2014 Nicky Winmar CarnivalThursday, February 27, 2014 - 10:07 AM

Aboriginal youths from across the state will showcase their football talent this Sunday at the 2014 Nicky Winmar Carnival.

The event, which is coordinated by the West Australian Football Commission in partnership with the Department of Sport and Recreation and Aboriginal Health, will be played in a round-robin format at Bendigo Bank Stadium in Mandurah from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, March 2.

With an anticipated 10 teams from metro and regional WA, the 2014 carnival is expected to be bigger than ever with more than 300 participants and over 2000 spectators.

The day will also feature a special female football exhibition match played between two all Aboriginal teams from the North and South of Perth.

The Nicky Winmar Carnival was originally created in 2007 to provide young Aboriginal youth with another platform to enter the WA Football talent pathway.

The Nicky Winmar Carnival provides participants with a direct opportunity to:

• Participate in a structured WA football marquee event
• Achieve coaching and umpiring accreditation
• Re-engage with educational and sport participation programs
• Connect with AFL/WAFL mentors and role models
• Potentially be identified for WAFL development pathways
• Represent the state through selection into the AFL’s National KickStart Championship

WAFC Community Engagement Manager Paul Mugambwa said the carnival had proven to be a great success since its inauguration in 2007.

“The Nicky Winmar Carnival has provided a real opportunity for young players to have their talent recognised. Many of the players from previous carnivals have gone on to try out for district squads and many have transitioned into community football as well,” he said.

Competing teams (subject to final change)

1. South Fremantle
2. Pilbara
3. Swan Districts 1 (metro based players)
4. Swan Districts 2 (combining metro and South West players)
5. Peel (also featuring some South West players)
6. Perth (also featuring players from Northam and Moora)
7. East Perth
8. Subiaco (also featuring players Gold Fields)
9. Claremont (combining players from Kimberly boarding in Perth and players from Great Southern)
10. West Perth (featuring some players from Wheatbelt region)
11. East Fremantle (majority of players from Geraldton and Mullewa)

Nicky Winmar is regarded as one of the best footballers to have emerged from Western Australia. He played more than 250 games during his AFL career and was named in the St Kilda team of the century. He is a two-time All-Australian and won the 1989 Trevor Barker Award. He was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame in 2009.