The 2024 Clontarf Foundation State of Origin Series has been run and won.
Building on the success of the 2023 carnival, four teams from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory were selected to represent their academies, schools, families and communities on the big stage in Melbourne.
All squad members had shown outstanding sporting prowess to make their respective teams, proving their footballing bona fides across the first three terms of 2024 in countless before-school training sessions and multiple local and regional selection matches.
Not one participant was selected on football prowess alone, however.
WA Operations Manager Tony Delaney, who travelled with the WA contingent, said the key to the selection process was engagement in education, including keeping positive attendance and behaviour records at school, as well as taking on active leadership roles within their academies.
“We like to look at the individuals in a holistic way and if the boys aren’t at school, not doing the right things, they miss out on these big-ticket items, but we are really fortunate to have the best 22 players out there, having a real crack,” he said.
The result was 100 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders coming together at Victoria Park for a high-level showcase of Clontarf football, and a very public celebration of their educational efforts in 2024.
Day one of the carnival saw a high volume of footy being played, as the teams sorted out their rankings through the round-robin fixtures.
Day two represented the finals matches, with Victoria taking on NT in the showdown for bronze, and WA and SA playing off for the trophy. Both games were broadcast back to communities thanks to Kayo.
Congratulations to the WA team who came away eventual winners.
That afternoon, the fellas were taken through the Collingwood Football Club facilities by club legend, Leon Davis, before congregating for the All-Australian Presentation Dinner.
Many thanks to all of the Clontarf partners who volunteered their time across the carnival, and particularly to Woolworths who kept us all fed the entire time.
Congratulations to all academy members who participated – we know the future is in good hands.
