NSW/ACT Player of the Week: Joe Redfern

Joe Redfern was just 16 when he left his family and friends in the southern NSW hub of Wagga Wagga to move to Sydney and follow his football dream.

The former Mater Dei Catholic College student moved to the bright lights of Sydney at the end of 2011 when he was offered a scholarship with the Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy.

“I moved here to finish Year 12 as part of the Academy,” Redfern said.

“So I did that and went to school at Patrician Brothers Blacktown which was an opportunity that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise.

“It’s a great pathway for the young boys in NSW now.

“There’s even more opportunities now, especially since you’ve seen that there is a way to get onto a list from the Academy.”

While fellow Academy-graduate Zac Williams has been able to break into the senior side for seven games in 2013, Redfern has bided his time, working on his game in the GIANTS’ reserves side.

“The NEAFL’s great, I’ve played a couple of games over the last two or three years and you can really see that it’s stepped up each year,” he said.

“Hopefully in the next couple of years it can really get up to being one of those top level state leagues in Australia.”

Redfern first picked up a Sherrin as a kid in Wagga, but didn’t take to AFL instantly.

“I first started playing in about Year 3 because I had a couple of mates from school that played,” he said.

“I probably had one or two Auskick clinics when I was really young but didn’t really enjoy it a lot, then I went back with a mate when I was in about Year 3 and haven’t looked back since.

“I started playing Rugby League then everyone else grew bigger than me so I had to stop that.”

Once hooked though, it didn’t take Redfern long to develop his love of the game.

“I just loved it, my whole family’s played it and it was just one of those sports – I picked it, loved it and had fun with it.

“I think I started playing first grade when I was 15 so you get used to playing against bigger bodies but it is very team orientated and the older boys always look after you.

“Although it’s tough you get used to it, it’s no big deal.” 

An athletic forward, Redfern played with the Sydney Hills Eagles in the NEAFL last year in between representing the NSW/ACT RAMS at the NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships and playing for the UWS GIANTS.

He spent the first part of this season injured before making his debut for the GIANTS’ reserves in Round 7, with the 18-year-old kicking 12 goals in his nine appearances.

He will line up for the UWS GIANTS this Saturday morning at Blacktown International Sportspark and strong recent form has him pushing to make his AFL debut before the season is out.

The UWS GIANTS take on Sydney University for the inaugural Chancellor’s Cup which will be presented to the winning side at Skoda Stadium when the GWS GIANTS take on the Melbourne Demons on Saturday afternoon.

While Redfern is now firmly entrenched in his Sydney life, he hasn’t forgotten his southern roots, returning home last month to visit local schools, hospitals and football clubs with fellow Riverina products Zac Williams and Kurt Aylett.

“I try and get back as much as I can, usually over a couple of months we might get a couple of days or a weekend or something to get home so that’s always good and it’s good to get home to see the family and the locals,” he said.

“I usually try and get back to Coolamon and have a run around with the boys out there.

“I miss that aspect of country footy just having a yarn and having some fun with mates so I always try to do that when I get back home.”

Photo by Phil Hillyard, the Daily Telegraph