AFL NSW/ACT Media Release
A team of Primary School AFL Future Stars represented Northern NSW in the AFL NSW/ACT Future Stars Gala Day at Macquarie University, Sydney during the first week of the school holidays.
It was a team with a difference, consisting of: a low handicap golfer, Rugby Union & Rugby League stars, a Triathlete, State Swimming & Athletics representatives, Tennis and Soccer players.
The only criteria to be a part of the carnival was that the players had not played a full season of AFL when spotted by one of the AFL Development Staff. Players were selected based on their performance at the Grade 5/6 Paul Kelly Cups run by AFL NSW/ACT throughout the region.
The team was coached by AFL NSW/ACT Regional Manager, Mark Heaney and Development Officer, Katie Howard.
With players selected living in Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Bellingen & Port Macquarie, the team was unable to complete the 6 week training program that was undertaken by the Sydney based teams. However, this resulted in them become one of the most improving teams on the day. The team lost their first 3 games to Sydney North and two teams from Sydney West before having a strong win against Illawarra in their final game.
A Future Stars Academy will be selected from the carnival and will undergo a year of development by AFL NSW/ACT Talent coaches in 2010.
All boys enjoyed the experience and most have expressed a desire to play with a local AFL club in 2010. Particularly exciting were the six Grafton based players who will become the core of the new Grafton Tigers Junior club that will enter the North Coast Junior AFL competition in 2010.
Players who attended were:
Zac Nigro & Jay Neville (Westdale PS, Tamworth)
Brett Vella (Narranga PS, Coffs Harbour)
Liam Magennis (St Agnes PS, Port Macquarie)
Isaac Rosser (St Mary PS, Grafton)
Joshua Tauber (Gillwinga PS, Grafton)
Jona Hedges (Bellingen PS)
Jonti Kinross (Sawtell PS)
Callum O’Loughlin, Jayden McLaughlin, Tyler Potter & Ben Piper (Grafton PS
Last Modified on 09/10/2009 19:34