Young Demons given chance to shine

EIGHT of the Perth Football Club’s most promising youngsters have been selected to participate in the State 16’s and 18’s academies.

The State 18’s Academy, coached by Andrew Lockyer, will comprise of six Demons who will be eligible to represent WA at the NAB AFL State 18s Championships in June, and the State 16’s Academy will feature two Demons in preparation for the NAB AFL State 16s Championships in June and July.

Ian Hill and Sydney Stack, both from Northam, will take part in a 10-week training schedule, participate in two camps, take part in combine testing and play four trial matches before the final team is selected to represent WA at the National 16s Championships.

Hill, a midfielder who can play as a small forward as well, was involved with the Western Australian schoolboys team as a fifteen year old, and was named All-Australian where he went on tour to South Africa.

Stack also joins the academy as a midfielder with high achievements in his early career, which comes with selection in the AFL Flying Boomerangs, which competed in the NAB Under 16s Championships last year.

Both players took part in the WAFL 16’s Carnival earlier this year and join the academy along with 35 other sixteen-year olds from around the state.

The Under 16s championship fixture sees WA scheduled to play three matches in Adelaide, Southport and the Gold Coast in late June to early July.

Perth Player Development Officer Peter Brear commended Hill and Stack on their inclusion into the academy, and puts their selection down to hard work in the club’s junior programs.

“They’ve come through our development squads over the last two to three years,” Brear said.

“They’re very impressive with their skills, particularly their ball-winning ability, and that they’re fairly more advanced than players of their age.”

In the 18’s Academy, six Demons will join the squad of 40 to take part in the program, with spots for the WA team up for grabs.

Zac Fisher, 17, is one of the young Demons to feature in the academy who has already had his first taste of league football, making his debut in round two this year against West Perth. He had 23 disposals on debut and kicked two goals, and has impressed teammates, coaches and Demons supporters so far in 2016, giving the Perth faithful a look at what’s to come.

Kristian Morisey and Anton Scotney are promising defenders performing well in the colts competition at the moment, with both players standing at more than 190cm. Scotney, a key defender, has caught the eye of academy selectors with his athletic ability in the last few games, and Morisey has been on the radar for the last twelve months.

Quinton Narkle is an 18-year old mature-aged player who was involved in the state academy last year but didn’t play any games. Narkle has had a fantastic start to the season in the colts, averaging 30 disposals and a goal a game, impressing selectors with his contested ball-winning ability as well.

Gordon Narrier is another who has been recognised with extraordinary midfield abilities, who has caught the eye of recruiters as well. Originally from Northam, Narrier is currently a border at Hale who also holds a cricket scholarship as well as playing the last few colts matches for the Demons.

The final Demon to take part in the 18’s academy is John Levien, who has been prominent in the colts team the last few years. Levien, who turns 18 in a couple of weeks, is another midfielder on the rise who can also hold his own in the backline.

Football Operations Manager Tyson Beattie says the selection of the young Demons is reflective of the talent pathways the football club has in place, and that players have the one hundred per cent support of the club.

“It’s a good sign on the whole structure of it (talent pathways),” Beattie said.

“The key part of it has been the new set-up with Andrew Ruck coaching, Trevor Williams as coaching coordinator, so that’s provided a lot more support and feedback to those players.

“We just tell our guys to focus on their really good qualities and not worry or stress out too much about the long-term picture.”