Joining the AFL Gippsland’s All Star Academy are Gulls juniors (from left) Alby Phillips who made the u13’s and Lachlan French, Caleb McIntosh, Harry Brown, Lucas Carter and Lachlan Giliam who made the u15’s.
Six u15’s from Warragul Football Club have completed a new program that puts the best young footballers across Gippsland’s regions up against each other.
AFL Gippsland’s All Stars Academy saw six squads go head-to-head in a five-game season. The teams included Eastern, Southern, Western and Central Gippsland, Traralgon District and Sale District.
The u15 group from Warragul lost only one game playing in the Western Gippsland All Stars, finishing 2nd on the ladder. The competition gave the aspiring pro’s a taste of higher competition. They all now have plans to go on to Gippsland Power’s u16 squad next year, where they could play against the best in Victoria and Tasmania.
Since Harry Brown was a 10-year-old, he’s had big dreams for the AFL. “The aim would be to play Gippy Power and after that hopefully go all the way,” he said.
Lucas Carter has the same goals. “It’s always been a dream to verse all those big players and I guess All Stars has helped me out, playing with all the boys and getting good chemistry,” he said.
Alby Phillips said it also gave him the chance to see his mates more often. “I don’t go to school with most of the kids on the team so seeing them Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays is a good way to keep in touch,” he said.
The six juniors usually play every Saturday for the Gulls, and said it was good playing alongside familiar faces in the All-Stars Academy. The Western District lost once to the Southern All-Stars by eight points.
A finals series will take place this month, but a date is yet to be determined.
