The Cairns Post

Local players show off their skills

Max Bennett

17Jun08

Colontarf Academy players Scott Braun, Thomas Ambrose, Curtly Hampton and Lachlan Sharpe. Picture: Hannan Millerick

THE players of the Clontarf Academy will have a chance to show off their skills this Thursday night when they take on Katherine High School.

Working on a daily basis with the 56 members of the program, football operations manager Scott Appleton and Clontarf associate director Sean Cusack believe activites like these help keep the students focused.

Appleton said: ``We've had trips to Darwin, Tennant Creek and Katherine and we've got trips planned for Adelaide and Yuendumu.

``They help keep the interest levels up as well as give us a chance to help them stay in school and plan for life after school.''

Cusack said the numbers at training have been steady and expects them to jump with the game fast approaching.

He said: ``Numbers have been pretty good at training. We've had around 30 to 35 every Wednesday morning.''

The players in the program had their first taste of leadership recently, hosting a football clinic at primary schools in Alice Springs.

Appleton said some players thrived in the environment.

He said: ``Some relish the opportunity and enjoy it, while others were a bit quiet but grew into it as they went along.

``These activities teach them to have confidence and develop communication skills.''

The game gets under way at 6.30pm at Traeger Park. Admission is free.