TALENTED young Geelong Soccer Club attacking midfielder and rising local star Jedd Tanic has been selected for Victoria’s elite Under 13 Skilleroos squad. The up and coming 10-year-old has been offered a spot on the elite junior squad’s Under 13 team roster for 2016.

PHOTO: Jedd Tanic in action for Geelong SC at the Melbourne City Cup tournament in 2015 

Jedd is a product of the Geelong Soccer Club junior coaching program, which has a strong focus on coaching and junior development.

Junior Teams’ Coordinator Robert Kukanovski  emphasised that as a community club, Geelong SC’s focus is to invest in coaches to continue to develop the next Jedd Tanic.

“We want to retain our coaches, attract new coaches and invest in them so that the Geelong Soccer Club becomes recognised for developing young players. A key focus for 2016 is for all youth coaches to complete their C licenses and continue to build from there”, explained Kukanovski.

“The Geelong Soccer Club junior program has been a work in progress over the last few years, so to see the development of Jedd so soon is a credit to the coaches and application of coaching curriculum at the club,” he added.

The Skilleroos program is a Football Federation Australia initiative and is part of Football Federation Victoria’s Talented Player Development program. The pathway is designed to see the best in Victoria, from as young as 10 years of age, follow a stream that sees them constantly working on their technique and football IQ.

A natural athlete and enthusiast for the world game, Jedd is a Year 4 student at Kardinia International College. He played U11 Small Sided football this year with the community based Geelong Soccer Club and has also participated in the local SAP programme since 2014.

Jedd’s father, Steve, is a former player and junior coach at Geelong Soccer Club and has been involved in his son’s development from Jedd’s early years.

Steve said the academy style program would incorporate intra and inter-state travel for selected players, with an opportunity to play in interstate tournaments against Australia’s best Under 13 talent.

Jedd  beat a field of over 480 trialists to nail down a spot amongst the 31 member Skilleroos squad. Football Federal Victoria development coach Anthony Frost said the full-time program would see players training three to four times a week in Melbourne.

Jed follows in the footsteps of another talented young local product, North Geelong's Anthony Leban, who played for the U13 Skilleroos in 2015.