National Championships hit Sydney

By Alison Zell

Now in their 18th year, the NAB AFL National Championships continue to be the showcase event of the AFL talent pathway contested between the states’ elite Under-18 players.

The format will again have each team playing a set fixture of five matches, including the three opponents from within its own division, and two opponents from the other division.

The cross-divisional matches will be played in the first two rounds and will not count for points or percentage. It will give each team the opportunity to prepare its entire squad over the first two rounds for it’s divisional matches and the title.

The majority of the players within the NSW/ACT Joss Talent program have finessed their football talents in the lead-in to Nationals at their respective AFL Club Academies.

Both the Swans Academy and GIANTS Academy began the 2013 campaigns in early November, culminating in a recent two-game series between the two.

Former Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues players Jason Saddington again takes on Head Coach duties, along with former Sydney Swans premiership player Amon Buchanon as an assistant and experienced program coaches Luke Carroll, Darren Simpson, Damian Tuck and Christin Macri.

Saddington said his side is ready to take it up to the traditional footballing states when the Rams kick off their campaign against South Australia at 12pm on Saturday at Blacktown International Sportspark.

“The boys are shaping up well,” he said.

“We’ve had a couple of camps over the last two weekends and we’ve spent a bit of time working on our structure and set ups and game style so I’m pretty confident the boys have a good handle on those and are ready to put it into practice now.

”With a number of eligible players also busy participating with TAC Cup clubs, selectors have travelled far and wide to ensure the selection of the best talent NSW/ACT has to offer. “Our biggest challenge is getting the group together for long period of time,” Saddington said.

“Our group this year is spread out across ACT, South Coast, Southern NSW – which is a big areas in itself – Sydney-based boys, Central Coast, Newcastle and there’s even some boys that board at school in Melbourne or country Victoria so being able to get them together on a regular basis to work through your game-style and structured is extremely difficult.”

The Rams have held training camps in Albury and Coffs Harbour over the past two weekends but that’s the only time the side has had to get to know each other before the Championships.

This year’s Nationals will take place across June with NSW/ACT heading to Melbourne after this weekend’s game for a cross-division clash with Vic Metro before heading back to Sydney to take on the Northern Territory.

The Rams will then head back to Melbourne for the final week which will consist of two divisional matches and the final.

Saddington said the Championships was are a crucial platform for young footballers to impress club recruiters ahead of the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

“It’s an important time for them, for the kids that have aspirations of playing AFL footy, and pretty much all of them do,” he said.

“It’s probably their window now to be able to shine and show AFL club recruiters the tools that they have and the capabilities that they’ve got to potentially play AFL footy.

“It’s a short window that they have to do that and that’s always a challenge for them.”

Saddington said this weekend’s match would be the first step for the newly-formed side but he is confident they will put in a competitive showing.

“It’s our first real challenge as a group, what I’m looking for is that the players can adopt the game-style and structures and be able to execute those under pressure in a game situation,” he said.

“If we can do that I think we’ve got a great opportunity to challenge a state like South Australia who are a natural football state.

“If the players can adopt the game style we want them to play I think they’ve got a great chance to challenge those stronger states.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lloyd Peris

“Lloyd Perris, who hold a Swans scholarship, is also an AIS-AFL member. Lloyd’s an extremely hard-working midfielder with elite endurance, great hands and really good spread in and away from stoppages. Lloyd’s our captain so we’re looking for him to lead the way with the group,” Saddington said.

Michael Gibbons

“Michael is another midfielder who plays with the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup competition, his local club is Lavington. Very skilful, elusive midfielder that wins a lot of clearances so if he can get his hands on the ball that holds us in good stead,” Saddington said.

Jake Barrett

“Jake is another midfielder that we have, still relatively new to footy, probably in his third full season of footy but he’s an elite runner, elite endurance, very physical player that hopefully can bust it open through the midfield a bit,” Saddington said.

Jedd Clothier

“Jedd is an Essendon scholarship boy; he’s based in Melbourne, plays TAC Cup footy with the Calder Cannons. He’s an inside midfielder, good clearance player but also can go forward and take catches and kick goals so we’re looking for big things from him,” Saddington said.

Thomas Head

“He’s a 19-year-old who has played quite a few games with the Swans reserves in the NEAFL competition. Tom missed all of last year’s National Championships with hamstring injuries so if he can take some catches and kick some goals,  that certainly helps us,” Saddington said.

Max King

“He’s 200cm, more of a forward than a ruckman but he’s got some incredible hands, can take some really good marks, has some good ability on the ground as well,” Saddington said.