates of indigenous kids dropping out of the system.
