By LIAM TWOMEY
THE Western Jets will be hoping history is about to repeat itself.
In 2011 the Jets had two players selected in the AFL AIS Academy squad in Will Hoskin-Elliott and Elliott Kavanagh. By the end of that year, both players were living their dreams on AFL lists.
Next year, two more of the region’s young stars will join the exclusive academy after Liam Duggan and Duom Dawam were selected following impressive performances at the Under 16 National Championships.
In the past, academy teams have toured Europe throughout the year and worked together at a number of training camps and fitness testing weekends.
Duggan and Dawam will be coached by some of the legends of the AFL with Matthew Lloyd, Brad Johnson, Michael O’Loughlin and Tom Harley all previously involved.
Western Jets region manager Shane Sexton said it was an outstanding achievement for the boys to be selected in the side and thought a few other Jets players were also close to making the final cut.
“Clearly they have played well in the nationals and it will be a really exciting program for both of them,” Sexton said.
“Both of them have got a lot of talent.
“Dillon Rainbow would have been really close to selection. I know he had a good carnival. I know (Jayden) Laverde, (Caleb) Sullivan, (Billy) Myers and Duggan all had good carnivals and I know Joey Blake was up there.
“There are a lot of kids who have come through our region and we think there are other kids as well who have bobbed up late in the year. It’s a good group and definitely something to look forward to.” For Sudanese born Dawam, the selection caps off a remarkable first few years in his football career, after picking up the game in 2009.
“He played a bit of footy in 2009 for the first time, didn’t play in 2010 and had limited games again last year,” Sexton said.
“We got hold of him and convinced him to train for the Brad Johnson squad and he played in the state Under 16 Championships in the first term school holidays. We were really excited with what he had done.
“We thought he was really unlucky not to make the Vic Metro Under 16 side for the AFL Nationals. The AFL in its wisdom selected him in the world team and he is a real talent.”
The celebrations don’t stop there for the Western Jets with Lachlan Hunter selected to attend the National Draft Combine in the Medium Midfielder division after an outstanding season.
Hunter played six games with the Jets throughout the year and was named in the club’s best players on two occasions.
He also had an excellent NAB Under 18 Carnival where he averaged 15.5 disposals.
