ELIJAH Curran and Mia Hirst took their first big steps to football stardom last week, with the pair of budding stars pulling on the Big V for the first time at the School Sports Australia National carnival in Geelong.
It was a successful week for both Curran and Hirst, who competed for Victoria in the under-12 boys and girls divisions, with both teams going through the week undefeated and claiming the title.
With six games spread across six days, including two games on the same day on Tuesday, it was a huge undertaking from the pair, with both Curran and Hirst getting a good early grounding in what it takes to be an elite sportsperson.
“It was a great experience for all the families and the kids,” Kerri Curran, Elijah’s mother told The Guardian on their return home this week.
“The coaches were amazing and all the other families were great, I think a lot of the parents were as exhausted as the kids by the end of the week.
“One of the things that was most impressive was they way they did their recoveries, they took that side of things very seriously in terms of player well being and looking after their bodies for the week, it was pretty full on in that regard, but it was really, really well done.
“They did the ice baths and massage, rollers and stretching, it was all part of it and very professionally handled.
“The football itself from 11 and 12-year olds was really entertaining to watch as well.
“Our boys were one of the stronger teams, but there were really good passages of play from all teams especially for children of that age.
“It was a great atmosphere, you’d run into other families and kids still in their uniforms down the street and everyone would ask how you’re going, it was a really positive week.”
Curran, 12, who is completing year 7 at Swan Hill College, was one of the the better players for Victoria in their final match of the tournament against South Australia.
The final game of the tournament was essentially turned into grand final, with both the Victoria and South Australia unbeaten heading into their final game.
Playing as a high half forward and rotating on-ball, Curran starred, using his speed and contested ball winning ability to be among Victoria’s better players in the 17-point win.
It was a similar story for 11-year old Mia Hirst, who was one of three bottom age players to pull on the Big V in the under-12 girls teams undefeated tournament.
Like Curran, the week was an opportunity of a lifetime for the grade 5 student at St. Mary’s Primary School in Swan Hill, with her father Jonny Hirst impressed with the standard of competition across the six days.
“It was a very full week and very full on process with all the travelling, trials and trainings when she made the squad, not to mention the practice matches as well,” Hirst said this week.
“It was a very rewarding week and an amazing experience for Mia and one that will do wonders for her development. “She (Hirst) went pretty well, as one of the bottom age girls she was definitely one of the smaller ones.
“The first game (against ACT) she was just trying to find her feet a bit, but once Tuesday rolled around she was right.
“She did really well against Western Australia and then backed it up against New South Wales in the same day and had another really good game as well.
“The standard was pretty good, even though the scores probably don’t reflect that.
“The other states were big girls, they could kick well, they could mark well and had all the attributes of being really good footballers.
“The other states had the size and they tackled really well, but the Vics just had the polish and game plan in place that the other states didn’t have.
“She (Hirst) didn’t look out of place that’s for sure and as a bottom age girl she’s keen as mustard to go again next year.
“She’s already talking about it and aspires to be one of the leaders next year, and it’s up on the Sunshine Coast, so we’re all hoping she gets picked and we can head up there.”
