The AFL has released its eighteenth NAB AFL Academy squads.
The 56 players will receive a NAB AFL Academy scholarship and will come together for accelerated AFL football and personal development camps to be held in Australia and overseas over the next 12 months.
The Level One squad was selected following the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships held last month on the Gold Coast and they will be coached by former Brisbane Lions star and AFL development coach Chris Johnson.
Key Level One dates:
Melbourne September 21-24 2014
Melbourne December 5-12 2014
New Zealand April 23-26 2015
Former Western Bulldogs star and specialist coach Brad Johnson will coach the Level Two squad. Players in this squad are eligible to be drafted in 2015.
Key Level Two dates:
Melbourne September 24-28 2014
Melbourne December 5-12 2014
USA January 10-22 2015
Melbourne April 2-11 2015
The AFL Academy commenced in 1997 with NAB this year becoming the naming rights partner replacing the AIS. Since it began, 40 graduates have played in a premiership, two have won Brownlow Medals, 12 have been the number one selection at the NAB AFL Draft, five have won the NAB AFL Rising Star and three have won the Norm Smith Medal.
In 2014 there are 208 NAB AFL Academy graduates on AFL lists including nine AFL captains in Joel Selwood, Travis Boak, Trent Cotchin, Jack Grimes, Luke Hodge, Marc Murphy, Jarrad McVeigh, Andrew Swallow and Ryan Griffen.
AFL Academies Development Manager Michael Ablett said the academy program prepares players for the rigours of AFL football.
“The players will experience elite training and mentoring which will fast track their development both on and off the field. All players will have individual development plans assisting them to maximise their strengths and work on their development needs over the course of the year. Both squads will gain invaluable experience in training or playing overseas, with the younger level one squad to play New Zealand in Wellington in April 2015 and the level two squad to train in the USA in January 2015,” he said.
“We are constantly striving to give the players the best preparation in order to provide them with the necessary tools to succeed as a professional athlete should they be fortunate enough to get that opportunity. Fur thermore we are working with the players and up skilling them for life after football, strengthening their ability to succeed in their chosen field.”
This year, the AFL welcomed an extension of the NAB’s outstanding support of under-age football when they become the naming rights sponsor of the NAB AFL National Academy.
National Australia Bank’s General Manager Consumer Marketing, Kevin Ramsdale said: “As a longstanding partner of the AFL, NAB is delighted to be associated with the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program. Our support of this program, including the NAB AFL Academy, allows us to play a genuine role in growing the game, which is fundamental to our commitment to Footify Australia”.
“We congratulate the 56 young players who will take part in the NAB AFL National Academy, and look forward to watching their careers develop over future years,” he continued.
The 2014-15 NAB AFL Academy Squads are -
Level One
NSW/ACT:
Zachary Sproule Albury
Kobe Mutch Wentworth
William Setterfield Scot’s/Caulfield Grammar
Harrison MacReadie Henty
South Australia:
Jonty Scharenberg Glenelg/PHOS Camden
Jack Graham North Adelaide/Tea Tree Gully
Steven Slimming Sturt/Unley
Queensland:
Jack Bowes Cairns
Brad Scheer Palm Beach Currumbin
Jacob Allison Aspley
Curtis Marsden Palm Beach Currumbin
Vic Country:
Jarrod Berry North Ballarat Rebels/Horsham Saints
Will Brodie Murray/Notre Dame
Ben Ainsworth Gippsland Power/Morwell
Jarrod Korewha North Ballarat Rebels/Koroit
Vic Metro:
Jordan Galluci Eastern Ranges/Lilydale
Jack Scrimshaw Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris
Western Australia:
Noah Hura Peel Thunder/Mandurah Centrals
Sam Petrevski-Seton Claremont/Halls Creek
Sam Powell-Pepper East Perth/Wesley
Jeremy Goddard Claremont/Marist
Luke Strnadica East Fremantle/Winnacott
Joshua Rotham West Perth/Whitfords
Tasmania:
Ben McGuinness Lauderdale
Northern Territory:
Brandon Parfitt Nightcliff
Level Two
NSW/ACT:
Callum Mills North Shore
Dylan McDonald Murray Bushrangers/Albury
Jacob Hopper North Ballarat Rebels/Leeton-Whitton
South Australia:
Ryan Burton North Adelaide/PHOS Camden
Stephen Tahana North Adelaide/Gaza
Aaron Francis West Adelaide/Loxton North
Tim Sullivan Glenelg/Port MacDonnell
Luke Partington Port Adelaide Magpies/Tumby Bay
Queensland:
Ben Keays Morningside
Tasmania:
Jake Sushames North Launceston
Vic Country:
Jacob Weitering Dandenong Stingrays/Mt Eliza
Rhys Mathieson Geelong Falcons/Bell Park
Darcy Parish Geelong Falcons/Winchelsea
Kieran Collins Dandenong Stingrays/Langwarrin
Josh Schache Murray Bushrangers/Seymour
Aidyn Johnson Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca
Thomas Cole Bendigo Pioneers/Strathfieldsaye
Sam Skinner Gippsland Power/Moe
Josh Dunkley Gippsland Power/Sale
Darcy Tucker North Ballarat Rebels/Horsham Saints
Gach Nyoun Dandenong Stingrays/Narre Warren
Vic Metro:
James Parsons Eastern Ranges/Norwood
Nick O’Kearney Calder Cannons/Keilor
Sam Weideman Eastern Ranges/Vermont
Liam Jeffs Eastern Ranges/East Ringwood
Harley Balic Sandringham Dragons/Mordialloc-Braeside
Western Australia:
Yestin Eades North Ballarat Rebels/Midvale
Callum Ah Chee South Fremantle/Kelmscott
Greg Clark Subiaco/Sorrento Duncraig
Kade Stewart South Fremantle/Katanning
Jordan Snadden East Fremantle/Bull Creek Leeming
This year, the AFL welcomed an extension of the NAB’s outstanding support of under-age football becoming the naming rights sponsor of the NAB AFL National Academy.
The NAB AFL Academy is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- NAB AFL Academy
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
Ends
