SPORT has a presence that is unmatched throughout the Northern Territory.

Although sometimes taken for granted, its strong influence can provide great opportunities, both personally and professionally, and light a path that was previously dull.

The power of sport, and AFL in particular, has woven itself into the Northern Territory identity; a concept Melbourne Football Club’s Indigenous Project Officer, Matthew Whelan, and Game Analyst and Education Coordinator, Craig Jennings, knew they had to explore further.

“Originally, it was just ‘Jenno’ (Craig Jennings) and I sitting here after work one day, talking about the lack of Indigenous coaches in the AFL,” Whelan told Melbourne Media.

“We thought about how we can change that, or how we can do something to help speed up the process, because right now, there isn’t actually a pathway for people who haven’t been in the AFL system to come through.”

It was a conversation that lead to Whelan and Jennings heading North, with the support of the AFL and the AFL Coaches’ Association, to assist in educating the local coaches of Arnhem Land.

The Demons duo, who were also joined by Port Adelaide Development Coach Chad Cornes, set out to help those who previously hadn’t been exposed to practices at the elite level, in the hope of building their networks and future opportunities.

“The assumption is that past players are the ones that are going to move into coaching roles, but about 50 per cent of AFL assistant coaches haven’t played professionally,” Whelan said.

“The people in remote communities don’t have access to the networks they need to get into the system, so through the Gary Dhurrkay Foundation, we thought there was opportunity to visit and upskill some of the coaches in the local league.”

With help from the foundation’s CEO, Craig Oldroyd, the group were able to engage several areas.

“Craig is well-connected in Nhulunbuy – he has been there for five years now,” Whelan said.

“He knows a lot of the traditional owners and was able to get us permission to go to their communities, as you need permits to go to some.

“He had the OK from a lot of the elders, and they really welcomed us with open arms.”

Pleased with the impact the travelling group were able to have, Whelan deemed the trip an overall success.

“To get the coaches thinking of footy in a different way, like the way they deliver messages to players, was a real positive,” he said.

“We spoke about using whatever resources you have to teach footy, with ‘Jenno’ explaining how he uses pictures to present to the playing group each week.

“Hopefully they got some different ideas about the way they can present and talk about the opposition, and how they can compete against the teams they come up against.”

Craig Jennings on the coast of the picturesque Arnhem Land (Photo supplied by Craig Jennings)

But it wasn’t just about the footy.

The group were eager to give back, as well as learn more about Indigenous culture.

“We were able to do some fishing and hunting with the locals in Nhulunbuy, and we also got invited to a funeral,” Whelan elaborated.

“That was a really special experience, as not many outsiders get to go to those sorts of things, and it was quite a big eye opener for all of us.

“They accepted and respected us, and it was an experience that none of us will forget.”