The Queensland Young Scorpions selectors have finalised a training squad based on players who competed at the U16 KooGa State Academy Championships which finished on Monday.
Selectors have taken into account a wide variety of selection criteria; including the capability of a player to compete at national level both physically and mentally, high level football skills and football smarts, and a required level of fitness.
With the depth of talent at the championships improving each year – and many players putting in stand-out performances – the selector’s job was not easy.
Young Scorpions Head Coach John Rankin and his assistant coaches canvassed regional coaches after each game to ensure accurate feedback on performance.
Players not included in the initial group should take on board the feedback from Coaches at their Championships exit interview and work hard back at their junior clubs.
It is worth noting that in previous years some players who did not achieve initial selection have forced their way into contention with consistently strong performances at club level, and Young Scorpions coaching staff will continue to monitor club performances in all junior leagues.
Young Scorpions Head Coach John Rankin said the squad had great depth of talent, and that the hard work had just begun for these boys as he and fellow selectors must cut the squad to 25 players who will represent the state at the July National Championships in Western Sydney.
Players whose names are included on the Young Scorpions training list are asked to attend the initial training session on Monday 13 May at Leyshon Park Yeronga (AFL Queensland High Performance and Training headquarters) Cansdale St Yeronga.
Training will commence 4.30 pm sharp so please, if possible, get there well in advance of this starting time. Please bring with you your regional jumpers, socks and playing shorts for the initial training session.
You will be handed a Scorpions handbook on Day 1 for all the handouts you will receive during the program. The Handbook will include a list of training dates, practice matches and NAB AFL National Championships dates in Western Sydney. Training nights are Mondays and Wednesdays each week.
After each training session you will be doing ice baths recovery so you should also bring bathers and a towel.
Queensland Young Scorpion Under 16 Training Squad:
From Brisbane North
Adam Tipungwuti (Sandgate),
Jordon Maynard (Sandgate),
Blake Hartley (Sandgate),
Charlie Driffield (Caboolture),
Hayden Jeffries (Caboolture),
Corey Wagner (Sandgate),
Alex Barnes (Everton),
Jayden McDonald (Wilston Grange),
Connor Stackelberg (Sandgate),
Liam Richardson (Aspley),
Joshua Elmslie (Sandgate)
From North Queensland
Sean Nicholson (North Mackay),
Joel Karwan (Cairns Saints),
Glendon Woosup (Cape York),
Josh Brown (Gladstone),
Cody Filewood (North Mackay),
Jordan Harding (North Mackay),
Joel Newman (Thuringowa),
Heath Molloy (North Cairns),
Didymus Blanket (Cape York),
Blake Bailey (Eastern Swans),
Cuan Fraser (Cairns Saints)
From Gold Coast North
Dyson Budarick (Labrador),
Riley Watters (Labrador),
Lachlan Anderson (Surfers Paradise),
Nathaniel Ellis (Southport),
Domenic McEwan (Southport),
Matthew Dickenson (Beenleigh/Southport)
From Gold Coast South
Jason Lee (Broadbeach),
Max Spencer (Palm Beach),
Joel Smith (Broadbeach),
Kurt Skuse (Broadbeach)
From Sunshine Coast
Soul Cormick (Maroochydore),
Ben Ottery (Bay Power),
Gareth Hunt (Maroochydore),
Ben Glover (Kawana Park),
Eric Hipwood (Caloundra),
Calem Volker (The Waves),
Nate Dennis (Rookie Search)
From Brisbane West
John Mason (Sherwood),
Oliver Ritchie (Morningside)
From Brisbane South East
Ben Keays (Morningside),
Tom Rolls (Morningside)
To be considered when fit : Aaron Yusia – Marcic (Sherwood) from Brisbane West – Aaron will need to be checked over by Young Scorpions Physio and Doctor at training on 13 May.
The State Talent Manager will be in touch with all the North Queensland players and Bundaberg Wide Bay players selected in the squad to discuss logistics and requirements regarding training and upcoming practice matches.
