PADDY Dow lives and breathes footy.
At 14, he’s been playing competitively for six years but he’s been kicking a football around since he was a toddler.
Dow followed in the footsteps of his father Richard when, aged eight, he pulled on a Swan Hill jumper and ran out for the under 11s for the first time.
Fast forward a few short years and Dow, now about 185cm and turning 15 in October, the quick on-baller is set to represent his state.
After weeks of trials and scout assessments, Dow was chosen last month to represent Victoria at the upcoming School Sport Australia footy championships.
The excitement has been building this week with Dow ready to go with his Team Vic gear ahead of the July 19-26 carnival.
Dow’s selection is made even more meritorious given Victoria will only field one football team at the tournament in Sydney.
School Sport Australia rules dictate each member body can only field one side if every state and territory is represented.
So with Tasmania once again entering the SSA football championships, Victoria was unable to field a Country and Metro side as it had in the past.
It meant the competition was even stiffer for the St Mary MacKillop College student, who trained with Vic Country last year but did not make the final team.
“You didn’t really know what sort of chance you were,” Dow told The Guardian this week.
“There are 80 people all up ((trying out)) and everyone’s pretty good.”
Dow had Nyah Nyah West young gun Brent Daniels for company through the try out stages.
“We would have felt more comfortable in making the team if it had have been Vic Country,” Dow said.
Daniels was unsuccessful in making the final side.
Dow, who is a past Central Murray under 15s best and fairest, has played for Swan Hill’s under 16s and colts sides this season.
