THIS week the AFL is holding the Sir Doug Nicholls Round and next week Port Adelaide will continue the celebration of Aboriginal culture when it hosts Richmond at Adelaide Oval.

It is a big week for the club with the culmination of its industry-leading Aboriginal Power Cup program, its flagship educational program which combined education, health, wellbeing, leadership and cultural awareness.

In its eleventh year, the APC is seeing positive outcomes for participants with 96% of students completing their year 12 studies, and through the work of our Powerful Futures initiative, those students are transitioning into further study and/or employment.

It is the longest-running joint football and education community program for Aboriginal students in the Australian professional sports industry.

This year around 450 students from more than 70 schools are taking part in a football carnival on Wednesday and Thursday at Ethelton’s Nazar Reserve with the grand final to be played as a curtain-raiser to Port Adelaide’s clash with Richmond at Adelaide Oval.

To play in the carnival, participants must meet the 80% minimum school attendance requirement, and rank highly in both the academic and football components of the program.

Port Adelaide will wear the Indigenous guernsey designed by Paddy Ryder and his uncle Kevin Bynder for the game against the Tigers, after wearing it against Hawthorn in Indigenous Round.

Ahead of the Richmond match, the APC participants will take part in a spectacular dance performance.

If you missed last year’s performance, here is a reminder.

Port Adelaide’s Director of Aboriginal Programs Paul Vandenbergh said it was a thrilling conclusion to the APC program.

“The Aboriginal Power Cup is our flagship program which would not be possible without the commitment and passion of so many partners, schools, and, most importantly, the wonderful and inspiring students who take part each year,” Mr Vandenbergh said.

“The Indigenous Round is a fantastic celebration of the culture of Australia’s First Peoples and a perfect opportunity to recognise the hard work that our students have put in.

“Last year the students created a spectacular pre-match performance where they used light and dance to create an Aboriginal flag in the centre of Adelaide Oval.

“It was the third-most watched pre-match event in the AFL behind Dreamtime at the G and ANZAC Day, and this year will be even bigger and more eye-catching.”

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