Ace a success in development programme

HEWAGO “Ace” Oea is one of the success stories of a development programme run by Pacific AFL development manager Ben Drew and AFL PNG.
Oea quickly came under the radar during his first appearance in the Under-16 Queensland State Championship in 2017.
He was a youngster playing for the South Pacific team in Australia for the first time.
But due to logistical support, it was difficult for any team to take Oea in.
AFL Queensland and Gold Coast Suns coaching, talent and engagement coordinator Tim Searl decided to take it upon himself to invite him to live with him in Australia and do the trials.
“Ace, as a player is very tough, it is one of his main attributes,” Searl said.
“His speed is massive, he’s fearless at the footy and he competes for the whole game.”
Oea’s journey in Australia began like most young Pacific Islanders, it was really difficult at first but overtime, he grew and he improved so much on the field.
After a strong performance with South Pacific in the U16 Queensland Championship in 2017, he went on to play for the state in the national championships before being selected as the first PNG player to be part of the National Australian Bank (NAB) AFL Academy.
In 2018, Oea was awarded a two-year international scholarship to attend the Suns Academy programme in Brisbane Australia.
He played with the Suns for two years and has just began training in the AFL division recently.
The scholarship Oea has earned is credit to AFL PNG’s talent pathway with the support of sponsors such as Paradise Foods Limited.
His encouragement to the young Papua New Guineans was to enjoy playing footy and have fun while at it.