Rebels impress at Joss State Zone Trials

The Rebels have spent the past week at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview playing in the Under-15 and Under-16 Joss State Zone Trials.

Both age groups played gallantly throughout the course of the week, with a number of players impressing on the field and others getting a taste of AFL at another level.

AFL (NSW/ACT) State Talent Manager said all players came to the trials determined to get the most out of the week.

“The week was everything we expected plus more. The standard of play matched the standard of player preparation, recovery and behavior. It all sits well for where the program is heading,” Denneman said.

Fourteen teams came to Riverview and played in 42 games of AFL. The week offered kids the perfect platform to showcase their talents in front of AFL scouts and experienced coaches.

With former Carlton player Nick Stevens joining the Under-16 RAMS as an assistant coach, and dual All-Australia Rohan Smith coaching the Under-18 RAMS, the Talented Player Program is providing players with a system to make it on to AFL lists.

Ryan Speed from the Rebels said the week was a lot of fun and was beneficial to his development as an AFL footballer.

“Coming from Albury, you don’t get much of what this is up here so it’s good to get away and enjoy the experience,” he said.

“It’s real good because all the people here are the best at what they’re doing so you get to see what your skills are like against the best of the best and see what you need to improve on and what’s better for you.”

Throughout the week the players were given a rare insight into the life of an AFL player as well as hearing education sessions on nutrition, conditioning, stretching, core stability, umpiring and what’s expected at the state level.

Doug Freeman, NSW talent scout with the Essendon Bombers, said there are many benefits of kids being a part of the Talented Player Program.

“To give kids in NSW a bigger opportunity, the program is the right way to go. It’s the right track to go down to encourage kids to play the game and to get top of the line coaching for 30 to 40 weeks of the year, which is going to be a benefit,” Freeman said.

“It also means the kids might not have to travel out of the state hopefully and they can now get on Swans and Team GWS lists, not that we wouldn’t mind a few kids. If they don’t want some, we will definitely be around looking to snaffle them somewhere.”

Under-15 results

Monday, April 12

Rebels 5.10.40 defeated Pioneers 1.1.7
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
S. Patten 1, M. Munro 1, R. Speed 1, J. Baggio 1, D. Hore 1
PIONEERS
H. Bond 1

Stingrays 3.5.23 defeated Rebels 2.1.13
GOALKICKERS
STINGRAYS
L. O’Callaghan 1, A. Wall 1, N. Mabon 1
Tuesday, April 13

Starz 3.0.18 defeated Rebels 2.1.13
GOALKICKERS
STARZ
T. Edmonds 1, J. Pola-Smith 1, M. Brinker 1
REBELS
M. Munroe 1, D. Bond 1
Thursday, April 15

Pigeons 3.5.23 defeated Rebels 3.4.22
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
J. Baggio 1, J. Dalgliesh 1, L. Heinjus 1
PIGEONS
J. Stek 1, B. Polley 1

Rebels 11.2.68 defeated Heat 0.0.0
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
J. Jones 1, D. Bond 2, R. Speed 1, J. Baggio 1, B. Lehmann 3, E. Walliss 1, L. Schifferle 2

Friday, April 16
Cats 2.5.17 defeated Rebels 2.2.14
GOALKICKERS
CATS
M. Drummond 1, J. Clothier 1
REBELS
J. Dalgliesh 1, L. Heinjus 1

Under-16 results

Monday, April 12

Rebels 8.7.55 defeated Pioneers 1.0.6
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
C. Patten 1, T. Hargreave 1, B. Schilg 2, H. Dalitz 1, A. Locke 1, R. Johnson 2
PIONEERS
J. Famularo 1

Rebels 5.3.33 defeated Stingrays 0.1.1
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
N. Cregan 2, H. Barker 1, J. Robinson 1, C. Slattery 1
Tuesday, April 13

Starz 4.1.25 defeated Rebels 1.3.9
GOALKICKERS
STARZ
M. Douglas 2, A. Morris 1, M. Cantrall 1
REBELS
T. Haines 1

Thursday, April 15

Rebels 5.5.35 defeated Pigeons 4.1.25
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
L. Hampton 1, C. Slattery 2, H. Barker 2,
PIGEONS
J. Sullivan 1, T. Green 1 , C. Moller 2

Rebels 5.5.35 defeated Pigeons 4.1.25
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
L. Hampton 1, C. Slattery 2, H. Barker 2,
PIGEONS
J. Sullivan 1, T. Green 1 , C. Moller 2

Friday, April 16
Rebels 6.3.39 defeated Cats 2.4.16
GOALKICKERS
CATS
S. Drummond 1, N. Wood 1
REBELS
H. Filliponi 1, L. Hampton 1, J. Nunn q, A. Locke 1, C. Slattery 2