DARREN MONCRIEFF
Friday, July 8, 2011
KICKING the match-winning goal is the one footy highlight that sticks in the memory; young Jake Neade will remember his for a long time to come.
The 17-year-old, from remote Elliot in the Northern Territory, capped his best-on-ground 25-possession game with the goal that gave his side the lead late in the final quarter against NSW/ACT Rams on the last day of the AFL Under-18 Championships at Etihad Stadium yesterday.
The Thunder hung on in the final few nerve-wracking minutes to win by four points, 10.7 (67) to 9.9 (63).
In a campaign that saw the Territory side win just one game at the championships, Jake was a standout.
Against Vic Country in round 2, he gathered 21 possessions and propelled the ball into his side’s forward 50 six times.
Because of his age, Jake (pictured) is ineligible for this year's draft. However, with AFL club-in-waiting GWS Giants having first dibs on under-age talent, the teenager is more than likely to have come under their radar.
Jake was part of the Contarf Football Academy's Centralian campus in Alice Springs.
He has played five games for North Ballarat Rebels in the Victorian TAC Cup (under-18s) competition.
The Thunder were coached by former Tiwi Bombers coach Brenton Toy.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 08/07/2011 00:53