AFLPA announces scholarship winners

THE 2008 Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship recipients were announced by the AFL Players Association on Friday in Melbourne.

Since 2001, the players’ association has awarded scholarships to help young footballers aged from 15 and 17 in their education and training while aspiring to an AFL career.

For 2008, 16 promising young footballers will receive Mike Fitzpatrick scholarships.

The recipients are: Steven May, Southern Districts FC (NT); Nicholas Price, Caloundra FC (QLD); Tyson Davis-Neale, Encounter Bay/South Adelaide FC (SA); Luke Tapscott, North Adelaide FC (SA); Daniel Gregory, Sturt FC (SA);, Matthew Thompson, Sturt FC (SA); Alex Carey, Flagstaff/Glenelg FC (SA); Luke Breust, Temora FC (NSW); Dylan McNeil, Lavington Panthers FC (NSW); Jake Hall, Golden Square/Bendigo Pioneers FC (VIC); Nicholas Heyne, Orbost Snowy Rovers FC (VIC); Jack Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Vale FC (VIC); Ben Cunnington, Cobden FC (VIC); Liam Tobin, Noble Park FC (VIC); Michael Hurley, Macleod/Northern Knights FC (VIC); Daniel Jago, Smithton FC (TAS).

The 2008 Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarships will be formally announced at the 2007 AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player Awards at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt on Friday, September 28.

Named after Carlton premiership captain, businessman and AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, the scholarships recognise his outstanding efforts in combining football and academic excellence.

Since 2001, around $350,000 has been distributed to 73 young players to support their dual academic and football aspirations. Around 50 per cent of scholarship recipients have gone on to be drafted by an AFL club.

The scholarship program has been developed as part of the AFLPA’s “Player Development” services and reinforces the association's commitment to the future player education and welfare of AFL players.

One of the recipients will accept the scholarships on behalf of all 16 at the 2007 AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player Awards on Grand Final Eve at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt.

Some previous Mike Fitzpatrick scholarship recipients include: Richard Cole (Essendon); Jimmy Bartel (Geelong); Xavier Clarke (St Kilda); Raph Clarke (St Kilda); Luke Brennan (Sydney); Byron Schammer (Fremantle); Sam Butler (West Coast); Ryley Dunn (Fremantle); Bill Morrison (Collingwood); Tim Schmidt (Sydney); Beau Waters (West Coast); Ryan Griffin (Western Bulldogs); Cameron Wood (Brisbane); Buddy Franklin (Hawthorn); Patrick Ryder (Essendon); Wayde Mills (Brisbane); Marcus Drum (Fremantle); Bachar Houli (Essendon); Leroy Jetta (Essendon); Travis Varcoe (Geelong); Albert Proud (Brisbane) and Joel Selwood (Geelong).