By Simon McEvoy
Mornington Peninsula Leader
Posted on 11 August 2015
TWO teens who live on the same street in Somers are on track for the AFL.
Sam Fletcher, 15, and Aaron Darling, 16, live about 10 doors apart on the same side of the street.
They share not only a big appetite for footy, but also for food; recently they conquered a monster parma challenge together.
Some good judges believe the Balnarring Thunder club mates have the talent to conquer the massive challenge of making it on to an AFL list.
Certainly, their recent achievements suggest they can.
Fletcher earned under-15 All Australian selection after starring for Victoria in the national championships.
He will tour South Africa in January.
Darling was named in the level one NAB AFL Academy, for 2017 draft prospects, after an impressive under-16s championships.
A midfielder-forward who can slam dunk a basketball despite being only 176cm, he is a step closer to joining his cousin, West Coast star Jack, in the AFL.
Two other MPJFL players also were named in the level one academy group following the national titles: Hunter Clark (Mt Martha) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (Rye).
Clark is a hard-running backman, whose silky skills mask his uncompromising attack on the footy. He is strong in the air and a beautiful kick on both sides of his body.
Davies-Uniacke is big, strong, quick and clean. He has ability to win the ball in close and then exit the contest at speed, using his quick feet and side step to set up those around him.
Sorrento 17-year-old Myles Poholke was named in the prestigious level two NAB AFL Academy, made up of 30 players eligible for next year’s draft who will take part in the eight-month program under head coach Brenton Sanderson.
Poholke, a midfielder-forward, is in his first season in the TAC Cup with the Dandenong Stingrays, playing 11 games as well as two with Vic Country.
Stingrays coach Craig Black said Poholke wasn’t part of the Stingrays’ under-16 squad last year and has been a revelation this season. “He’s had an outstanding year,’’ Black said.
“I think we rested him for one game. And he played two games for Vic Country. He is a midfielder, forward who has got super hands, really strong in the air for his size.’’
Dandenong Stingrays in AFL Academy:
Level Two squad: Josh Battle, Myles Poholke.
Level one squad: Aaron Darling, Hunter Clark, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Oscar Clavarino.
Last Modified on 13/08/2015 19:19