THE Central Australian Redtails are like no other football club, for the simple fact that they don’t strive to win premierships.

Rather, the representative teams in the Northern Territory Football League aim to develop people.

“Obviously footy clubs try that,” Redtails founder Rob Clarke told Melbourne Media.

“But their emphasis is on winning a premiership. We don’t have that worry.”

Engaging people from the Central Australia community – the Redtails (men’s team) and the Pinktails (women’s team) consist of players from within Alice Springs and 300 surrounding communities – the program hopes to drive change within the Red Centre.

It’s a passion that Clarke made his purpose, following the death of a young Indigenous man he had been mentoring.

“He was an unbelievable footballer,” Clarke said.

“I’ve seen him play one-handed when he broke his fist, broke four knuckles and still kicked four goals.”

But when the young man from the Amoonguna Community was murdered on October 31st, 2010, and just a business card-sized notice appeared in the paper to inform the locals, Clarke questioned his own ability to make a difference.

“To me, that said that’s a pretty normal thing to happen in our community, which is unacceptable, I think.”

“I realised at that time, I thought I was doing enough, and clearly I wasn’t.”

With that came a “harebrained idea” to create a club from Central Australia Footy for the NTFL, and the Central Australian Redtails were born.

Despite external concern of the club getting “flogged by 150-plus points” and having a lack of talent, Clarke maintained his focus in creating something that could enforce change in the community.

Through the incorporation of Right Tracks, a catered-learning program for 18- to 25-year-old Indigenous males, the Redtails have become leaders in local engagement.

“Basically, if you’re not working, you need to be in the Right Tracks Program,” Clarke explained.

“If you’re already employed, or you’re already going to school or studying – all good. But if you’re not, you have to get into our space and start getting the skills to better yourself in life.”

The program is also used to build confidence and self-esteem.

Redtails coach Shaun Cusack said equipping participants with traineeships, apprenticeships and jobs, while also providing a safe environment to play football, has been a real positive.   

“We have a lot of social issues in Central Australia, because people do get bored and with the lack of education,” he said.

“This helps our young men and young women to find the balance to do both.

“It’ll only make our community stronger.”

The club has significantly grown since its evolution, now home to six different teams: Under 14s, Under 18s, Country and Senior Redtails, as well as under 18s and Senior Pinktails.

Clarke said with Melbourne’s partnership, which began in October last year, the potential will continue to develop.

“I think Melbourne’s pretty proud of it so far, and we’re rapt to be involved with them.”

“We’re starting to build commitment, we’re building strong footballers and strong people, more importantly.

“The talent’s there. So, the fact that we have Melbourne supporting us now, AFL NT on board, more so than what they were; that talent can be nurtured into committed talent, and then look out as far as I’m concerned.”

This talent will be on full display on Sunday, with the Redtails taking on Darwin’s Top End Storm at TIO Traeger Park.

Commencing at 11.40am ACST, the match will be a curtain-raiser to the Round 10 AFL clash between Melbourne and Adelaide, and will be broadcast live nationally on Channel Seven.