Hayden Tompkins has only been playing AFL for a couple of years, but the lanky 13-year-old is already making a mark on the game.
He is one of the 40 best under-14 players from the Sunshine Coast’s 10 junior AFL clubs who have been training hard for the past six weeks, with hopes of representing the Suncoast Power.
Tompkins, who plays ruckman for the Cats, is the only remaining Gympie player in the squad after it was recently trimmed from 40 to 30.
The Gympie State High School student already stands 184cm tall and looks like he has the right physique to make it in the game.
Assistant coach Trevor Larkins, a former Richmond Tigers midfielder, said Hayden Tompkins, the youngest player in the squad, was doing well for someone so new to the game.
“I have seen Hayden play basketball and AFL,” Larkins said.
“He has enormous potential for a kid in only his second season of footy.”
Tompkins was pleased to be still in the running for the final team.
“It’s really good to still be in the squad,” he said.“I love AFL, it’s a great game.”
If selected, Tompkins will play against boys from all parts of the state, from Cape York in the north down to Lismore in New South Wales.
The Power will compete at the state championships during the June school holidays at Metricon Stadium home of the Gold Coast Suns.
Their opening match is against Papua New Guinea which competes in state and national championships at under-14, under-16 and under-18 levels.
“While they lack height, PNG players make up for it with blistering speed and a pre-match Haka that will test the nerves of the Power boys,” Larkins said.
A practice match against the North Brisbane Raiders next week is Tompkins’ chance to stake a claim for the final squad.
Article written by Craig Warhurst for the Gympie Times.
Last Modified on 27/06/2011 15:57