Rising Star
From an outsider liking in, Nick Sneyd would appear to have the right receipt.
The 18-year-old Shepparton United midfielder is having a “gap” year to concentrate on his football.
One thing is for sure, in years to come he won’t be left wondering if he should have taken a year off from studies and concentrated on his football, which is already showing promise and heading in the right direction.
Nick is the first nomination for season 2014 for the Moroopna Golf Club Rising Star Award, which is open to footballers and netballers who are under the age of 21 and have not played more than four senior games the previous season.
After giving this season his best shot, as he has done in the past with his footy, Nick would like to get into occupational therapy, however, this polite young man is aiming to play the best footy he can possibly muster which is good news for the Demons. Who knows where that might lead?
During his year off from study he will be a sports trainee at Goulburn Valley Grammar, which allows him to knock off at 3.30pm with no weekend work which “should be really helpful” in allowing him to play his best football.
He has already played one senior game for the Demons last season against the Shepparton Swans who won by three points in a high scoring game, which has given him a taste of things to come.
That one game at senior level has made Nick determine to become a regular in the seniors and that opportunity last season came about when the Bushrangers had the bye and he had played 12 games for the season.
Nick said playing with the Bushies had exposed him to another level of football and its intensity.
Before that Nick had played 26 games with United Thirds and 41 games with Notre Dame College in the Shepparton and District junior League.
Last season he was selected in the GVFL Under 18 squad but missed playing in the state championship game at Geelong because of Bushranger duties.
It is ironic; the GVFL’s best in that championship win was co-captain Nick Calandro, who had dropped out of the Bushrangers to concentrate on playing for the Shepparton Swans because of the demands of playing Bushies and GVFL footy.
The young Swan at the same time was nominated for the Rising Star Award by the Lemnos Football Club (that’s still their registered name) and at the end of the season at the Morrison Medal count was named the Mooroopna Golf Club’s Rising Star for 2013.
Nick received a trophy to the value of $100 and a $250 cash prize at the count while his team mate Jarman Impey, who was a wildcard nomination later in the season, was drafted to Port Adelaide and played his first game of AFL footy in the opening round against Carlton gathering 12 possessions and laying three tackles in an impressive debut.
The son of Verity and Andrew Sneyd has a young brother, Hamish, who is playing with United Thirds this season.
Verity did athletics and swimming at state level in South Australia while Andrew played football there, however, he doesn’t put pressure on the boys by bragging about his playing days.
With such planning let’s hope this rising star fulfils his ambitions.
UNDER 18
The line up of Under 18 coaches reads like a Who’s Who of GVFL.
For example, former United star, Mario de Santa Ana, will marshal his troop to take on the Mooroopna Cats, who will be led by Robert Osborne, at Princess Park today to start off the season. Both sides would like to improve on last season’s showing when the Cats finished seventh and the Swans last.
Tomorrow Robert Montgomery will have the young Bulldogs barking against the Kyabram Bombers, who will be without a number of last season’s premiership side coached by champion spearhead, Paul Newman. His replacement is another former premiership player and gun goalkicker, Tony “Rusty”McDonell.
Next Saturday another former premiership player, Gavin Williams, will have his young Magpies play Mansfield coached by Andrew Nunn in the afternoon before the night game between the big boys.
Former star, Matt O’Sullivan, will be hoping he can take the Lion cubs further than the elimination final this season starting with a win against Wally Armstrong’s Benalla Saints who were runners up last season.
Tim Kelly is in charge of Shepparton who went out in the preliminary final to eventual premiers Kyabram and their clash with the Swans at Deakin Reserve will be an entertaining curtain raiser.
Leigh Millard has the Tigers cubs ready to roar at Rochy against the Murray Bombers who are being tutored by Phillip Evans, who knows his way around a footy field.
In the final game next Saturday, the Cats are at home to the Demons who will still be smarting at getting put out of the finals in the first semi-final by Shepparton last season.
Former gun midfielder, Gary Kitto, will be looking to take the Demons further this season.
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 18:29