Football: Set for the big time

Take a good look at these three lads because the next time you see one of them he could be wearing an AFL guernsey.

Picture by Bec Pianta: Hedland residents Kelman Tulloch, Jayden Cook and Izzy Razak made the North West squad

Port Hedland’s Kelman Tulloch, Jayden Cook and Izzy Razak were among 28 of the North West’s most talented young footballers to descend upon Colin Matheson Oval this week as part of the first training camp for the 2012 NAB AFL Under-16s Championships.

As revealed exclusively in the North West Telegraph last June, the North West will send a team to the championships for the first time later this year.

The team will comprise of the best footballers from the Pilbara, Kimberley and Gascoyne with this week’s three-day camp acting as an initiation for the group, consisting of mainly 15and 16-year-olds.

“The boys will undertake three days of skills sessions, fitness tests and educational sessions as part of the AFL State academy program,” V Swans business development and events manager Bec Pianta said.

“The program will allow young players from across WA’s North West region to be developed within the regional area at the highest level with the program replicating that of the programs in Perth,” he said.

Three remaining camps are planned before the North West squad is finalised.

Ms Pianta said the championships, to be held in July at Sydney’s Blacktown Olympic Park, would give the North West kids national exposure and a chance to be looked at by AFL clubs.

“Players will be under close scrutiny by talent scouts and AFL representatives from around the country,” she said.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for all of them.”

Players for this week’s Hedland camp have come from towns right across the north, including Halls Creek, Kununurra, Broome, Tom Price, Karratha, Wickham and Newman.