Side undefeated at national carnival

Port Hedland's Brayden Hackett has been named most valuable player in this year's under-16 national Aussie Rules carnival held on the Gold Coast last week.

Hackett, 16, along with eight Pilbara players, were part of the WA North West team, also featuring Kimberley and South West footballers, which won all three of its matches in division three of the 2014 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

With division three considered a development competition, the WA North West team beat an all-indigenous Flying Boomerangs squad by 13 points in game one before also recording comfortable wins against World and South Pacific sides.

WA North West head coach Clint Degebrodt said the coaching team was delighted to win the carnival, but equally hopeful the professional set-up had helped the young footballers become elite men off the field.

"The best thing about this program is all the players come together as one team - there is a bit of inter-town rivalry - but the boys put that behind them and enjoyed each other's company and gelled quickly," he said.

"Every single one of the 25 players improved their knowledge and behaviour and their skills and game understanding during the tournament."

"They all lived like AFL athletes for the 12 days and they are all just a bit closer to understanding what it takes to live their dream as State or AFL footballers."

For Hedland player Hackett and the rest of the WA North West team, the stiffest test of the carnival came in game one against the Flying Boomerangs and its squad of star indigenous footballers from across Australia.

With Hackett leading the way as WA North West's highest possession getter with 21 disposals, the local boys defended a 19-point lead at three-quarter time to hold-off a fast finishing Boomerangs team 8.10 (58) to 6.9 (45).

In game two, a brave South Pacific squad made up of players from countries such as New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, pushed the WA boys in the first quarter to be down by one-straight goal.

However, WA North West eventually ran away with the victory by 40 points, before then recording a strong 49-point victory in game three over a World XVIII team made up of players with an international background.

Nine Pilbara players took part in the carnival.

These included Hackett, Stephen Hodder, 16, and Craig Jones, 16, of Hedland and Steven Garlett, 15, Sachin Barr, 16, Grayden Wilson, 14 and Dylan Matheson, 16, of Newman.

Coach Degebrodt said in their third year of taking part in the tournament, the Pilbara players had improved significantly and bridged the talent gap to footballers from the Kimberley.

"Basically in the past, the best players have been from the Kimberley and this year they are from the Pilbara," he said.

"So we have definitely shortened the gap in talent and ability between the two regions."