Youngsters among the best from Sunshine StateSEVEN of the most promising 14- and 15-year-old Queensland footballers are in Melbourne tonight, ready to participate in the five-day AFL Kickstart camp.
With selection being limited to 50 Indigenous boys across Australia, Queensland Kickstart program manager Rick Hanlon was proud that seven Far North Queensland boys were selected to attend the camp.
Here, Hanlon provides a wrap of the youngsters' football ability.
Jemaine Wardle: "A promising ruckman from North Cairns Tigers who has represented Queensland at national under-15 championships and was a member of the Flying Boomerangs that toured Papua New Guinea (in March). He is a terriffic kid who lovis his footy and want to take it the whole way."
PJ Nandy: "From the Wujal Wujal community, he also attends St Peters Lutheran College on a football scholarship. He too was a member of the Flying Boomerangs and is a tough half-back/midfielder who loves to tackle. He made the 30-man squad for the Queensland under-16 team as a 15-year-old."
Cameron Hooker: "Also from Wujal Wujal, he is a cousin of 'PJ'. He has only just taken the game up this year and played for Abergowrie College and the Cape Crusaders. He is a super athlete, a State lever runner and has represented North Queensland in the Pacific School Games. He is a wingman type with a tremendous upside."
Aquila Gela: "He's from Yorke Island and is a tough, small midfielder who is a ball magnet and reads the play well. He was a MVP winner for the Crusaders in the under-14 and 16s."
Jacob Bob: (pictured) "From Yam Island, Jacob plays locally for Redlynch. He is is a member of the Brisbane Lions Academy. He is a speed machine who tested the quickest amongst the academy members, running 2.8s for 20 metres. His also a North Queensland representative at rugby union and rugby league. We're hoping the camp can tip him towards AFL."
George Freeman: "George attends Ipswich Grammar and was identified by the southern development officers. He has represented his school at cricket and soccer."
Shaquille Nixon: "Originally from Weipa, he also attends Ipwich Grammar. He was a captain of the Crusaders' under-12s team and is a centre half-back type."
PETER ELIADIS
Eliadis@hotmail.com
Monday, August 17, 2009
Last Modified on 17/08/2009 21:53