A Port Lincoln High School team will compete today and tomorrow in the inaugural indigenous football carnival, and could make its way to the final, which will be a curtain raiser for the Power versus Collingwood match at AAMI Stadium.

A local girls’ side was also planned to compete, but they are no longer available, with just one girl, Ruby Flavel, going over to take part in workshops.

She said she was looking forward to supporting the local players.

Assistant principal Deb Marks said the team was excited about the trip.

“The kids will absolutely have a ball,” she said.

“When they see the teams from the other areas, that’s when the excitement will hit.”

Ms Marks said it would give the students a chance to see if they would like to pursue a career in football or sport.

“It’s also a good opportunity for them to see there’s employment beyond the traditional playing positions.”

Ms Marks said there was potential for the Power Cup to be an annual event, so hopefully there would be more participants in future years.

Picking up on key recommendations from the Monsignor David Cappo’s report To Break the Cycle, the State Government has teamed with the Power, the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy and the SANFL for the inaugural Power Cup.

The concept is modelled on a successful UK-based program that collaborated with the Charlton Athletic Football Club to tackle youth crime issues in the Charlton area of southeast London.