FOUR Bendigo Pioneers have been selected as part of the intake for the 2017 NAB AFL Academy program.
Jarrod Brander, Kane Farrell and Lochie O’Brien have been picked as Level Two (top-age) players, and Jye Caldwell as a Level One (bottom-age) player.
With four players selected, the Pioneers rank equal second with the Murray Bushrangers behind Dandenong’s six as the TAC Cup club with the most players in the 2017 Academy program.
“It’s fantastic for the club and we’re thrilled for all four boys,” Pioneers coach Brett Henderson said on Thursday.
“It’s a great reward for all the hard work they are putting in. It’s going to be a great experience and will open some doors for them.”
Brander is a GWS Academy player who has played three games for the Pioneers this season and is already touted as one of the AFL’s top draft prospects in 2017.
“He’s a fantastic young player who can play forward, down back or even in the ruck… he’s a really exciting prospect and in the three games we’ve had him this year he has had an impact in all of them,” Henderson said.
“He had a late start to the year because of a knee arthroscope, so we’ve been really patient and he has only come back to footy in the past six or seven weeks.”
Like Brander, O’Brien is attending Geelong Grammar, as is Caldwell.
“Lochie is a really good kick of the footy, has pace to burn and displays really good leadership skills. He has a good balance of playing inside and outside and is going to be an exciting product by the time he’s finished TAC Cup footy,” Henderson said.
Henderson rates Farrell the best kick in the TAC Cup.
“He covers the ground really well, is an outstanding character and we look forward to him further developing,” Henderson said.
Caldwell’s selection comes on the back of him being named Vic Country’s MVP at the recent under-16 national championships.
“Jye played his first TAC Cup game against Oakleigh a couple of weeks ago and certainly wasn’t out of place for a 16-year-old,” Henderson said.
“We’re looking forward to working closely with him over the next couple of years and watching him progress.”
The AFL Academy was launched in 1997 and aims to prepare the country’s best young players for the step up to senior AFL football.
“It brings the players closer to the AFL experience,” Henderson said.
“They will be dealing with top-line coaches who have had AFL experience and will get the chance to play internationally.
“It’s going to provide some outstanding life experiences.”
Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson is the head coach of the AFL Academy.
The Pioneers have also this week had Cooper Jones and Kayle Kirby invited to test at the Victorian State Combine on Sunday, October 9.
Players invited to the State Combine have had interest shown in them by AFL clubs, but weren’t nominated by the minimum five clubs required to be invited to the National Draft Combine.
Meanwhile, there’s a general bye in the TAC Cup this weekend, but there will be no rest for Bendigo’s Jack Exell, who will play for Geelong’s VFL team against Frankston at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s going to be an outstanding experience for Jack,” Henderson said.
“He has a family connection with the club (dad Gavin played 53 games), so we’re really looking forward to seeing how he goes on Saturday at VFL level.”
Last Modified on 05/08/2016 12:51
