NEW-LOOK PROGRAM FOR SCORPIONS IN
2011
AFL Queensland has unveiled a new-look program that will
streamline the preparation of the Australia Post U18 Scorpions side for next
year’s NAB Australian U18 Championships.
Gone are the regional-based teams known for so long as the Northern
Raiders, South-East Bushrangers, Western Taipans, Gold Coast Stingrays,
Suncoast Power and Country Kookaburras.
These regional sides will now finish at U16 level following
the abandonment of the State U18 Championships.
In their place at U18 level will be program built around the
AFL’s new-look Academy program under which all players will either be aligned
to Brisbane/Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast/Country.
The Brisbane/Sunshine Coast division will stretch to
Bundaberg, with players from Rockhampton north falling into the Gold Coast/Country
section.
This is a forerunner to a system where, in time, the
Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns will have first call on players from
their respective zones.
Bob Batty, AFL Queensland Talent Manager, said the
Academies, run under the auspices of the Lions and the Suns, and AFLQ State
League clubs, would take far greater responsibility for the development pathway
for players once they graduate from U16 ranks.
“The regional-based program has done an outstanding job for
a long time but now we’ve got to move on,” Batty said.
“The focus now will be more on the individuals than the
teams like the Bushies and the Stingrays and the program will fall more into
the elite level similar to those which operate right across Australia.
“We’re looking to create a more competitive, top-end
environment where the best young talent will get a chance to show their
capabilities and maximize their development.”
Under the program, players eligible for the 2011 Scorpions
will be invited to attend screening sessions in Brisbane, Townsville, Gold
Coast and Sunshine Coast in October. The Townsville session will take in all
players from north of Rockhampton.
Invitees will be nominated by AFLQ development staff and
clubs and will be subjected to testing protocols as used in the NAB AFL
National Combine.
In early November a preliminary squad of up to 80 players
will be announced for a three-phase summer program.
In phase 1 from early November until the end of January
players will undergo three sessions a week based on individual development.
There will be two sessions based around fitness and weights at the start and
end of each week, and one in the middle which will be predominantly a
skill-based session.
Batty said final details were still to be resolved, but it
was likely that there would be two centres in Brisbane to cover all Brisbane
and Sunshine Coast players, and one on the Gold Coast for Gold Coast and
Country players.
In phase 2 from early February until early March the two
physical sessions will continue, and for the mid-week session all players will
return to train with their nominated QAFL clubs.
In phase 3 from early March to early April the final
selection process will begin.
The Gold Coast/Country group and the Brisbane/Sunshine Coast
group will conduct trials to pick a 25-player squad, culminating in two
full-scale trials between the two groups in early April to facilitate the
selection of the Scorpions side.
The Scorpions then will play three trial matches against TAC
Cup opposition in late April / early May, in addition to the early part of the
QAFL State League season, in preparation for the Australian U18 championships
from 4 June to 6 July.
Queensland are drawn to open the national series against
South Australia at Blacktown in Sydney on 4 June, followed by Vic Metro in
Melbourne on 11 June.
Then they will play Northern Territory in south-east
Queensland on 25 June, followed by NSW/ACT in Melbourne on 1 July and Tasmania
in Melbourne on 6 July.
“We think it’s an outstanding program that will provide the
very best opportunity for the best young players in Queensland to show what
they can do,” said Batty.
“And it’s not just about players selected by the various
AFLQ people who have come through the traditional channels.
“If a player thinks he deserves a trial, or more
particularly is playing another sport at a decent level and wants a crack at
AFL footy we want to hear from them,” he said.
NEW-LOOK PROGRAM FOR SCORPIONS IN
2011
AFL Queensland has unveiled a new-look program that will
streamline the preparation of the Australia Post U18 Scorpions side for next
year’s NAB Australian U18 Championships.
Gone are the regional-based teams known for so long as the Northern
Raiders, South-East Bushrangers, Western Taipans, Gold Coast Stingrays,
Suncoast Power and Country Kookaburras.
These regional sides will now finish at U16 level following
the abandonment of the State U18 Championships.
In their place at U18 level will be program built around the
AFL’s new-look Academy program under which all players will either be aligned
to Brisbane/Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast/Country.
The Brisbane/Sunshine Coast division will stretch to
Bundaberg, with players from Rockhampton north falling into the Gold Coast/Country
section.
This is a forerunner to a system where, in time, the
Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns will have first call on players from
their respective zones.
Bob Batty, AFL Queensland Talent Manager, said the
Academies, run under the auspices of the Lions and the Suns, and AFLQ State
League clubs, would take far greater responsibility for the development pathway
for players once they graduate from U16 ranks.
“The regional-based program has done an outstanding job for
a long time but now we’ve got to move on,” Batty said.
“The focus now will be more on the individuals than the
teams like the Bushies and the Stingrays and the program will fall more into
the elite level similar to those which operate right across Australia.
“We’re looking to create a more competitive, top-end
environment where the best young talent will get a chance to show their
capabilities and maximize their development.”
Under the program, players eligible for the 2011 Scorpions
will be invited to attend screening sessions in Brisbane, Townsville, Gold
Coast and Sunshine Coast in October. The Townsville session will take in all
players from north of Rockhampton.
Invitees will be nominated by AFLQ development staff and
clubs and will be subjected to testing protocols as used in the NAB AFL
National Combine.
In early November a preliminary squad of up to 80 players
will be announced for a three-phase summer program.
In phase 1 from early November until the end of January
players will undergo three sessions a week based on individual development.
There will be two sessions based around fitness and weights at the start and
end of each week, and one in the middle which will be predominantly a
skill-based session.
Batty said final details were still to be resolved, but it
was likely that there would be two centres in Brisbane to cover all Brisbane
and Sunshine Coast players, and one on the Gold Coast for Gold Coast and
Country players.
In phase 2 from early February until early March the two
physical sessions will continue, and for the mid-week session all players will
return to train with their nominated QAFL clubs.
In phase 3 from early March to early April the final
selection process will begin.
The Gold Coast/Country group and the Brisbane/Sunshine Coast
group will conduct trials to pick a 25-player squad, culminating in two
full-scale trials between the two groups in early April to facilitate the
selection of the Scorpions side.
The Scorpions then will play three trial matches against TAC
Cup opposition in late April / early May, in addition to the early part of the
QAFL State League season, in preparation for the Australian U18 championships
from 4 June to 6 July.
Queensland are drawn to open the national series against
South Australia at Blacktown in Sydney on 4 June, followed by Vic Metro in
Melbourne on 11 June.
Then they will play Northern Territory in south-east
Queensland on 25 June, followed by NSW/ACT in Melbourne on 1 July and Tasmania
in Melbourne on 6 July.
“We think it’s an outstanding program that will provide the
very best opportunity for the best young players in Queensland to show what
they can do,” said Batty.
“And it’s not just about players selected by the various
AFLQ people who have come through the traditional channels.
“If a player thinks he deserves a trial, or more
particularly is playing another sport at a decent level and wants a crack at
AFL footy we want to hear from them,” he said.
Last Modified on 21/09/2010 15:13