Starz shine at State Zone Trials

The Starz spent last week at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview playing in the Under-15 and Under-16 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.

Rory Pryor from the Starz said the week was a lot of fun and was beneficial to his development as an AFL footballer.

“It’s been good, I’ve loved playing footy and all of the lectures we’ve been getting have been really helpful,” he said.

“I think I can speak for all of us that every single player has learnt so much from their coaches and all of the lectures they have been giving us from having Nick, Rohan and Danny who have all played AFL football and learning from their experiences.”

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 Talent 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.”

RESULTS

Under-15

Monday, April 12

Pigeons 6.2.38 defeated Starz 3.1.19
GOAL KICKERS
STARZ
M. Varjavandi 2, M. Baglin 1
PIGEONS
J. Claridge 1, J.Hiscox 1, J. Haggerty 4

Cats 5.5.35 defeated Starz 3.1.19
GOALKICKERS
CATS
J. Steele 1, E. Hodder 1, T. Clowry 1, C. Miller 1, V. Van Der Kolk 1
STARZ
M. Baglin 1, S. Frost 1, J. Pola-Smith 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

Starz 4.5.29 defeated Pioneers 4.2.26
GOALKICKERS
STINGRAYS
J Brandwood 2, J MacKenzie 1, J Pola-Smith 1
PIONEERS
C Arndt 1, R Stubbs 1, J Cutting 1, A Fender 1
Thursday, April 14

Stingrays 7.2.44 defeated Starz 3.2.20
GOALKICKERS
STINGRAYS
L. King 1, T. Gaynor, L. O’Callaghan 1, H. Bradley 1, T. Keogh 1, A. Wall 1, H. McLauchlin 1
STARZ
M.Bell 2, B. Mobbs 1

Friday, April 15
Starz 8.6.54 defeated  Heat 2.1.13
GOALKICKERS
HEAT
J. Johnson 1, D. Holten 1
STARZ
D. Patersib 1, M. Baglin 3, L. Sawtekk 1, E. Sertbas 1, A. Jalloh 2, T. Bigg 1

Under-16

Monday, April 12

Starz 7.3.45 defeated Pigeons 0.1.1
GOALKICKERS
STARZ
R. Davies 1, B. Jack 2, F. Skulley 1, Z. Solter 1, H. Washington 1, R. Pryor 1

Starz 5.7.37 defeated Cats 3.3.21
GOALKICKERS
STARZ
M. Clarebrough 1, S. Wray 1, S. Turner 1, R. Pryor 1, J. Weir 1
CATS
J. O’Halloran 1, J. Baker 1, A. Jones 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

Starz 9.2.56 defeated Pioneers 1.2.8
GOALKICKERS
REBELS
M. Clareborough 2, A. Morris 1, J. Webster 1, J. Davis 1, S. Turner 3, A. Nixon 1
PIONEERS
J. Phillips 1
Thursday, April 14

Starz 4.1.25 defeated Stingrays 6.1.37
GOALKICKERS
STINGRAYS
M. Harrington 1, L. Gregurke 1, S. Power 1, T. Beckmans 2, T. Blissett 1
STARZ
F. Sculley 3, R. Davies 1

Friday, April 15

Starz 6.2.38 defeated Heat 3.0.18
GOALKICKERS
HEAT
D. Risby 1, H. Butchart 1, M. Enders 1
STARZ
A. Morris 1, D. Hadden 1, M. Clarebrough 1, S. Turner 3