The GIANTS Academy, in partnership with AFL NSW/ACT, sets out to identify, develop and foster elite athletes in NSW and the ACT.
Moama forms part of the Western Riverina team of players, which trains together over a 15-week period and participates in match days against other GIANTS teams from the region.
Club president Matt Lake said the academy’s individual development program provided a great opportunity for NSW junior players to maximise skills, leadership qualities and continue their pathway to progression in AFL football.
“We have some great juniors in the under-13, under-14 and under-15 divisions of the academy program this year,” Lake said.
“The GIANTS Academy is a great opportunity for junior development within our ranks and something we are very excited to be part of.”
Overall, eight under-13 Pies were selected to the academy, as were six under-14s players and six under-15s.
Campbell McCarty, Aiden Anderson, Fred Peat, Bodhi Dohnt, James Mason, Jordi Teasdale, Mac Hooppell and Kobi Atkinson were selected in the under-13 team.
Max McCarty, Tom Naujok, Jake Barden, Will Anderson, Lennix Keam and Hamish Boyd will represent Moama in the under-14s.
Henry Brown, Zade Maschewski, Xavier Mallick, Kayden Mislicki, Archie Teasdale and Rhys Drennan are the under-15s Magpies who were chosen for the academy.
The young footy stars have already taken part in their first games, with some strong early performances right off the bat.
“Our boys played their first match day games on Monday and Tuesday in Albury and all Western Riverina teams impressed on the field,” Lake said.
GWS also established a new female football academy in 2020.
The junior Pies will have a big Good Friday ahead of them, with Moama set to take on MFL rival Echuca United for the Three Jacks Cup.
Some of the GWS academy players will be in action from 9.15am at Moama Recreation Reserve, with the seniors kicking off at 2pm.
On the netball court, the Eagles and Magpies’ A-grade sides will face off at 1.30pm.
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