AFL NATIONAL talent manager Kevin Sheehansays a “two-pronged strategy” is behind the opening round of this year's NABAFL Under-18 Championships being played in Sydney.

Firstly, the AFL wants to continueshowcasing the game in New South Wales,and secondly, it is eager to continue the expansion of its scholarship scheme.

“The focus has been on encouragingyoungsters throughout greater Sydneyto look at the AFL as a potential career and the AFL has supported that withthe introduction of a scholarship scheme,” Sheehan told afl.com.au.

“That has been one strategy, and it's a statementto the youngsters of Sydneythat you can have a career in the AFL, and we have roughly 120 spots availableeach year on primary or rookie lists.

“Our clear objective is to ensure that atleast 10 per cent of players by 2010 from the 120 players coming onto primaryand rookie lists are from the greater Sydneyarea.

“To support that strategy we thought; ‘whynot play the NAB AFL Under-18 championships there and display the best NSW/ACTplayers in their home area and put them on Telstra Stadium?’.”

The scholarship scheme, introduced lastyear, allows AFL clubs to sign players from the Sydney area, aged 15 to 17, to pursue acareer in the AFL.

Clubs then have the opportunity of pre-listingthose players, outside the draft, should they be considered good enough for anAFL list come drafting age.

A total of 34 NSW players have been signedby AFL clubs in the first 18 months.

Sheehan said greater Sydney had produced AFL players like LennyHayes, Nick Davis, Mark McVeigh, Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, PaulBevan and recently promoted rookie Kieren Jack.

“They are just some of the players thathave gone on to play in the AFL after coming out of the NSW system,” he said.

NSW/ACT Rams will field eight scholarshipplayers in its squad – already tied to AFL clubs – during the upcoming NAB AFL Under-18Championships.

Theplayers are:
Craig Bird (NelsonBay) – Sydney
Simon Davies (North Shore)– Essendon
Ryan Davis (North Shore)– West Coast
Ranga Ediriwickrama (Pennant Hills) – Geelong
Scott Reed (Bateau Bay/Pennant Hills) –Collingwood
Taylor Walker (North Broken Hill) – Adelaide
James Wilsen (St George) – Kangaroos
Max Wilson (North Shore)– Fremantle

Emergencies:
David Linsen (Western Suburbs) – Port Adelaide
Khan Haretuku (UNSW/Eastern Suburbs) – StKilda