LAKEESHA PICKETT was just an infant when she was part of Port Adelaide’s 2004 AFL Premiership celebrations, taken on stage by her father Byron as he claimed the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground.
Now forging a football career of her own, she’s among the next intake in Port Adelaide’s Women’s Aboriginal AFL Academy.
The WAAA, as it is known, launched in 2018 for students in years 11 and 12 and in its third year in 2020 will also include three year 10 students.
The WAAA and the Aboriginal AFL Academy (for young men) are part of the club’s suite of industry-leading programs for Aboriginal students, which focus on providing a quality educational experience for participants.
They also provide participants with a chance to refine their football skills with craft sessions.
Students complete a Certificate III in Fitness, which provides 100 SACE credits but can also complete Stage 2 Aboriginal Studies, along with a Certificate III in Sports and Recreation and/or Cross Disciplinary Studies (Sports Science).
Lakeesha Pickett (pictured above) will be in year 11 at Ocean View College in 2020 and on the football field is a strong forward or ruck who plays her club football at Port District and Woodville-West Torrens.
She was recently named in the state under 18 girl’s academy.
Pickett will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of her cousin Kysaiah Pickett who was part of the AAA in 2019 and was drafted by Melbourne at the AFL National Draft in November.
Others to be drafted from the AAA since it began include Wayne Milera (Adelaide), Kym Lebois (Carlton), Tyson Stengle (Richmond/now Adelaide), Brandan Parfitt (Geelong) and Izak Rankine (Gold Coast).
Another AAA student who is a highly rated prospect for the 2020 draft is Isaiah Dudley (pictured above), who is also part of the South Australian State development program and was named an Under 16 All-Australian in 2019.
The 16-year-old will be in year 12 at Prince Alfred College in 2020 and plays his club football with Central District.
One of his Centrals teammates, Kobe Wilson is also part of the AAA in 2020.
Wilson is the grandson of the famous Wilbur Wilson – a Centrals fan favourite in the 1970s and 80s when he played 171 games for 331 goals.
The Women’s Aboriginal AFL Academy has retained many of its year 11 students from 2019, including highly rated Northern Territory talent Molly Althouse who won the NT Football League Grand Final and was best on ground for the Darwin Buffettes in 2018.
The Immanuel College student is equally useful as a ruck or forward and is sure to be attractive to prospective AFLW recruiters.
See the full squads below.
Aboriginal AFL Academy 2020
|
First name |
Last name |
2020 Yr Level |
School |
Current Club |
|
Kynen |
Adams |
12 |
Immanuel |
U18 Glenelg FC |
|
Tyrese |
Agius |
11 |
Salisbury High |
U16.5 Salisbury North FC |
|
Tylah |
Appleton |
10 |
Paralowie |
U15 Salisbury North FC |
|
Zac |
Bishop |
11 |
Prince Alfred |
U16 Norwood FC |
|
Kyle |
Bray-Wallace |
12 |
Wirreanda Secondary |
U18 South Adelaide / Kenilworth FC |
|
Lachlan |
Cahill |
12 |
Henley High |
Henley (School) |
|
Michael |
Danks-Graham |
12 |
Ocean View College |
U'18 St. Mary's NTFL |
|
Isaiah |
Dudley |
12 |
Prince Alfred College |
Central District FC |
|
William |
