NSW/ACT RAMS midfielder Ranga Ediriwickrama is a NSW scholarship holder with Geelong. He spoke to gfc.com.au’s Ben Broad about his budding career and what the future might hold.

Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into footy.
Both my parents are Sri Lankan, but I was born here. I got into footy through a couple of mates at school. I first played at a [primary schools] tournament called the Paul Kelly Cup.

I just played in that and after that my friends just said ‘you know, you should really try to play AFL’ and I just thought ‘what the hell, I’ll give it a shot’, and from that I just started playing.

What about the scholarship? How did Geelong first notice you?
They first saw me at an under-16 state carnival in NSW. They were monitoring my progress from there, but they officially showed interest in me at an under-18 carnival at Coffs Harbour last year. I signed a contract about May last year. It came out of the blue, as I wasn’t expecting it at all. I wasn’t thinking about a scholarship at all, I was just enjoying my footy. 

What does having a scholarship with the Cats mean?
It pretty much gives you that association with the club. I’m talking mainly with [Geelong recruiting assistant] Luke Williams.

They just pretty much help with my development and my progress. But what Geelong has done with me is they’ve tried to develop me not just as a player but as a person, and make sure I’ve got the right balance in my life. They’re always ringing me and asking me how I am, how’s my family, and how school's going.

What sort of contact or involvement do you have with the club during the year?
I would like to get down a bit more, but with the Rams commitments, it’s a bit too hectic to get down too often and spend a bit more time at the club. 

What about over summer – did you get down then?
I was down for a week in the December holidays and I also went down in about February for an intra-club game and got to play in that, so that was pretty good. It was a really good experience. 

Who’d you run alongside?
I was playing on [David] Wojcinski for a bit … he was pretty quick! And also James Kelly. But it [my opponent] changed quite a bit. I was also on a couple of the VFL players at times. 

The last month or so you’ve been busy playing the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Have the Cats still been chatting to you?
Yeah, they have been. 

So, how does it work from here? Can any club have a crack at you come the end of the year, or are you Geelong’s property?
At the time of the draft, Geelong has first priority and they can choose to either draft or rookie me. I think if Geelong is interested, it has to nominate me prior to the draft.

If they don’t, I can nominate for the draft and if any other club wants to pick me up they can.

When you’re not playing for the NSW/ACT RAMS, where are you playing footy?
I play for the Pennant Hills footy club in the first grade side. I haven’t been playing there much with all my RAMS commitments, but when I have been playing, I’ve been rotating from half-forward to on the ball to the wing. 

Are there any AFL players you could compare yourself to or try to base your own game on?
I really like the way Joel Selwood goes about it at Geelong, just what I’ve seen from him at training. Just his professionalism, and just that he’s such a young player and he’s such a leader … the way he trains, you can see it in the way he plays. 

You’re captaining the RAMS this year … from what you’ve seen briefly from a guy like Selwood, do you try to take any of that on board when you’re leading your side out?
I've learned a couple of things just from watching him at training. You pick things up. I guess you wouldn’t notice it immediately but then you realise, ‘oh yeah’ that’s where you’ve learned some of the things you do when you’re captaining. 

AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan on Ediriwickrama’s national championships:
“His first two games were outstanding, averaging 25 disposals, before a hamstring injury early against Tasmania set him and his team back. Has won 28 contested possessions from nine quarters, which still ranks him second overall. It demonstrates his courage and his attack on the ball. He is a one-touch player and a great reader of play.”