WA the team to beat
Fri 24 June, 2005
Matt Burgan
AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan believes Western Australia is looming as the one to watch and the team to beat in this year's division one section of the NAB AFL under-18 championships.
Sheehan said Western Australia could be the 'surprise packet', after its under-16 sides won back-to-back titles in 2003-04 and are now coming through the ranks.
"In terms of the favourites, it may well be Western Australia that starts favourite against the might of the Victorian Metro," Sheehan said.
"They meet on the first day of division one matches and Western Australia, on the basis of their under-16 form in the last couple of years, looks to have assembled a very, very promising squad.
"Because of the geographical distance, WA doesn't get to play against the other states in the lead-ins, so it's a little bit subjective, but based on draftability and their potential they look to have a terrific group."
Sheehan said Western Australia will be confident against Vic Metro after the Sandgropers pinched a thrilling victory over the city slickers in the dying seconds of last year's clash.
"Lance Franklin kicked a goal right on the siren to get them over the line last year, so they won't be too fazed about meeting Vic Metro and they'll be prepared for the game of their lives, against the side that has been the benchmark of this competition since it went to under-18 level a decade ago," Sheehan said.
"In the nine years to date, Vic Metro has won six championships, so they've really been the dominant figure, but maybe it'll be WA's year, like it was in 1999, when Paul Hasleby was the star, winning the Larke Medal and dominating in the midfield.
"Joel Corey also starred, as WA won its first championship at under-18 level."
Sheehan said Victoria Country was likely to start favourite against South Australia in the opening match of division one.
"Vic Country will certainly benefit from the experience of Marcus Drum, an All-Australian from last year, who was too young to be drafted last year, but has been in excellent form for the Murray Bushrangers and in the trials. He'll be the cool head that will probably set them up from across half-back," Sheehan said.
Sheehan said the recent NAB AFL Challenge Cup, a lead-up competition for the division two teams, offered a good indication to how they would fare in the championships.
"Queensland, quite deservedly, will start favourite, having been unbeaten in their three games in the Challenge Cup. They last won the championship in 1998 and since then all of the other states have had a victory," Sheehan said.
"With Craig McRae, the triple premiership player with Brisbane, coaching for the first time, Queensland is playing a terrific brand of football and looks to have some terrific potential AFL players.
"The other three sides in division two all had a win in the Challenge Cup, so we'd expect it to be pretty even, but Queensland will start as slight favourites to take out that title."
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=211277
Fri 24 June, 2005
Matt Burgan
AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan believes Western Australia is looming as the one to watch and the team to beat in this year's division one section of the NAB AFL under-18 championships.
Sheehan said Western Australia could be the 'surprise packet', after its under-16 sides won back-to-back titles in 2003-04 and are now coming through the ranks.
"In terms of the favourites, it may well be Western Australia that starts favourite against the might of the Victorian Metro," Sheehan said.
"They meet on the first day of division one matches and Western Australia, on the basis of their under-16 form in the last couple of years, looks to have assembled a very, very promising squad.
"Because of the geographical distance, WA doesn't get to play against the other states in the lead-ins, so it's a little bit subjective, but based on draftability and their potential they look to have a terrific group."
Sheehan said Western Australia will be confident against Vic Metro after the Sandgropers pinched a thrilling victory over the city slickers in the dying seconds of last year's clash.
"Lance Franklin kicked a goal right on the siren to get them over the line last year, so they won't be too fazed about meeting Vic Metro and they'll be prepared for the game of their lives, against the side that has been the benchmark of this competition since it went to under-18 level a decade ago," Sheehan said.
"In the nine years to date, Vic Metro has won six championships, so they've really been the dominant figure, but maybe it'll be WA's year, like it was in 1999, when Paul Hasleby was the star, winning the Larke Medal and dominating in the midfield.
"Joel Corey also starred, as WA won its first championship at under-18 level."
Sheehan said Victoria Country was likely to start favourite against South Australia in the opening match of division one.
"Vic Country will certainly benefit from the experience of Marcus Drum, an All-Australian from last year, who was too young to be drafted last year, but has been in excellent form for the Murray Bushrangers and in the trials. He'll be the cool head that will probably set them up from across half-back," Sheehan said.
Sheehan said the recent NAB AFL Challenge Cup, a lead-up competition for the division two teams, offered a good indication to how they would fare in the championships.
"Queensland, quite deservedly, will start favourite, having been unbeaten in their three games in the Challenge Cup. They last won the championship in 1998 and since then all of the other states have had a victory," Sheehan said.
"With Craig McRae, the triple premiership player with Brisbane, coaching for the first time, Queensland is playing a terrific brand of football and looks to have some terrific potential AFL players.
"The other three sides in division two all had a win in the Challenge Cup, so we'd expect it to be pretty even, but Queensland will start as slight favourites to take out that title."
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=211277