Hawke |
11 |
Waikerie High |
U18 Waikerie FC |
|
Brandon |
Jackson-Martin |
10 |
Port Augusta Secondary |
Central Districts FC |
|
Louis |
Lindsay |
11 |
Salisbury High |
U16.5 Salisbury North FC |
|
Callan |
McKenzie |
10 |
Port Augusta Secondary |
U18s West Augusta FC |
|
James |
Milera |
11 |
Seaview High |
U16 Marion FC |
|
Neil |
Milera |
12 |
Seaview High |
U16.5 Portland FC |
|
Dale |
Miller |
11 |
Salisbury High |
U15 Salisbury North FC |
|
Kyan |
Morey |
11 |
Mount Carmel |
Rosewater FC |
|
Damien |
Newchurch |
12 |
Parafield Gardens |
U18 Central Districts FC |
|
Tarquin |
Newton |
12 |
Mount Gambier High |
U17 Port MacDonell FC |
|
Blayne |
O'Loughlin |
12 |
Roma Mitchell Secondary |
U18 North Adelaide FC |
|
Adam |
Pickering |
11 |
Torrens Valley Christian |
U18 Tea Tree Gully FC |
|
Isaac |
Poole |
10 |
St Columba |
Angle Vale FC |
|
Kai |
Rankine |
12 |
St Michael's |
U18 Lockleys FC |
|
Jaxon |
Sampson |
11 |
Brighton Secondary |
U16 South Adelaide / Brighton FC |
|
Kyan |
Saunders |
11 |
Immanuel |
U16.5 PHOS Camden FC |
|
Jordan |
Serle |
12 |
Xavier College |
U17 Southern Flinders FC |
|
Tyrell |
Sgroi |
11 |
Adelaide High |
U16 West Adelaide FC |
|
Jordan |
Sparnon |
12 |
Norwood Morialta High |
Athelstone FC |
|
Phoenix |
Spicer |
12 |
Hamilton Secondary |
U18 South Adelaide FC |
|
Mark |
Sumner |
11 |
Ocean View |
Portland FC |
|
Jordan |
Tippins |
12 |
Tyndale Christian |
U18 Central Districts FC |
|
Nasiah |
Wanganeen |
12 |
Seaview High |
U18 Glenelg FC |
|
Jaiya |
Warrior |
12 |
Parafield Gardens |
U16.5 Gepps Cross FC |
|
Kobe |
Wilson |
11 |
Craigmore High |
U18 Central Districts FC |
Women’s Aboriginal AFL Academy 2020
|
First Name |
Last Name |
2020 Yr Level |
School |
Current Club |
|
Madeline |
Agius |
11 |
Salisbury High |
Salisbury FC |
|
Molly |
Althouse |
12 |
Immanuel |
U18 Darwin FC |
|
Kiesha |
Bilney |
11 |
Woodville High |
Crows Academy |
|
Sakira |
Bilney |
12 |
Woodville High |
None |
|
Maddison |
Blake |
11 |
Salisbury East High |
Para Hills FC |
|
Dakota |
Braun |
11 |
Le Fevre |
U16 Port Districts FC |
|
Lillian |
Christie |
12 |
Golden Grove High |
U18 Ingle Farm FC |
|
Leena |
Corley |
12 |
Prescott Southern |
U16 Victor Harbor FC |
|
Patricia |
Drover |
11 |
Kadina Memorial |
None |
|
Billee-Jaye |
Franey |
12 |
Modbury High |
Hope Valley FC |
|
Della |
Graham-Williams |
10 |
Salisbury High |
None |
|
Delira |
Neil |
11 |
Gladstone High |
U16 Crystal Brook FC |
|
Taylor |
Newchurch |
12 |
Ocean View |
None |
|
Illara |
O'Loughlin |
12 |
Woodville High |
None |
|
Afton |
Penrith |
12 |
Charles Campbell |
U18 Hope Valley FC |
|
Lakeesha |
Pickett |
11 |
Ocean View |
U18 Port Districts FC |
|
Madeleine |
Rasmussen |
12 |
Westminster |
U18 Kenilworth FC |
|
Sherie |
Rigney |
10 |
Seaview High |
None |
|
Bella |
Rigney |
12 |
Mark Oliphant |
Angle Vale FC |
|
Tiana |
Rogers |
11 |
Kadina Memorial |
U17 Kadina FC |
|
Laisa |
Satala |
11 |
Southern Vales Christian |
None |
|
Jakirah |
Telfer |
12 |
Le Fevre |
U16 SMOSH FC |
|
Lianna |
Trueman |
10 |
Wirreanda Secondary |
None |
|
Tesha |
Wanganeen |
12 |
Parafield Gardens High |
None |
|
Deena |
Warren |
11 |
Westminster |
U18 Kenilworth FC |
|
Roshell |
Williams |
11 |
Ocean View |
Rosewater FC |
|
Dana |
Wright |
11 |
Westminster |
Westminster (School) |
