South Australian American football player Atticus Ware named 2026 NATSISA finalist
South Australian defensive lineman Atticus Ware has been named a finalist for the National Junior Sports Person Award at the 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport Awards (NATSISA), the only American football player among this year's finalists.
Ware, a Yankuntjatjarra and Wirangu young man from Adelaide, is one of three finalists in the junior category, alongside surfer Leihani Zoric and hockey player Bonnie Rose. The winner will be announced at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday 7 November.
The NATSISA are conducted by the Indigenous Sports Network on behalf of the National Indigenous Sports Foundation (NISF), recognising the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes, coaches, officials and sporting organisations over the past 12 months across 13 categories. Finalists are judged by a panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, sports industry figures, prominent sportspeople and media. Ware was nominated for the award by his father, Aaron Ware.
Ware's nomination follows a path through every level of Australian tackle football. It began at his home club, the Port Adelaide Spartans, before he represented South Australia at the Junior Tackle Nationals in 2024 and 2025. This year he earned selection in the Australian U18 team.
At the 2025 Junior Tackle Nationals, Ware was part of a South Australian side that beat New South Wales 48-24, a landmark result for the state's junior program.
In July he travelled to Auckland with the Australian U18 team for the 2026 Festival of Football, where head coach Mitch Woellner's side beat New Zealand 34-22 at The Trusts Stadium on Saturday 11 July.
Ware only took up the sport in 2023, after spotting a flyer for the Port Adelaide Spartans while looking for a team sport. Now in his third season, he has set his sights on selection for South Australia and Australia again in 2027, with the longer-term goal of playing college football in the United States.
Speaking on the nomination, Atticus Ware said:
“It feels pretty good to be selected and recognised for representing Australia in gridiron, and to be recognised by my community for representing my people too.”
Shelley Ware, Atticus's aunty, said:
“As Atticus's aunty, I couldn't be prouder. He works so hard out there on the field and he deserves this recognition. The connection that he and his teammates have at the Spartans has been a huge part of why he has developed so quickly as a player and why he has such a love for the game. It's a club that cares about everyone, which makes all the difference in a player's development.”
She added:
“It's a great club that has provided the opportunity for Atticus to represent Australia and be honoured by his community as a finalist in the junior category. It's impressive. As a community we couldn't be prouder, but as an aunty, watching your nephew excel at a game he loves is priceless.”
Winners across all 13 categories will be announced at the NATSISA awards night, with more information on the awards available from the NISF.
AWARD DETAILS:
National Junior Sports Person Award, 2026 NATSISA
Finalists: Atticus Ware (American football), Leihani Zoric (surfing), Bonnie Rose (hockey)
Saturday 7 November, 6:00pm AEDT, Sydney Cricket Ground
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Media contact
Brock Bentley Chief Marketing Officer, American Football Australia
American Football Australia
American Football Australia (AFA) is the national governing body for American Football in Australia, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission and a full member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). AFA is responsible for national competitions and the development of Australian national teams across both tackle and flag football.
