The most talented 15 year olds from across the Greater Western Sydney zone are on display against the best players from Queensland in Coffs Harbour this week.
The Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy players are having their first taste of life as a professional footballer, taking on the Gold Coast and Brisbane academies in a week long carnival on the NSW North Coast.
The GIANTS split into two teams with the Slater & Gordon Academy winning both games against their northern rivals, while the Development team has fought bravely but lost both games.
Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy Manager Lachie Buszard says the AFL Academy Series is a great way to end the season.
“This series is giving the best 15 year olds in our zone their first taste of what it’s like in an AFL environment with the very best coaching as well as knowledge on diet, preparation, match review, recovery and GPS data,” said Buszard.
“The players also get an opportunity to show their talents ahead of next year’s NAB AFL Under 16 Championships.”
“As 15 year olds, their bodies are starting to develop and we begin to get an idea of what kind of players they are developing into, so a series like this is beneficial for everyone involved,” he said.
It’s been a long season for the teenagers with extensive academy trials beginning last November. The series will wrap up on Thursday with the GIANTS playing an intra-club scratch match.
Day 1
GIANTS Academy 1 13.9 (87) defeated Brisbane Lions 5.4 (34)
Goals:
GWS GIANTS: L Harvey 3, B Lambert 2, L Nelson 2, B Robertson 2, H Wenzel, L Grey, F Carroll, S Fisher
Brisbane Lions: B Lambden, L Christie, B Telford, K Luck, J Allison.
Gold Coast Suns 12.8 (80) defeated GIANTS Development 2 4.1 (25)
Goals:
Gold Coast Suns: B Scheer 3, T Golding 2, S Watson 2, J Bowe, S Italiano, T Buckler, J Arthars, N Kempe
GWS GIANTS 2: Z Cowley-Hilton, K Jenkins, S McHale, J Whitley.
Day 2
GIANTS Academy 1 13.9.87 v Gold Coast Suns 7.4.46
Goalkickers:
Giants: C.Page 4, B.Lambert 2, S.Fisher 2, L.Shannon 1, H.Wenzel 1, L.Hupfeld 1, J.Turner 1, F.Carroll 1
Suns: B.Scheer 4, D.Charlesworth 2, K.Sheers 1
GIANTS Academy 2 5.5.35 v Brisbane Lions 12.7.79
Goalkickers:
Giants: J.Brown 2, K.Jenkins 1, J.Whitley 1, I.Anderson 1
Lions: S.Holna 3, B.Lambden 2, B.Dempsey 1, P.Renner 1, R.Watkins 1, J.Barnes 1, L.Mason 1, K.Luck 1, S.Copland 1.
