QBE Sydney Swans Academy talent was on show at the under-15 KickStart Championships last month, with four Academy players selected for the 2012 Flying Boomerangs’ squad.

Academy players Jonathan Williams, Brayden Kilpatrick, Ben Davis and Ben Gualterio were selected in the squad following impressive performances for the NSW/ACT team in the KickStart Championships, which were held on the Gold Coast.

The KickStart Championships, which is held annually, involves 25 indigenous players from each state and territory, who were selected from a number of KickStart Camps held around the country.

Players from the carnival are then selected on performance, with the best players selected for the Flying Boomerangs’ squad.

Swans Academy Talent ID and Operations Manager Chris Smith said selection in the Boomerangs’ squad was a fantastic opportunity for the young footballers.

“The Boomerangs’ squad travels to South Africa at the end of the year, and gets to travel as a team and experience things most kids would dream of,” he said.

“The Boomerangs will also be a team who will play in the under-16 Australian Championships in July.

“They will also have Andrew McLeod and Chris Johnson as coaches of the squad, which means that this carnival provided really good access to elite coaching.”

Smith said the KickStart Championships are also a great chance for young indigenous players to show off their talent.

“The carnival provides a really good opportunity for these boys to showcase their skills and their ability,” he said.

“I think that’s why a lot of boys were really keen to play in this carnival, which has been going for a number of years now.”

The Boomerangs' squad of 43 will be cut to 25 to represent the team at the under-16 Australian Championships, as well as the international tour.

In addition to showcasing skills on the field, the KickStart Championships also allowed for older Swans Academy players to participate in leadership roles.

Smith said two Swans Academy players stepped up to the challenge at this year’s carnival.

“A number of the boys from the Swans Academy have done very well,” he said.

“We had a couple of older boys in Kuiam Anu and Abe Davis, who went to the carnival in a mentoring capacity to show leadership to the boys.”

Anthony Treacy, who was a former member of the Swans Academy, was also selected in the Boomerangs squad.