Koori lads to play for NSW/ACTTHREE Indigenous boys have been named in an initial under-16 NSW/ACT Rams squad which will compete in the AFL national championships this year.
The trio -- Reid Crowe (Finley), Kevin Gittens (Deniliquin) and Dylan Stuart (Central Broken Hill) -- performed well at the recent State Zone trials, a four-day series of matches overseen by State selectors and AFL recruiters, to earn the call-up.
Of the three, Dylan already has links to an AFL club, Hawthorn, where he has a scholarship for this year and next. He's described as a small forward who can play through the midfield, has pace and good skills. Dylan's played senior football with his club in Broken Hill. Kevin has also played senior footy with the Deniliquin Rams. He's another small midfield type who is quick and can go forward and kick goals. Reid is a good mark for with a great vertical leap. He's played in the under-17s for Finley.
The AFL's under-16s championships are the same as its under-18s equivalent, from which AFL draftees emerge from.
Reid (pictured), Kevin and Dylan were among nine Indigenous NSW boys which competed at the State Zone trials.
The others were, in under-15s, Lonnie Hampton (Lavington), Kial Crowe (Finley) and Nathan Kickett (West Broken Hill), and in the under-16s: Nicholas Finlayson (Culcairn), Mark Flack (Narrandera) and Zane Litchfield (Narrandera). Nathan is the brother of Thomas Kickett, another of Hawthorn scholarship holders.
* See the Photo Gallery for pictures of the three lads in action at the recent Zone trials.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Last Modified on 20/05/2009 11:25