This year has marked a change in direction in relation to the Under 14 representative program. Previously the players who were fortunate enough to be selected in the Darling Downs Demons side had the opportunity to progress through to the Country Kookaburras representative side should they perform well at the South Queensland championships. They were also in line to be offered a position at the Brisbane Lions Academy should the selectors deem them worthy. Last year we were fortunate enough to have three members of the Under 14 squad progress to the Lions Academy in Josh Stahlhut, Tye Hughes and Matt Joseph, who have all benefitted greatly from the exposure to the professional environment at the Lions.
With the inclusion of the Gold Coast in the AFL as of next season the need for an academy linked to the new side was recognized and as such the Gold Coast Academy will be up and running to rival the set up the Brisbane Lions have. To ensure both acadamies had an even distribution of playing talent at their disposal the zones that define each region have been altered which has lead to the Darling Downs being assigned to the Western Taipans. The Taipans encompass basically the western suburbs of Brisbane with both Ipswich and the Darling Downs now strengthening their player pool. With this change now in place in the Under 14 age group it stands to reason that the next step may be to look at the Under 16 and Under 18 age groups down the track. The Western Taipans have a remarkable strike rate in providing players drafted to AFL clubs, a few recent graduates from the Taipans program to make AFL lists include Albert Proud, Rhan Hooper, Adam Spackman, Scott Clouston, Pat Garner and Will Hamill (all Lions), Rohan Bail (Melbourne), Jake Orreal (Sydney), Tom Williams (Bulldogs), Ed McDonnell (St Kilda) and Brett Backwell (Carlton). It is obvious that there is a proven pathway there for players to realize their dreams of making the big time.
We are fortunate this year to have two players from the Darling Downs Under 14 side progress through all the trial stages to make the final Western Taipans squad of 25 players to compete at next weeks state titles in Maroochydore. Tim Tate from the Warwick Redbacks and Jacob Schaumann from the South Toowoomba Bombers have both worked extremely hard on their game over the past 18 months and have been rewarded for their efforts with Taipans jerseys. Both young men are a credit not only to the DDJAFL, but to their clubs and, most importantly, their families also. I've been fortunate enough to get to know both families quite well and the sacrifice they have made making the long drive to Brisbane once or twice a week to give their boys this opportunity must be applauded.
On behalf of all members of the Darling Downs football fraternity I'd like to wish Tim and Jacob all the best next week. I know you will both do us all proud, do your best but most importantly enjoy your football. And be good to the coaches.
Last Modified on 30/08/2010 12:40
