Academies
The players eligible for selection in the McDonald's Ballarat AFL Goldfields Academy Program are from all Leagues affiliated with AFL Goldfields. The Academy is proudly supported by the Western Bulldogs FC and McDonald's Ballarat.
The McDonald's Ballarat AFL Goldfields Academy will be an elite development program for approximately 45 players at each age group and will include the leading young footballers from across the Ballarat FNL, Central Highlands FL and the Maryborough Castlemaine DFNL.
Some of the objectives of this junior program will be as follows:
Increase the depth of talent within the Ballarat FNL, CHFL and MCDFNL Junior competitions through exposing more players to a higher level of coaching and participation than is available in their home clubs.
Increase the standard of competition within the various junior leagues through up skilling more players with the confidence and coaching to play at a higher standard.
Expand the opportunity for more players to be considered for interleague representation
Develop a pathway for prospective inter league players without limiting the scope of the programs reach.
The Academy is designed to complement the various Interleague Programs in the same way that the Interleague Program complements the elite programs within the TAC pathways.
At representative level we strive to influence the on-field behaviour of young players. Through the Academy we hope to extend this influence and reach.
Extend and improve the quality of coaching within the Ballarat FNL, CHFL and MCDFNL Junior competitions by involving more coaches in the Academy than can typically be catered for at Interleague level. In doing so we aspire to –Provide a forum for coaches to be exposed to and mentored by more senior and experienced coaches, ideally influencing their behaviours in a positive manner when coaching at local or representative level
Provide a forum for coaches to interact and build relationships between clubs
Promote appropriate behaviour from coaches to players
The operation of the AFL Goldfields Junior Academy will fall under the direction of the AFL Goldfields Football Development Managers, and will be supported where possible by Nth Ballarat Rebels. The program will be delivered by coaches with previous interleague experience, or they will be identified as appropriate Coaches to aid and assist in Junior Development. An overall Head Coach will set the direction of the Program and the training to be completed for each of the sessions.
Clubs will be asked to nominate players based on their performance throughout the season with Ballarat FL Juniors to have a minimum of 30 players, CHFL and MCDFL players will make up the remainder of each squad.
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Under 12
Club Player Name Bacchus Marsh Harrison Scardamaglia Bacchus Marsh Armi Wakefield Bacchus Marsh Zach Dalli Bacchus Marsh Angus Morgan Bacchus Marsh James Oliver Ballarat Storm Flynn Duggan Ballarat Storm Murphy Skinner Ballarat Swans Ethan Drever Ballarat Swans Jessie O'Neill Ballarat Swans Henry Liston Ballarat Swans Jackson O'Brien Darley Kai Watkins Daylesford Tate Koleski Daylesford Brendan Monaghan East Point Jy Phelps East Point Fergus Toose East Point George Reinehr East Point Riley Hiscock Gordon Leo Card Lake Wendouree Lachlan Squire Lake Wendouree Archie Todd Lake Wendouree Sam Gibson Lake Wendouree Aiden Wiltsher Mt Clear Sean Mason Mt Clear Emerson Vallance Mt Clear Andrew Gittins Mt Clear Ethan Kuchel Mt Clear Archie Bennett Newlyn Ned Charleson North Ballarat Will Palmer North Ballarat Jake Abrams North Ballarat Rye Stewart North Ballarat Jacob Hutchinson North Ballarat Cooper Beseler Redan Ben Crellin Redan Thomas Faull Redan George Charles Redan Jake Connolly Sebastopol Payson Dean Sebastopol Izaac Kopke-Veldhuis -
Under 13
Club Player Name Avoca Campbell Blair Bacchus Marsh Flynn Smith Ballarat Swans Cooper Glenwright Ballarat Swans Sam Sutton Ballarat Swans Deacon Perkins Ballarat Swans Nash McGrath Bungaree Charlie Elliott Carisbrook Cooper Mark Darley Archie Colbron Darley Lucas Closter East Point Dylan Hiscock East Point Billy Kirby East Point Paddy Mihaljevic Gordon Liam Lynch Gordon James Reynolds Lake Wendouree Lachlan McPhan Lake Wendouree Ethan Dartnell Lake Wendouree Will Reid Lake Wendouree Declan Clark Mt Clear Fraser Molan Mt Clear Ray Glover Mt Clear Joe Foley North Ballarat Taj Bowman North Ballarat Jackson McInerney North Ballarat Baxter Horsburgh North Ballarat Daniel Norton North Ballarat Bond Ripper Redan Ryan Kroussoratis Redan Max Frazer Redan Sam Kallio Redan Will McCahon Redan Tynan Craig – Peters Sebastopol Elliot Bushell Sebastopol Harvey Lewis Sebastopol Izaac Ash -
Under 14
Club Player Name Avoca Geordie Gallop Bacchus Marsh Mitchell Gardiner Ballan Tom Cox Ballarat Swans Jeremy Lovel Ballarat Swans Sam McDonald Ballarat Swans Harpur Adam Beaufort Charles Chandler Buninyong Sam Battistella Darley Jayven Tanner Darley Seth Fawcett Darley Deacon Fawcett Daylesford Zack Koleski Daylesford Adam Leonard East Point Kaian Constable East Point Will Stevens East Point Jacob Britt East Point Ned Renfree East Point Archie Caldow East Point Harry Charleson Lake Wendouree Nick Salter Lake Wendouree Oscar Wootton Lake Wendouree Lachie Heath Lexton Nedd Bennett Mt Clear Jarrod Joyce Mt Clear Brayden Joyce Newlyn Brodie Tallent Newlyn Josh Rofe North Ballarat Zane Attard North Ballarat Mason Young North Ballarat Hugh Trigg Redan Riely Collins Redan Floyd Burmeister Redan Jonty Faull Sebastopol Wylie Anderson Sebastopol Campbell Lloyd Skipton Andy Wills -
Under 15
Club Player Name Bacchus Marsh Joshua Huxtable Bacchus Marsh Ethan McKercher Bacchus Marsh Andrew Erhardt Bacchus Marsh Callum Smith Ballarat Swans Zach Haintz Ballarat Swans Jack O'Brien Ballarat Swans Jack Harwood Darley Taine Powell Darley Nicholas Cadman Daylesford Tyson Scoble East Point Lachlan Charleson East Point Fred Valpied East Point Ryder Lavery East Point Declan Jones Gordon Dylan Anderson Lake Wendouree Tom Steenhuis Learmonth Tyrone Lever Maryborough Rovers Damon Nitschke Mt Clear Liam Mason Mt Clear Kobe Hughes Mt Clear Jack Coffey Mt Clear Alex Molan North Ballarat Angus Watson North Ballarat Harvey Driscoll North Ballarat Lachie Abrams North Ballarat Charlie Darbin Redan Zach Lang Redan Khy Jess Redan Sam Litras Redan Rory Gunsser Redan Bailey Carroll Redan Harry Ryan Redan Blake Kelly Redan Gabriel Kalouche Sebastopol Harry Miller Sebastopol Austin Richardson Waubra James Skelton