The Bloods are pleased to have Jai Whitehand and Luke Heaney representing the BFL in Saturday’s Under 18.5 Interleague match against the Goulburn Valley at Punt Road Oval. Hudson Wilde and Bailey Mawson have been named as emergencies.
For Heaney Saturday’s match will be his second interleague series for the year after representing the AFL Goldfields U17 team in Alice Springs last month. Heaney has also featured in the Bloods senior side over the first four games, showing maturity and poise beyond his years in the backline.
Whitehand made a bold decision at the beginning of 2017 to step up and play Under 18.5 football for the season, despite still being eligible for junior football. His early season form this year in the Under 18.5 team, and now U18.5 interleague selection, indicates his decision is paying dividends.
With the squad trimmed to 23 on Thursday night, Wilde and Mawson were selected as emergencies.
Football Manager Brad Jamison notes that all four boys put in solid pre-seasons with the senior team and believes they are seeing the benefits on the footy field at the moment. “All four boys have really impressed through the pre-season and in the early rounds of footy. Luke has been playing senior footy, and the other three have grabbed the attention of our Senior coaching panel with their form in the Under 18s and I’m sure will be looked at for senior opportunities over the coming weeks”.
"I'm thrilled for Luke and Jai, but on the other side I think Huddo and Bailey can consider themselves unlucky".
“With most of our current senior team being former Bloods Juniors, supporters can also be excited about the next generation of players working their way up from the junior club to the senior club. The future of the Bloods is in great hands”.
Saturday’s match commences at 9.45am at Punt Road Oval as a curtain raiser to the Senior match which will take place on the MCG later in the day.
Last Modified on 18/05/2018 00:44