Cameron Bernasconi is loving the challenge of his move into the role of GIANTS Academy Head Coach.

Bernasconi, who had a successful NEAFL playing career for three clubs and has been a coach in the GIANTS Academy for five years, took over the role from Jason Saddington, who was appointed GIANTS NEAFL coach in October.

“I’m loving it, I was really excited being appointed as head coach in January,” Bernasconi said. 

“I’ve been involved in the program for about five years, based in Canberra as the talent manager down there. 

“When Jason Saddington took the NEAFL role, I took the opportunity to pack up and move.”

Bernasconi has had a long career developing young players in Canberra, having held the role of AFL talent and coaching program manager in the ACT/ Southern New South Wales since 2014 and has been a line coach through various age groups of the NSW/ACT Rams for the last five years. 

While overseeing the development of the next generation of GIANTS is a key part of Bernasconi’s role, he will also coach the GIANTS in the NAB League competition.

After playing five games in 2019, the GIANTS Academy will play seven games in the competition in 2020.

“It’s setting all the training from 18’s all the way down to our development programs and then being the head coach with our NAB League program where we play seven games this year as the GIANTS Academy,” Bernasconi said. 

“It’s exciting for the boys to play more than just two or three games like they used to four or five years ago, they get nearly half the season in the NAB (League) to really impress and create a bit of a club feel, not just a rep program feeling.”

Bernasconi, who played for the GIANTS in their TAC Cup year of 2010, knows just how important the NAB League season will be for his 18- and 19-year-olds.

“The NAB League obviously produces the most draftees each year and I guess now that we have seven games it’s just more opportunity for our top-end talent to play those seven games and then get a month with the Allies if they’re lucky enough to get selected in that,” he said.

“Essentially, they’ve got up to a dozen games in front of multiple recruiters where they can showcase their skills and hopefully live out the dream of getting drafted.” 

With the GIANTS boasting 11 Academy graduates on their current AFL list, including most recent addition Tom Green, Bernasconi has highlighted a few Academy players that could follow in their footsteps.

“We’ve got a couple of over-agers Matt McGrory, Lachie Squire and Harry Grant, mature bodies, great kids who have come through the whole program and now are getting an opportunity as 19-year-olds,” he said.

“I think they’ll play a really important role during the NAB (League) and also in the NEAFL for the GIANTS. 

“With our 18-year-olds, Jack Driscoll and Josh Green are our big talls this year and they’re involved in the Allies squad already. They’re developing really well at the moment.

“Fingers crossed they can put in a really good performance and end up on a list at the end of the year.”