WA NW bring the championship home
Under 16 Championships,Blacktown International Sportspark
The North West of WA has let the Australian Football community know that there is a huge talent pool north of Geraldton with three convincing victories and the Division three Premiership title.
The Western Australian North West side was developed on the basis that no player living north of Meekatharra has represented WA in underage football and was piloted to see if there was a need for further programs in the North West, or if the talent could support an ongoing team; it would seem that there is.
Seven Pilbara players including Hedland’s Warwick Wilson, Tyler Lindberg and Izzy Razalli, Newman’s Tom Hughes, Wickham’s Nelson Ansey and Karratha’s Anthony Dunn and Harrison Featonby distinguished themselves throughout the week in Sydney along with their Gascoyne and Kimberley team mates.
The program also recognised quality administrators and coaches from the NW who were selected to travel with the team including Ritchie Patching and Kane Benson who played instrumental roles in the smooth running of the program and the smooth running of the week.
The results were mostly one sided as the well drilled, hard running and skilled side attacked the goal face and defended fiercely, a result of nearly seven months work.
The program started way back in January; that saw a rag-tag group come together without an understanding of the demands of elite football.
The education, social learning and skill development environment created a finely tuned and well drilled unit of fine young citizens.
It captured the eye of the sports world and several players were identified by the Australian Institute of Sport to wear GPS units and AFL club scouts began to enquire about players.
The focus now swings onto the North West Champs in Broome during October where the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley teams clash and talented players are inducted into the North West Program for 2013.
This year’s team will look toward another Pilot program that may see them match themselves against a WAFL colts team here in the North West, as well as playing a game or two this year with their WAFL club.
Tags: Echo, football, Karratha, News, Pilbara, pilbaranews, sport, WANW 2012
