Football
29 April, 2024
WFNL Junior Representative Teams Announced
The Under-14 and Under-17 WFNL representative football teams have been announced. The squads will be playing in Portland this Sunday in the South West League carnival and it's the first time in 30 years the WFNL have had junior representative squads.
The U14s is coached by Warracknabeal's Kyle George. George is currently coaching the Warracknabeal Under-17s side and has coached Under-14 before and also coached at senior level in Warracknabeal.
He was surprised he got the call-up but is taking it with both hands and enjoying it.
"It's very exciting for the Wimmera to get a team together that can head off and play in one of these carnivals. It's excellent for the area," George said.
"It's good to be back involved in representative footy having played some before. The kids are very excited.
"Training has been of an excellent standard and we have had excellent numbers. 36 have tried out so unfortunately a few will miss."
When asked what advice he can give to the players that missed, it was as simple as "keep learning and improving."
"They will get their chance next year in the V-Line under 15s and then they will have a chance again in the U17s in a few years from now.
"My advice is just to keep listening to your coach, being involved in your club and working hard and improve and their chance will come."
SQUAD: Billy Jenkins, Tanu Parsons, Hamish Barr, Judd Marsh, Oliver Reynolds (Ararat), Dane Paech, Reef Ward (Dimboola), Lincoln Tucker, Chaz Smith, Aiden Kleinitz, Jaega McCall, Zac Martin, Henry Walsgott, Joshua Kalms (Horsham), Harry Hicks, LJ Kafegellis, Chase David Kannar (Horsham Saints), Ryder Hudson (Minyip Murtoa), Cooper Gebert, Charlie Bell (Nhill), Max Spokes, Maxwell Roberts (Southern Mallee Thunder), Charlie Dunn, Tom Collins (Stawell), Thomas Penny, Tyson Garlick (Warrack Eagles).
The Under-17s are coached by Stawell's Jarrod Illig. Over the last four years Illig has been an assistant coach with Stawell's under-14s and in 2023 and 2024 has been coaching the Under-17s.
He is excited and humbled to be given the opportunity.
"It's massive and very exciting as there is a lot of junior talent coming through. The more pathways coming through the better," Illig said.
"It's good for them to develop and also see talent in other leagues because as they grow up they will be competing against them for the Rebels and they can see what other players are like.
"The kids are super excited and they have been up and about the last two weeks and they have trained well."
When asked what advice he can give to the players who miss out, Illig said for them to take away things from the training sessions the last two weeks.
"Firstly, they did well to get this far and to be nominated by your club puts you up as one of the best under-17s in the league, so they can hold their head high.
"Secondly, I said to them last week to take something home from the sessions. Whether it be a drill or advice that I gave or they find anything they can take back, to take it back to their club and implement it there.
"It might make their training better and they will improve and that's what this is about - growing the game at their home clubs. I hope they can take something from it."
SQUAD: Cooper Evans, Patrick Toner, Jed Rhodes (Ararat), Archer Laverty (Dimboola), Gibson Perry, Mitchell Mcauliff, Cooper Jadine, Monty Wynne, Max Bunworth (Horsham), Zane Munyard, Drew Harris, Jesse Taylor, Kai Newton (Horsham Saints), Charlie Gawith, Xavier Shevlin (Minyip Murtoa), Bronte Hiscock (Nhill), Cooper Stasinowsky (Southern Mallee Thunder), Ferrari Batsiua, Wimbledon Hubert, Ashton Mellor, Kai Knight (Stawell), Nicholas Steib, Jarve Beney, Kobe McGregor (Warrack Eagles).