THE region’s brightest young talent is being identified earlier, further enhancing local juniors’ pathway to a potential elite career.
The newly-established AFL Central Murray Under 13s football academy is another link in the chain for stars hoping to rise through the ranks and follow in the footsteps of local guns like Port Adelaide’s Jesse Palmer, an ex-Swan Hill ruckman, and Brisbane’s Jaden McGrath, a former Kerang premiership player.
It is hoped the academy — which includes the best young players from Central Murray and Golden Rivers clubs — will complement the current 15-year-old schoolboys program, which sees coaches prepare a local team for the underage V/Line Cup competition.
After that program the region’s rising stars start to put their hands up for selection in the TAC Cup’s development squads with an elite junior preparation the key lead up to being chosen in the NAB AFL Draft.
The academy head coaches are Jack O’Rourke and Wes Lewis.
O’Rourke said identifying talent sooner would help give them the best preparation through their junior careers.
“Getting the kids at Under 13s level is an opportunity to fast-track their development,” he said.
“The best kids from each club are a part of this program which is a precursor to the Under 15s.”
Around 40 potential stars, encompassing clubs across the CMFNL, turned out at the Swan Hill Leisure Centre for their first run on Monday night.
AFL Central Murray football development manager Jamie Macri is running the academy with the assistance of AFL Victoria.
