Western Sydney Pioneers impress at State Zone Trials

The Pioneers spent last week at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview playing in the Under-15 and Under-16 Joss State Zone Trials.

Both age groups played gallantly throughout the course of the week, with a number of players impressing on the field and others getting a taste of AFL at another level.

AFL (NSW/ACT) State Talent Manager said all players came to the trials determined to get the most out of the week.

“The week was everything we expected plus more. The standard of play matched the standard of player preparation, recovery and behavior. It all sits well for where the program is heading,” Denneman said.

Fourteen teams came to Riverview and played in 42 games of AFL. The week offered kids the perfect platform to showcase their talents in front of AFL scouts and experienced coaches.

With former Carlton player Nick Stevens joining the Under-16 RAMS as an assistant coach, and dual All-Australia Rohan Smith coaching the Under-18 RAMS, the Talented Player Program is providing players with a system to make it on to AFL lists.

Bilal Taha from the Pioneers said the week was a lot of fun and was beneficial to his development as an AFL footballer.

“It’s a learning experience. In my first game, it was that fast I didn’t know what to do. The ball went over my head, I was lost, but now as the weeks gone through I am slowly picking it up and I am getting better,” he said.

“I’ve learnt so much, I’m going to take it home and just pass it on and use it to motivate me. The talks that I’ve heard, the way to train, the way to eat, the nutritionist, everything I’ve heard is full professional and hopefully I can take it back home and use it there.”

Throughout the week the players were given a rare insight into the life of an AFL player as well as hearing education sessions on nutrition, conditioning, stretching, core stability, umpiring and what’s expected at the state level.

Doug Freeman, NSW talent scout with the Essendon Bombers, said there are many benefits of kids being a part of the Talented Player Program.

“To give kids in NSW a bigger opportunity, the program is the right way to go. It’s the right track to go down to encourage kids to play the game and to get top of the line coaching for 30 to 40 weeks of the year, which is going to be a benefit,” Freeman said.

“It also means the kids might not have to travel out of the state hopefully and they can now get on Swans and Team GWS lists, not that we wouldn’t mind a few kids. If they don’t want some, we will definitely be around looking to snaffle them somewhere.”

RESULTS

Under-15

Monday, April 12

Rebels 5.10.40 defeated Pioneers 1.1.7
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
S. Patten 1, M. Munro 1, R. Speed 1, J. Baggio 1, D. Hore 1
PIONEERS
H. Bond 1

Tuesday, April 13

Cats 9.5.59 defeated Pioneers 2.3.15
GOALKICKERS
CATS
B. Ciuffetelli 2, R. Healey, 1 T. Clowry 1, C. Millar 1, J. Clothier 2, C. Haub 1, B. Van Der Kowk 1,
PIONEERS
T. Etto 1, J. Cutting 1

Thursday, April 14

Pioneers 3.10.28 defeated Heat 4.1.25
GOALKICKERS
PIONEERS
M. Eastman 1, V. Eastwell 1, H. Bond 1
HEAT
D. Holton 1, H. O’Neil 3

Stingrays 5.4.34 defeated Pioneers 1.1.7
GOALKICKERS
STINGRAYS
D. Darby 1, T. Meline 1, M. Mabon 2, H. Delves 1
PIONEERS
L. Eastman 1

Friday, April 15

Pigeons 7.8.50 defeated Pioneers 2.2.14
GOALKICKERS
PIGEONS
J. Harris 1, James. Bamford 1, J. Hole 2, P. Syrros 1, C. Andrews 1, J. David-Wright 1
PIONEERS
M. Eastman 1, B. Thomas 1

Under-16

Monday, April 12

Rebels 8.7.55 defeated Pioneers 1.0.6
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
C. Patten 1, T. Hargreave 1, B. Schilg 2, H. Dalitz 1, A. Locke 1, R. Johnson 2
PIONEERS
J. Famularo 1

Tuesday, April 13

Cats 4.2.26 defeated Pioneers 3.7.25
GOALKICKERS
CATS
L. Carter 1, N. Wood 1, M. Laing 1, M. Cody 1
PIONEERS
P. Waaka 1, A. Nicholls 1, C. Williams 1

Thursday, April 14

Pioneers 6.4.40 defeated Heat 1.3.9
GOALKICKERS
PIONEERS
B. Mayer 2, N. Crowe 1, D. Kaushak 2, M Haley 2
HEAT
H. Butchart 1

Stingrays 8.2.50 defeated Pioneers 3.1.19
GOALKICKERS
Stingrays
J. Scadding 1, Z. Keogh 1, M. Harpley 2, J. Redfern 2, J. Spina 1, A. Noack 1
PIONEERS
C. Polkinghorne, G. Paneras, M. Haley 1

Friday, April 15

Pigeons 5.2.32 defeated Pioneers 1.3.9
GOALKICKERS
PIGEONS
J. Sutherland 1, D. Lycakis 1, J. Lorinczi 1, T. Green 1, D. Cullen 1
PIONEERS
J. Dwyer