Wanganeen, 40, is one of the game's greatest Aboriginal footballers having cut his teeth as one of the youngest ever debutants and premiership players with Port Adelaide in the SANFL before being picked up by Essendon for the 1991 AFL season.
In 1993 he won the Brownlow Medal, Michael Tuck Medal and played in the Bombers' victorious premiership side, before eventually returning to Port Adelaide as its inaugural AFL captain in 1997.
He would go on to play 173 games for Port Adelaide in the AFL including winning the John Cahill Medal in 2003 and playing in the Power's 2004 premiership side.
Having worked in regional areas with Power Community Ltd - the club's community development arm - he will increase he contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander football development as the ambassador of the Aboriginal AFL Academy.
Wanganeen told portadelaidefc.com.au he is excited about the prospect of working in a program that encourages both football development and school participation in disadvantaged Aboriginal children.
"It's an exciting program to be part of and I jumped at the opportunity to be the Academy's ambassador when the club and SAASTA asked me if I was interested in the role," Wanganeen said.
"There was no hesitation at all - it's always great to be able to give something back to indigenous kids, especially those who come from disadvantage.
"I look forward to being able to provide these kids with some advice and spend some time with them."
For Wanganeen, the most important part of the Power Aboriginal Academy is not football, but educational outcomes.
Developed as a 'next step' of Power Community Ltd's successful Aboriginal Power Cup, the Power Aboriginal Academy will work closely with talented footballers to not only enhance their sporting prowess, but ensure they remain committed to secondary education.
"The key to the program is their education, schooling and career pathways," Wanganeen explained.
"It's the crux of the program, the footy part is just the second part.
"If they do well in their education, they'll find they have the opportunities presented to them football-wise to try and go on to bigger and better things.
"But we want them to work on their education and careers."
For a player who originally caught a bus from Salisbury North in Adelaide's northern suburbs to Alberton Oval to train in the late eighties and early nineties, Wanganeen understands the importance in having suitable education and development programs made available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
He hopes to see the Aboriginal AFL Academy add to other successful programs pioneered by the Power.
"There was nothing like this around when I was a kid, so these kids are very lucky to have a program like this to be part of," Wanganeen said.
"They'll have support to help them get to where they want to go in footy or in later career paths, but only if they put the effort in.
"I'm sure we'll see a lot of success stories come out of it."
The Aboriginal AFL Academy combine was held at Alberton Oval on Saturday from which a shortlist of some 30 players will be selected.
