NSW/ACT talent on track: Kennelly

AFL NSW/ACT would like to congratulate the four players from NSW/ACT RAMS who have been included in the sixteenth AIS-AFL Academy intake.

Lloyd Perris (St George), Isaac Heeney (Cardiff Hawks), Liam Griffiths (Ainslie) and Nicholas Coughlan (Albury) were yesterday named as part of a 62 player extended intake for the academy.

Heeney, Griffiths and Coughlan were named in the Level One squad to be coached by AFL Engagement and Talent Coordinator Chris Johnson. Level One players were selected from the recent NAB AFL Under-16 Championships that were held in Sydney. The squad of 30 will tour New Zealand in January.

Perris was named in the Level Two squad for players who will turn 18 during 2013 and will be eligible to be drafted. The squad of 32 will be managed by AIS-AFL Academy High Performance Coach Michael O’Loughlin and will return to Europe in April 2013.

Tadhg Kennelly, coach of the Under-16 NSW/ACT RAMS and International Talent Coordinator for the AFL, said that the unprecedented number of NSW/ACT players chosen for the AIS-AFL program can be attributed to the creation of the Swans and GIANTS Academies across the region.

 “The state program is undoubtedly benefitting from the Swans and GIANTS academies,” he said.

“They’ve only been running for 18 months, but already the players are so far advanced in their football knowledge and skills because they’ve been coached by some of the best coaches in the state.

“By the time they get to us we don’t have to spend time working on basic skills, we can instead of worrying about the fundamentals and skill errors we can actually develop their football – reading the game, game sense, their ability to win games of football.”

Kennelly said being chosen for the AIS-AFL Academy program is a “huge stepping stone” towards being drafted to an AFL club.

AFL NSW/ACT General Manager Tom Harley said he was impressed with the improving quality of talent in NSW/ACT.

“It’s an exciting time for young players in NSW and the ACT, the talent programs we have in place are giving them genuine pathways to progress to the highest level,” he said.

“We’re thrilled that these players have been chosen to participate in this program, from my experience working with the AIS-AFL Academy I know they will have access to first class training and mentoring.”

Photo: Lloyd Perris in action in the 2011 NAB Under-16 Championship