Irving Mosquito says his first Indigenous All Stars Summit was one to cherish.
The first-year Bomber joined fellow Indigenous teammates Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Jake Long at the biennial summit, held on Adelaide’s Yorke Peninsula this week.
Featuring over 70 of the AFL’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island players, the three-day camp provided the opportunity for players to connect with their culture and each other, while discussing and working through key issues with AFL industry leaders, club staff and the AFL Players’ Association.
Cultural activities included camping, fishing, smoking ceremonies, boomerang carving and storytelling, while light footy training sessions were also held.
Mosquito, who hails from Halls Creek in the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia, said the experience was "special".
“I loved it. It was good to get to know the boys from other clubs, and we did a lot of cultural activities, which brings back a lot of great memories,” Mosquito said.
“For me, it was important to have a voice, pick up lessons from others and live our culture strongly.”
Irving Mosquito, Jake Long and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti at the Indigenous All Stars Summit. (Photo: Mark Piovesan)
Since being drafted to Essendon – the club he grew up barracking for – the 18-year-old said he’d cherished his first three months at The Hangar.
“I’ve loved it. The boys are really caring, loving and so respectful. That’s what I love about coming here,” Mosquito said.
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