Yartapuulti senior coach Josh Carr reflected on the significance of the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup in Darwin on Thursday, noting the impact the program has had on thousands of First Nations students over the past two decades.
The entire travelling squad connected with participants at Gardens Oval for the NT’s first Power Cup carnival this week, watching kids enjoying their footy and representing their culture.
Carr spoke with the media during the event, discussing the incredible impact of the program, how the team is acclimatising to the sticky NT conditions, and how Tom Anastasopoulos earned his debut.
Carr on the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup
“I guess for us as a footy club, what Santos has done with the Aboriginal Power Cup, to support that for 19 years in Adelaide has been significant. The response from the kids with (engaging in their) education and then they get to play a game of footy and and be a part of the Power Cup. So for us to now come up here to the NT, and for Santos to support that and give us an opportunity to be here (is great). You can see the players and their engagement and how happy they are to be here, as well as us as a football club.”
Carr on Lachie Jones organising players to visit a school on Wednesday
“Yeah, when that came through to me, it was a pretty good feeling, really, to be a part of that, to know that your players are just going off their own back (to do something like that). I asked Buttsy (Zak Butters) what he did for the day and he told me about that, and I couldn't believe it, to be honest. As a leader of the football club, I was pretty proud.”
Carr on acclimatising to the conditions
“We got an opportunity at training last night at TIO. The conditions will be about the same as the time we play (on Friday). It’s more about the familiarity and for the boys to be here and to get an understanding of what it feels like, with lots of mistakes, it’s slippery. it's uncomfortable, but it’s the same for everyone.
“You’ve got to understand that you’re going to make some mistakes and lots of them, but we just want them to play the game the right way. It’s not about mucking around with the footy, it’s about getting the footy in front of you and going forward. It will be some slippery football.”
Carr on Tom Anastasopoulos’ debut
“He’s earnt it. He deserves it. He's been rewarded for form and he's worked really hard to get this opportunity. He brings a lot of energy to our group. He's a really loved player amongst the players, and it’s quite exciting for him and his family.”
Carr on Gold Coast’s forward line
“Well, they've got a pretty imposing forward line. I was going to say a great mix of talls and smalls but they’re quite big, even their small players have got a bit of size about them. We obviously have to make that call about who we’re going to bring in and what that looks like. Both Sav and Todd have put their hands up.”
Carr on Todd Marshall
“I think the great thing about where Todd's at is that he’s playing football, and that's really important for him this year. And obviously there's been a change of role and we’ve seen a lot of positive signs with that role but at the same time, there's still a lot of improvement left in him to be either a forward or a defender. But his role is as a defender and that’s where it sits right now. It’s all parts of his game, he’s got to be able to defend well and we know that he can use the football.”
Carr on his comments post-game last week
“I don't think they’d be surprised by that comment. I think I was backing up their own feelings about the game and how we played, especially our first half.”
Carr on his side staying in close games
“Yeah it is (encouraging). We’re still doing a lot right. The way we moved the footy last week isn’t the way we want to move the footy. We probably tried to hang onto it for a bit long. It's that balance between hanging on to the footy and possession to taking the footy forward and putting the opposition under pressure.”
Carr on Jason Horne-Francis’ role
“There's freedom in his role, but at the same time, there is some prescription in what we give him and what that looks like. So everyone's really clear with it. We need him around the footy, there's no doubt about it. There are also opportunities when he goes forward but at the moment, there is probably more of a shift toward the midfield with the luxury of going forward.”
Carr on how the team is adjusting to the conditions
“I guess the number one factor is the heat and dealing with that. It’s only been a couple of weeks in Adelaide since we had some hot weather so we feel pretty comfortable in the heat. It’s probably around the slipperiness of the footy and understanding there will be mistakes and lots of them but making sure we’re playing the right way.”
Carr on Gold Coast being 9-0 in Darwin
“Well it’s a big challenge but I guess every win that they get, they’re closer to a loss.”
