By LIAM TWOMEY
THE future of the Western Jets looks to be in some highly talented hands after the naming of the Vic Metro Under 16 side last week.
Following a rigorous training and selection period, Western had five players make the 25-man squad and another named as an emergency.
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Joseph Blake, Jayden Laverde, Caleb Sullivan and Billy Myers will be right under the noses of recruiters when they travel to Blacktown later this year for the National Championships.
The good news doesn’t stop there with a further four of the Jets’ players named in the World Team.
Region manager Shane Sexton was rapt with the success of the younger squad of Jets’ players and said there were still a number of talented names in that age group to watch out for.
“We thought we had a really good Brad Johnson squad this year and that has turned out to be the case. I could name another 15 kids that have got real talent in addition to the ones that I have already spoken about.”
The Jets’ Under 16 squad will get a further chance to show just how much potential they have later in the year when they play the Legends Carnival against neighbouring regions the Northern Knights and Calder Cannons.
Fans of the Jets won’t need to wait long to see these new faces either, with Sexton expecting a number to be regular starters in the senior side as bottom age players next year.
He said another goal of the group would be to make the AIS Academy squad.
“It’s not the be all and end all but it’s what they collectively consider to be the best 30 kids at the age group in the country,” Sexton said.
“If you are in the best 30 at that stage you would think you are a chance to going on to league football.
“Not all of them do but what they aim to try and do is get it to the stage where most of them will get to league footy. They are still only 16 or 17-year-olds and there is a fair bit of water to flow under the bridge.”
Former Jets and now AFL listed players Will Hoskin-Elliott and Elliott Kavanagh (check) made the squad in their draft year.
The good news continues what has been a great run for the Jets at the draft table after the club had five former region players selected to play AFL football last year.
