NSW/ACT under 18s kicked off their 2010 National Under 18s Div 2 tournament with a strong 41 point win over the Northern Territory. Starring for the NSW/ACT unit was the well rated Anthony Miles, with 43 possessions and 3 goals.
He was supported by tall forward Josh Bruce kicked 5 goals.
The NSW/ACT line up includes players from many regions of NSW. There is a good sprinkling from the Riverina region around Wagga, Leeton and Griffith.
And there are the traditional Victorian border towns, such as Albury, Corowa (Rutherglen), Moama (Echuca) and Wentworth (Mildura). Anthony Miles hails from North Albury. So, too, did Brett Kirk.
From the central coast and Newcastle region there’s James Webster from Terrigal Avoca and Adam Flagg from the Northern Jets. Down the south coast, there’s representatives from Tathra, Merimbula and Wollongong.
From Canberra, there’s Belconnen’s Nick Collins and Eastlake’s Josh Bruce, mentioned above (194 cm, 88 kgs, turns 18 in a couple of weeks).
From around the Sydney Metro region, there’s four lads from Riverview college, three from North Shore, and others from Western Suburbs, Sydney Uni and the East Coast Eagles. And the sole representative from Easts has a famous surname: one Will Langford.
With Greater Western Sydney around the corner, suddenly the lads in this Under 18 squad, as with all the Under 18s taking part this week, have more to play for than ever before.
The next round of matches sees divisional cross-over matches on June 6, when NSW/ACT takes on Vic Country and QLD takes on WA at Blacktown, after which, NSW/ACT will head to the Gabba (Vs QLD), Visy Park (Vs WA) and Etihad (Vs Tas).
the all rounder
Roar Pro
LK, the Bruce boys are brothers.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The Scholarship window was closed on 31st March this year. All existing Scholarships remain, but clubs can not sign up any more Scholarship players. The club the players have a Scholarship too retain the first option at listing that player. GWS is second in line, and should neither their Scholarship club nor GWS pick them up they have the option to register for the draft.
Redb
Roar Guru
Fair spread of NSW players. Was in Northern NSW recently, received some feedback from the locals that Auskick is going well and local leagues doing well.
Michael C
Roar Guru
this is the list as of April 21 this year : The AFL Scholarship Program, effective for ages 15 to 17, is designed to attract young athletes and their families to experience AFL. The incentives include financial support and personal development with an AFL Club. Please see below for list of current scholarship holders as of 21, April 2010. Adelaide: Sam Martyn, Aaron Duncan Brisbane: Jame Brain, Richard Newell Carlton: Matthew Lodge, Jake Pianta, Blake Bray Collingwood: Michael Hartley, Nick Perry, Thomas Young, Jarrod Witts, Adrian Yakimov, Tyson Carracher, Jed Hillman Essendon: Oliver Tweeddale, James Webster, Josh Cole, Nick Ryan Fremantle: Craig Moller Geelong: Beau Black, Lachlan Urwin, Tim Wales, Jack Dimery Hawthorn: Thomas Kickett, Trent Stubbs, Dylan Stuart, Heath Caldwell, Jack Mahoney, Will Langford, Jack Dwyer North Melbourne: Jac Simmonds, Joel McInerney, Ryer Court, Ben McDonald, Matt Hutton Port Adelaide: Simon O’Brien, Harrison Cumming St Kilda: Kane Murphy, Jackson Furguson Sydney Swans: Jay Lewis, Nathan Kenny, Jackson Potter, Blake Guthrie, Jack Lynch, Mitchell May, Mitchell Crawford, Stephen Wray, Harrison Butchart, Daniel Robinson West Coast: Jake King, Freser Brown Western Bulldogs: Daniel Lloyd 15 of them are in the current U18 squad......not sure how many others might be in the U16 squad in a months time. Bray, Cumming, Lynch, Mahony, Ferguson, Brain, Webster, Cole, Murphy, Hutton, Martyn, Kickett, Stubbs, Carracher and Langford.
LK
Guest
Is Josh Bruce related to former Swan Aaron Bruce? Are any of the players NSW scholarship holders? Or did that scheme get phased out with GCFC and GWS?
mds1970
Roar Guru
With Gold Coast FC and GWS coming into the AFL in the next couple of years, there are more opportunities for these kids than ever before. GWS is at a disadvantage compared to Gold Coast FC in that many of the juniors playing TAC Cup and for the RAMS are already on Scholarships with existing AFL clubs - an unintended consequence of the Scholarship scheme, which was introduced long before GWS was thought of. But for these players, they have opportunities that NSW juniors in the past have never had access to. To go to Scholarship clubs, to GWS or into the draft where all clubs will need to cast the net wider to look for quality players. And of these NSW kids who puts their hand up and does well in the Under 18s championships has a bright future ahead. Thanks for the update Michael C.