A number of the Port Magpies’ most talented juniors have been selected in the Under 16 Northern Coast squad.
Port Magpies players Sam Jonasson, Brayden Eastwell, Brad Smith, Darren Bourke and Drew Stanley trained in Wauchope last Sunday in the squad’s first hit-out.
The five youngsters will be hoping to impress at the 2011 Under-16 Joss State Zone Trials being held in Sydney from April 17 to 20.
At that carnival they will compete with elite players from Greater Western Sydney, the Sydney Swans Academy, Riverina, Murray, ACT and South Coast.
“All of those players have been training hard with the Port Magpies Under 18s squad for a couple of months now, with the exception of Darren Bourke who is a part of our junior set-up,” Under 18s Magpie coach Craig Carroll said.
“Their selection is a reward for their football ability but it is also a show of faith in the Mid-North Coast set-up.
“Having five players selected from Port Macquarie and a further coast representative in Darren Holt from Kempsey gives us record representation in this squad.”
Stanley has been one of the leaders at training in 2011 while Jonasson and Eastwell are rated among the best prospects to pull on a Magpie jumper in recent times.
Smith has made every post a winner since joining the Camden Haven Bombers only 12 months ago for his first game of AFL and Bourke was a shining light in last year’s Under 15 grand final in which his Magpie team triumphed.
The Magpie Under 18s are gearing up for their first match in the North Coast AFL season which takes place at Stuarts Park in Port Macquarie on April 16.
Training is held on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Stuarts Park from 5.20pm. For any interested players — phone Craig Carroll on 0413 300 365.
