Wagga’s flying boomerang
Article from The Daily Advertiser
WAGGA footballer Lenny Lyons will take a big step towards a prospective AFL career this month when he takes off on his first overseas trip to Tonga.
The talented 15-year-old only took up Australian football early this year and has already caught the eye of Greater Western Sydney (GWS) coach Kevin Sheedy.
Lyons travelled to Sydney in August where 50 of the country’s top indigenous talents were put under the microscopes and he came up trumps, winning selection in the Flying Boomerangs.
The Flying Boomerangs will travel to Tonga on December 13 for the Oceania Championships.
Lyons is part of the squad that takes on the Oceania under 16s and the South Pacific under 18 team for the title.
It has been a whirlwind start to his Australian football career but Lyons is happy with the journey it has taken him on.
“This is my first time overseas so I’m pretty excited,” Lyons said yesterday.
“I can’t wait.”
Lyons is already an eye-catching prospect for AFL scouts, standing at 193cm tall at just 15 years of age.
Sheedy spotted him at this year’s Jack Atkinson Indigenous Carnival at Maher Oval and could not believe it was his first game of Australian football.
With a taste of a season with East Wagga-Kooringal and some representative footy, Lyons is now eyeing off a future in the sport.
“Hopefully I can get an opportunity to play for a (AFL) club,” Lyons said.
“Hopefully they give me a chance.”
Lyons was a talented rugby league player before crossing over after nine years, and also spends the off-season training for boxing.
He experienced his first amateur fight in October and recorded a win.
Lyons said he has quickly grown to appreciate the game of Australian football.
“I think it’s all right,” Lyons said. “It’s better than league.”