All states and territories are finalising their squads for the upcoming championships to be held in Melbourne over an eight-day period.
The four Second Division squads open the championship on Saturday 3 July at the TEAC Oval (Port Melbourne). Northern Territory opens against the NSW/ACT with Tasmania playing Queensland.
First Division follows on Sunday 4 July with Victoria Country, Victoria Metropolitan, South Australia and West Australia all playing at the MCG.
AIS/AFL Academy scholarship holders have been named in the squads of 30 and will be in action for their states. This includes graduates of the 6th Intake and members of the current 7th Intake.
We wish them all well for the championships and that the bond of friendship and respect between all our athletes be an example for others to follow.
AIS/AFL Academy Exit Program
All AIS programs require athletes to undertake a final “Exit Program” designed as a conclusion to the formal component of the 12-month scholarship period. The more informal relationship, of providing support and information to the scholarship holders and their families, continues at infinitum. We are here to assist in anyway, and in any area, we can.
We will be conducting our exit program for all members of the 7th Intake in Melbourne during the Under 18 Championships, and inviting along graduates of the 6th Intake who are in Melbourne for those championships. The Academy appreciates the support of the coaches of the Under 18 squads in allowing all scholarship holders to gather for this occasion.
The more specific details are:
Date: Monday 5th July
Time: 11.00am - 1.30pm (lunch will be included)
Venue: Carlton Social Club, Optus Oval
Dress: State tracksuits
I will make contact with all team managers during round one of the Under 18 Championships to confirm these details and transport arrangements.
Any 7th Intake scholarship holder who is not in his state squad should contact me ASAP so as we can make travel arrangements for your attendance.
AFL Debuts
Since our May edition of the Academy Newsletter, where we covered Academy graduate Andrew Walker’s AFL debut with Carlton, a 6 further graduates have tasted AFL football.
Round Athlete Club
Rd 6 Aaron Rogers Sydney
Rd 7 Farren Ray Bulldogs
Rd 8 Bradley Symes Port Adelaide
Rd 10 Joel Macdonald Brisbane
Sam Butler West Coast
Rd 11 Brock McLean Melbourne
Schammer a Docker till 2007
Fremantle has announced that Byron Schammer has agreed to a new deal that will keep him at the cub until 2007. Schammer, a graduate of the 5th Intake of the AIS/AFL Academy, captained Australia in the first test match of 2002 against Ireland. He has emerged as a damaging midfielder/forward for the Dockers in 2004, although he did not play on the weekend because of a shoulder injury.
50 AFL Games
Port Adelaide pair, Shaun Burgoyne and Kane Cornes are the latest Academy graduates to play their 50th AFL game. Both players have played every game this season. Josh Fraser, Collingwood and Leigh Brown, Kangaroos lead the race to be the first Academy graduate to 100 games having played 97 and 96 respectively after round 11 of the 2004 season.
