Tennant Creek teenager Stanley Waistcoat aspires of making it to the AFL and becoming a role model for his younger family members and community.
The 18-year-old is well on his way to the elite competition having already impressed at representative level for the Northern Territory team across multiple age groups.
Waistcoat said he moved away from Tennant Creek in the hope of making himself and everyone back home proud.
"I want to play AFL," Waistcoat told AFL.com.au while attending the National Indigenous and Multicultural Talent Program camp held in Adelaide.
"I want to make my family back home proud – I'm leading the way for them – and for myself, too, I just want to move and try something new, do a better thing for my life.
"I want to be a good bloke for my little brothers, step up and be a role model for them so that they can look up to me and say, 'I want to be like him one day'."
Waistcoat has played for multiple clubs all across the Northern Territory, including Southern Districts in the NTFL, Rovers in the CAFL and Sporties Spitfires in the AFL Barkly region.
He represented the NT team in the U18 Coates Talent League and recorded a team-high five tackles in a big loss to Calder Cannons last weekend.
Waistcoat spoke about the challenges of growing up and living in a place like Tennant Creek and had advice for other kids from similar backgrounds.
"Go to school, get your attendance up and do good for yourself," he said.
"Just keep moving forward, there's no turning back – chase your dreams."
The talented utility has just relocated to Perth and will spend the 2023 season with WAFL club South Fremantle.
"It's a new club, I love it, love the boys," Waistcoat said.
The Bulldogs have had strong links with the Northern Territory for well over 50 years and recently lost to the NTFL representative team in an exhibition match earlier in the year.
Waistcoat will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Territorian Junior Rioli, who spent time at South Fremantle before being drafted by the West Coast Eagles in 2016.
