At just nine years of age, Ethan McWilliams has beaten around 50, 000 students across Australia to be named the national champion of the 2011 Toyota AFL Dream Team National Schools Competition.

The primary school student from Mandurah Western Australia will be flown to Melbourne for a 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final experience, as part of the Schools major prize.

Collingwood star and Dream Team coach, Nick Maxwell praised Ethan for his achievement. “I’d like to congratulate Ethan on his fantastic effort; hopefully we might even see him coaching an AFL side one day,” he said.

The competition was open to primary and secondary students across Australia and students were asked to create and coach their ‘dream AFL team’, selecting players within a salary cap and trading them throughout the season according to players’ performance in the AFL competition.

Each student’s team was then ranked against other entrants from their school, with Ethan achieving the highest Dream Team coach score in the nation during the elimination finals between the state champions.

Ethan will be rewarded with the 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final experience, which includes two Grand Final tickets, return flights to Melbourne, accommodation and the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade.

He will also receive an AFL Club football jumper and Sherrin, signed by the coach of his AFL club of his choice, as well Panasonic equipment valued at $4500, and AFL equipment awarded to his school, Frederick Irwin Anglican School.

“I’m so happy. I love playing and watching football. I’ve been into it since I was four years old and can’t wait to go to the AFL Grand Final,” said Ethan.