Selectors have trimmed Brisbane and Gold Coast squads as they move towards final selection of the Australia Post Queensland U18 side for 2011.
Monday, 21 March, 2011
After four months of solid pre season high performance summer training, the Australia Post Queensland Scorpions Under 18 program has moved into overdrive following the completion of the NEAFL Club Aid Trophy games played over the last two weekends in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
This has come with the selection of a 29-player Brisbane squad and a 26-player Gold Coast squad to take the next step towards a spot in the final Scorpions side for the 2011 NAB AFL Australian U18 Championships.
More than 90 players have taken part in the pre season training regimen embracing strength, conditioning, speed, endurance, skills and much more.
This program commenced in early November, with satellite centres in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, incorporating players from regional Queensland centres.
According to AFLQ Talent Manager Bob Batty, all players have made significant gains in all facets of their development and he says he would especially like to thank all the players, their parents, senior NEAFL clubs and mentors and all the Scorpions coaching staff for their support.
“We have come to the fork in the road where 90+ players must be reduced to approximately 50 players and the coaches /selectors have had a very difficult task in making these initial cuts to the squad,” he said.
Batty advises that for those players listed below, there will be two very important trial games on Saturday 26 March and Saturday 2 April before the final Scorpions team is announced on Monday 4 April.
Those players not continuing in the program, Batty says, will be contacted over the next two weeks to arrange an exit interview which will be conducted with your State League/Senior Club Coach, your Club Mentor (where applicable) and a member of the Queensland Scorpions Coaching panel.
Batty explains that the purpose of this exit interview is to organise agreement on the next steps in your development for season 2011 and beyond.
The Brisbane Scorpions squad are:-
Chris Murphy, Clay Cameron, Craig Malone, Tyrone Brimble (Mt Gravatt), Jack James, Fraser Thompson, Spencer Greville, Sam Henry, Josh Wagner, Shaun Crook, Aaron Laskey, Daniel Brown (Aspley), Adam Oxley, Alex Sexton (Redland), Jesse Wallin, Brian Coleman-Broome, Peter Yagmoor, Jackson Allen, Jock Oates, Josh Smith, Lachlan Russ, Jackson Starcevich (Morningside), Lachlan Woods-Honour, Alex Dickfos, Tim Colburn (Western Magpies), Luke Reynolds (Sandgate), Jono Freeman (Noosa), Sam Panoho (Caloundra), Sam Cabrera (Rookie – no club).
Batty advises that the progress of players who have been injured over the last couple of weeks will continue to be monitored during rehabilitation.
The Gold Coast Scorpions Squad is:-
Sam Michael (Redland via Cairns), Luke Chitty (Morningside via Cairns), Henry Joyce (Morningside – via Townsville), Jermaine Wardle (Cairns), Nabako Stow (Mackay), Darcy Payne, Chris Foura, James Royes (Capricornia), Brody Haberfield (Surfers Paradise), Andrew Boston, Kieron Brennan, Tom Davidson, Josh Kolka, Jackson Rolfe, Jamie Skennar, Will Wolbers (Broadbeach), Ryan Maetem, Ryder Court, Mitch Hopkins, Nathan Sharp, Dalton Tucker, Fraser Thurlow (Southport), Tom Fields, Jake Jones (Labrador), Connor Manning (Rookie – no club).
Note: Daniel Hunt (Capricornia) will be considered when fit.
