By Kirstie Fitzgerald
There’s a bright future for many WRFL players looking to go that next step in their football careers, with 12 players picked up by Victorian Football League clubs in 2014.
Six different WRFL clubs have representatives who have reached VFL ranks, including Spotswood, Yarraville Seddon, Altona, Albion, Port Melbourne Colts and Werribee Districts.
With the emergence of new VFL club Footscray this season, the west now has three VFL clubs within the one region, making the WRFL one of the most appealing leagues for upcoming stars.
Along with longtime competition stalwarts Williamstown and Werribee, WRFL players are finding more opportunities for player pathways through VFL clubs to reach the elite level.
WRFL General Manager of Football Operations, David Newton, said that players were fortunate to have three VFL clubs in the one region.
“Our league is unique in the fact that we have three strong VFL affiliate clubs on our doorstep, which many other leagues don’t have the luxury of, so our players are extremely fortunate to have multiple opportunities to be picked up by these clubs and further their careers.
“The chance to be involved in a professional football program will no doubt benefit the individual player as well as the league, so it’s fantastic to see so many young players get the call up.”
Joining Williamstown’s ranks this season are Altona’s Jake McKenzie and Spotswood’s Harley Walshe, both just 19-years-old.
A talented midfielder in his own right, McKenzie follows in the footsteps of brothers Kane and Trent who have both played at an elite level, Kane currently playing for Williamstown and Trent playing AFL for the Gold Coast Suns.
Playing alongside McKenzie in the WRFL’s Under 15 interleague squad, Spotswood’s Harley Walshe is sure to make an impact at the Seagulls, having played three solid seasons with the Western Jets as a tall utility player.
“It’s great to have some of the younger boys come through the ranks and have the opportunity to play in the VFL,” Williamstown Football and Operations Manager, Chris Dixon said.
Down the freeway, the Werribee Football Club has recruited five WRFL players, including two Western Jets players and three Morris Barlow Squad graduates.
Albion’s James Taylor, Yarraville Seddon’s Ben Stretton and Altona’s Abdul Jaawad will pull on the gold and black this season, whilst former WRFL junior players Harrison King (Werribee Districts) and Jason Robinson (Altona) will also get their chance to play VFL football.
“It’s really pleasing to have three Morris Barlow Squad players utilise what they have learnt in the squad to further their careers in VFL ranks and it’s also great to have some youth in King and Robinson in the mix too,” Werribee Operations Manager, Stuart Balloch said.
Originally playing for Werribee Districts as a junior, Taylor made the switch to the Albion where his
consistent form saw him selected to represent the WRFL twice in the AFL Vic Metro Junior
Championships.
Beginning his football career with Hoppers Crossing, 20-year-old Ben Stretton made the switch to
Yarraville Seddon last year where he had an outstanding season, playing every game for the Eagles and polling five best on ground performances.
Joining his fellow Morris Barlow teammates is Altona’s Abdul Jawad. Playing his junior football with
Spotswood, the exciting small forward had three years with the Western Jets TAC Cup Squad before
signing up with the Vikings in 2013.
Young guns Jason Robinson and Harrison King have come leaps and bounds since their junior days at Altona and Werribee Districts, both representing the WRFL twice in the AFL Vic Metro Junior
Championships as well as teaming up to have sensational 2013 seasons with the Western Jets.
Rounding off the WRFL listings is the new Footscray Bulldogs, who have signed four current players,
including Todd Finco (Albion), Jase Perkins (Port Colts), Michael Fogarty (Spotswood) and Christian
Elliot (Spotswood).
Playing all 278 career games with Albion, Todd Finco had a stellar 2013 season for the Cats, his
tremendous leg speed seeing him poll 11 best on ground performances, a club best and fairest and a place in the 2013 Team of the Year.
Kicking 512 career goals, 25-year-old Jase Perkins played junior football at the Colts, before playing two years in the Reserves for Werribee (2010/2011). Returning to the Colts in 2012, Perkins’ straight legsaw him kick 92 goals in the season, earning him the 2012 Andrew Gibson Medal.
Playing junior football for the green and gold, Christian Elliot made the move to Williamstown CYMS where he got his first taste of senior football. Returning to Spotswood in 2012, the explosive impact forward had a terrific 2013 season, polling ten best on ground performances and a Team of the Year position.
Fellow Spotswood teammate Michael Fogarty also had an impressive 2013 season, with his silky skills and hunger for the football earning him runners-up in the club’s best and fairest behind dual Barry Priest medalist Chris O’Keefe.
“It’s been great mixing with the other WRFL boys at Footscray, I’ve played interleague with Finco and Perkins before and I obviously get along really well with Elliot having played with him at Spotty so it’s been really good having them there at training and mixing with them all,” Fogarty said.
2013 Glen Orden premiership player Jesse Fortune has also been selected for Footscray, with his
pace around the midfield earning him 12 best on field performances and third place in the
league’s 2013 Alan Smith Medal.
Footscray VFL Development Manager Chris Maple told westernbulldogs.com that he was excited
to have a number of WRFL players involved at the club.
“We are rapt to have some of the boys that got named in the team of the year and have been
really strong players in the WRFL,” he said.
“We think it’s important that we have got a good relationship with all the leagues but the WRFL
obviously is our local competition.”
Last Modified on 28/03/2014 08:56