The next batch of the AIS-AFL Academy – responsible for helping deliver 24 youngsters in Saturday’s NAB AFL Draft – is meeting in Canberra this week and a quick glimpse of the squad shows a far more diverse group than previous years.
Whereas past squads have often been dominated by powerhouse states Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, the 2008/09 intake features players from right across Australia.
While 11 Victorians are among the 30-player squad, the next-best represented state is Tasmania – which boasts six players.
South Australia has four players, Western Australian three while the Northern Territory, NSW and Queensland all have two players in the squad.
The numbers are an encouraging sign not only for the AFL but also for officials in charge of player pathway programs in the states.
AIS/AFL high performance coach Alan McConnell says the make up of this year’s intake was a positive sign compared to other years when a majority has come from just one or two states.
“We’ve got far more boys out of our second division from the under-16s than we ever have before, so it’s a much more diversely spread geographic,” McConnell said.
“It’s just how it pans out. We just try to pick the kids that, at that age, we think have the best opportunity to go on and play at senior AFL level.
“This past year I think we had 15 or 16 Victorians and obviously that number’s diminished quite significantly, which is a good thing I think.”
The big ‘jumper’ is Tasmania, which has risen from just one representative in last year’s Academy squad to six in 2008/09. That player was Liam Jones, whose new home is the Western Bulldogs after being drafted by the AFL club in last Saturday's draft.
If an Academy intake is an indictor for success at national titles then the Apple Isle – which tasted success on Grand Final day at the MCG with its under-16 team – should be looking forward to the NAB AFL U18 Championships.
2008/09 AIS-AFL Academy:
Vic – Shaun Atley, Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts, Kieran Harper, Kyle Hartigan, Jack Hutchins, Alex Keath, Trent McKenzie, Tom Nicholls, Koby Stevens, Joshua Toy
Tas – Jessie Crichton, Joseph Groenewegen, Ryan Harwood, Rhys Mott, Luke Russell, Maverick Weller.
SA – Hayden Jolly, Scott Lycett, Jamie Solly, Jake von Bertouch.
WA – Jack Darling, Mitch Duncan, David Swallow.
NSW – Kaine Stevens, Trent Stubbs.
NT - Steven May, Curtly Hampton.
Qld – Rex Liddy, Lewis Moss.
