AFL Dream One Step Closer for Pilbara Boys
Thursday, 19th January 2012
By Clint Degebrodt
This Sunday January 22ndmarks a significant moment for football and players in the Pilbara with the first AFL camp held in Port Hedland from the 22ndto the 25th. This is the first step towards the North West team participating in the AFL 16’s championships in Blacktown during July this year, and the first of 3 camps held in the North West of WA.
‘WA North West’ is part of the WAFC high performance program and will pit the best players from the Pilbara, Kimberley and the Gascoyne into one development squad. The boys have been identified selected from last year’s North West Games which were also held in Port Hedland. There will be further opportunities for Pilbara players to join the program throughout the next months.
The players selected to represent the Pilbara at this stage come from far and wide with Karratha providing Aiden Luta, Anthony Dunn, Campbell Garratt, Max Payne and Justin Patching. From Newman Tom Hughes and Kieren Wheelock. Cameron Cross, Nelson Ansey and Steven Saylor will come out of Wickham, Bailey Scott from Tom Price, and Izzy Razak, Kelman Tullock both from Hedland.
WAFC High Performance Manager Craig Starcevich will heading up the camp in partnership with Garnduwa, the V Swans and the AFL. The V Swans have committed their staff to providing their expertise to the program with Events Manager Bec Pianta who has set up and managed the camp, V Swans Hedland Development Officer Av Swami, V Swans Shire of East Pilbara’s Dan Smith, Ashburton’s Dan Munday and myself from the Shire of Roebourne all coaching, mentoring and delivering sessions during the week.
North West WA represents a major investment in the youth of our region and attempts to address the geographical disadvantages that can be an issue living in the North West. The boys will experience the same opportunities as their metro counterparts, relieving the burden of constant travel to Perth. The AFL Curriculum for the camp includes nutrition, injury prevention, injury management, core strength, fitness testing, skill development and leadership training as well as access to elite coaches and training.
The end result will be Pilbara representatives playing in the AFL for the first time, a result that I’m sure will keep our young footballers dreaming of the big time, with that dream a lot closer than it has ever been.
