The Flying Boomerangs is a personal development and leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men aged 14-15 years-old.
Selected from the 2012 AFL Kickstart Under-15 Championships, the Flying Boomerangs squad of 25 players will play two matches against South African teams in Potchefstroom and Durban, coached by former St Kilda player Raphael Clarke.
Gresham has excelled in the Northern Football League in recent years, winning the under-15 Blue best and fairest in 2012 and finishing runner-up for the under-14 Blue best and fairest in 2011.
He is one of four Victorians selected in the squad, which will leave for the tour on January 23.
As well as playing two matches against the South Africans, the Boomerangs will also conduct a football clinic in Cape Town, travel to Johannesburg and Durban, and visit Table Mountain and Robben Island where former South African president Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.
AFL National Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud and AFL Indigenous Programs Co-ordinator Xavier Clarke are attending the tour.
Clarke believes the Flying Boomerangs’ personal development and leadership program will assist these young men in becoming the best people and footballers that they can be.
“The majority of the trip is going to be based around building leadership, character, resilience and identity as well,” Clarke said.
“We will challenge the boys and push them outside their comfort zones and hopefully we win a few games there as well and have a bit of fun.
“I think what South Africa can offer in terms of their history and what the people have been through, I think our boys can learn a lot.
“I am looking forward to seeing the boys take in as much as they can and come back with a bit of confidence in their footy and in themselves.”
Prior to departing for the tour, Gresham was one of three players who met Carlton star Marc Murphy.
Having travelled to South Africa for an exhibition match against Fremantle in 2008, Murphy spoke to the trio of the extraordinary experience they were set to encounter.
