By Kirstie Fitzgerald
Representative football starts here.
From the Under 12 age group, the opportunity to don the red, white and blue WRFL interleague uniform is something which all junior footballers strive to be part of each season.
With the final eight squads selected and training in full swing it seems this crop of young players are ready for action.
However unlike other years, the lead up to the junior interleague carnival this season has been slightly different, with a number of senior representative players and officials attending junior training to pass on some knowledge to the future stars of the west.
WRFL Senior Interleague coach Brett Jacobs and Chairman of Selectors Steve Thom headed down to Crofts Reserve last week and spoke to the Under 14 and 15 squads about what the interleague experience meant to them.
“One of the reasons Thomsy and I headed down to the junior training session was to show the kids that the senior interleague squad supports them and wants them to enjoy the experience as much as we have,” Jacobs said.
With the resurgence of the senior AFL Vic Metro Championship carnival earlier this year, representative football in the west has never been stronger as both men were keen to capitalize on the opportunity to establish a bond between the two groups.
“Unlike senior representative football, the junior interleague program has been around for a while now, so with the AFL Vic Metro Carnival back this year Thomsy and I were really keen to take the opportunity to build up a relationship and form an alliance between the senior and junior squads.”
After speaking to the players about the pride, passion and respect associated with representative football, the pair also assisted in a few training drills and skill work.
“I was impressed with how the kids listened and carried out instructions,” Jacobs said.
“I only had to explain the drill once to them and they just understood it and got down to business, which I explained was a quality which would put them in good stead for their careers in the future.”
Along with Jacobs and Thom, a number of senior representative players have also been regular guests at training, including senior interleague co vice-captains Tim Jenkins (St. Albans) and Jordan Robbins (Altona) as well as Blake Twomey (Port Colts) keen to lend a hand.
“It’s been really great going down to the junior training sessions and seeing the talent coming through the ranks,” Thom said.
“Some of these kids will go on to bigger and better things but it would be great to see some of them representing the WRFL at a senior interleague level in four or five years time.
“With senior representative football back on the agenda, I think it’s really important for us to build up that camaraderie and relationship between the senior and junior squads because at the end of the day we are all under the one banner and are all representing the same competition, so to give back and help them out has been really pleasing.”
Echoing Thom’s sentiments, Jacobs explained that it was important to ensure the kids also continued to find enjoyment out of their football and get the most out of the experience.
“Junior development is a high priority at all local clubs so I think it’s important for us to encourage their development and support the junior programs to ensure they get the best experience possible.
“These kids need to know that they are the future of football in the WRFL and are our greatest assets, so if we can help that process along in some small way, the better.”
The junior interleague carnival kicks off on Wednesday night on May 28 with the Western Youth Girls Under 14 and 15 squads, before the under 12s, 13s and 16 competitions commence play over the Queens Birthday long weekend.
For more information on the junior interleague carnival, please visit www.wrfl.asn.au or call 9314 5400.
Last Modified on 28/05/2014 15:02