Vic. Country Under16’S
Off to the MCG
Dandenong Stingrays Under 16 Development players Mathew Buntine (Berwick JFC), Todd Elton (Somerville FC), Jordan Kelly (Edi- Aspendale JFC) , Dylan Sheil (Edi- Aspendale JFC) Adam Treloar (Noble Park JFC)and Piva Wright (Berwick JFC) were all selected in the Victoria Country Team which played in the NAB AFL Under 16 National Championship in West Sydney from July 2nd – July 10th.
The team left Melbourne on the Wednesday July 1st and travelled to Canberra where they trained for two days at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) before traveling to Sydney on Friday. All of the NAB AFL Under 16 National Championship matches were played at Blacktown Olympic Park, the new multi million dollar for the new AFL Team, which will commence in 2012.
The Vic. Country Under 16 Team won all 3 games, which is the first time to date for Vic. Country. The success now means that the Vic. Country will play South Australia in the curtain raiser at the AFL Grand Final on September 26th, with the winner claiming the Under 16 title.
The team coached by former Collingwood champion player and recently appointed successor to Mick Malthouse, Nathan Buckley was given a dream start to his coaching career. Nathan’s professional approach and knack to get the best out of all the players was exceptional passing on his knowledge of the modern game.
One of the highlights of the trip to Sydney was the stop over at the AIS in Canberra where the players were tested on decision making. The players had to make decisions on kicking to the correct option, which is all done on computers and TV monitors in a game situation. They also had to watch a monitor with players around the ball and then the screen was cleared and the boys had to remember and replace the players back in the correct positions. This made the boys aware of the players around the ball.
The biggest influence for the players from the AIS trip was the sessions in the 4 million dollar Recovery Centre which the players were educated about the importance of recovery with the use of hot and cold showers and ice baths, rest and diets. The players were put through several sessions in the water and gained a lot from them. It must have paid off as in Sydney at the championships as Vic. Country did not have any soft tissue injuries. The boys continued with the learning’s from the AIS and did their own rehabs in the ice cold pool at the hotel along with plenty of passive stretching.
A football game is won on and off the ground by making the correct choices and Vic. Country made the right ones and we hope that on Grand Final day the same applies.
F&DJFL wish to specially congratulate both Jordan & Dylan from our league on their achievements, along with congratulating everyone who has played representative football in 2009.
Last Modified on 04/02/2010 22:32