trueroo
13th July 2007, 16:31
Roos secure NSW Rookie signature
The Sydney club that produced 1996 Premiership player Mark Roberts has provided the Kangaroos with their inaugural NSW AFL Scholarship signing.
James Wilsen, a 16-year-old, 194-centimetre key forward who plays seniors for St George in the Sydney league, first came to the attention of Kangaroos Recruiting Manager Neville Stibbard at the 2005 National under-16 Championships, representing New South Wales/ACT.
The newly introduced NSW AFL Scholarship Scheme allows each AFL club to sign a maximum of two players per year. To be eligible, players must be aged 15 to 17 years and have lived in the eligible New South Wales regions (determined to be development AFL markets) for at least three years. Scholarship players - who are free to sign with the club of their choice - receive a minimum scholarship of $10,000 per year (capped to a maximum of $20,000 per year) and can be upgraded to their aligned club’s Primary or Rookie List once they attain draft age.
“James is an aggressive leading forward who can take a big mark”, explained Stibbard, immediately after signing Wilsen on Monday, when the signing period for the Scholarship Scheme officially opened.
“He has good awareness and, after viewing his highlights package from the U16s Carnival, Dean (Laidley) and the match committee believe James has good scope for improvement.”
Kangaroos Development Coach Neil Connell will devise and oversee James’ individual development program and work closely with his coaches at both St George and the Rams under-17s. While the Scholarship Scheme requires players to remain living within their eligible region during the term of their scholarship, James will have access to our club’s coaching resources and train with the Kangaroos in Melbourne during the school holidays.
A year 11 student, James attends East Hills Secondary College, which proudly boasts the legendary Waugh twins and champion swimmer Ian Thorpe as former pupils. However, of the 800 students currently attending the school in Sydney’s south-west, James says he could “count on one hand” the number that play Australian football.
“Both of my uncles played rugby league at a reasonable standard and I’ve been to a couple of NRL games, but to me the AFL is much quicker, more skilful and more exciting in general,” James said.
Whilst he has harboured dreams of playing in the AFL from the time he attended his first AusKick clinic at the Bankstown Junior Football Club as a four-year-old, James remains realistic with his expectations.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity given to me by the Kangaroos and am looking forward to learning as much as I can about what it takes to reach the top level,” he said. “I just want to get the most out of myself.
Stibbard paid tribute to James’ parents for supporting their son in fully pursuing his chosen sport.
“James reckons they would have been lucky to get 10 kids turn up on a weekend when he first went down to the local Bankstown club,” he remarked. “Over the years (James’ parents) Kevin and Janelle would have clocked up thousands of kilometres taking their son to representative training, trials and carnivals. For James to get to the stage he’s at now is a real credit to his family.”
RULES & Regulation
a. SCHOLARSHIP LIST ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a scholarship you must meet all
the criteria as set out below.
Age
Male turning 15, 16 or 17 in the
year of listing (by December
31st). Scholarship applies the
following year.
Region
Developing markets region
(DMR) as determined by Map
on page 6.
Domiciled
Must live in DMR for at least 3
years or live in NSW/ACT and
be a student of the DMR for at
least 3 years.
b. SCHOLARSHIP – IMPORTANT DATES FOR
2006
Player Review
From now until the end of
the signing period.
Signing Period
1 May to 31 January, 2007.
Lodgement Date
Within 7 days of the
agreement being reached.
Scholarship
Eff ective 2007 school year.
c. YEAR 1 TRANSITIONAL RULES
To be eligible each scholarship player will be
between 15 and 17 years of age ie must have
turned age 15 by 31 December and must be
under 18 as at 31 December. For 2006 a Player
that is eligible for both a Scholarship and the
National Draft (ie. turns 18 in January, February,
March or April 2007) must fi rst have nominated
for the National Draft and been overlooked
before he can be placed on a Scholarship List.
d. NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS
For 2006, Clubs are able to sign a maximum
of two (2) scholarship
players each
(mandated quota
of one). Each year
going forward Clubs
can sign a further (2)
(mandate quota of one) with a maximum number
at any one time of 6.
e. BENEFITS & CONDITIONS
Scholarship players can be signed by AFL Clubs
on a fi rst in-fi rst served basis with a minimum
contract of $10,000 per annum and a maximum
of $20,000 per annum (inclusive of all benefi ts
including any educational scholarships).
For 2006, the signing period will commence on
1 May 2006 and conclude on 31 January 2007.
The details relating to the required paperwork
and processes will be provided by AFL Football
Operations in due course.
f. FUNDING
The AFL will provide $10,000 per annum to each
AFL Club to assist in the search and identifi cation
of players. This money will be provided to clubs
upon receipt of a tax invoice and provision of
information as to the amount expended by the
Club. A confi dential register of club resources will
be maintained by the AFL for communication
purposes. The AFL will also provide each AFL Club
the fi rst $10,000 of each scholarship per annum.
g. CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS
No agreements, arrangements or understandings
are to be entered into before 1 May in any one
year. Any arrangements already entered in to,
shall not be enforceable as against a player.
thanks to Giantroo!!!!!
The Sydney club that produced 1996 Premiership player Mark Roberts has provided the Kangaroos with their inaugural NSW AFL Scholarship signing.
James Wilsen, a 16-year-old, 194-centimetre key forward who plays seniors for St George in the Sydney league, first came to the attention of Kangaroos Recruiting Manager Neville Stibbard at the 2005 National under-16 Championships, representing New South Wales/ACT.
The newly introduced NSW AFL Scholarship Scheme allows each AFL club to sign a maximum of two players per year. To be eligible, players must be aged 15 to 17 years and have lived in the eligible New South Wales regions (determined to be development AFL markets) for at least three years. Scholarship players - who are free to sign with the club of their choice - receive a minimum scholarship of $10,000 per year (capped to a maximum of $20,000 per year) and can be upgraded to their aligned club’s Primary or Rookie List once they attain draft age.
“James is an aggressive leading forward who can take a big mark”, explained Stibbard, immediately after signing Wilsen on Monday, when the signing period for the Scholarship Scheme officially opened.
“He has good awareness and, after viewing his highlights package from the U16s Carnival, Dean (Laidley) and the match committee believe James has good scope for improvement.”
Kangaroos Development Coach Neil Connell will devise and oversee James’ individual development program and work closely with his coaches at both St George and the Rams under-17s. While the Scholarship Scheme requires players to remain living within their eligible region during the term of their scholarship, James will have access to our club’s coaching resources and train with the Kangaroos in Melbourne during the school holidays.
A year 11 student, James attends East Hills Secondary College, which proudly boasts the legendary Waugh twins and champion swimmer Ian Thorpe as former pupils. However, of the 800 students currently attending the school in Sydney’s south-west, James says he could “count on one hand” the number that play Australian football.
“Both of my uncles played rugby league at a reasonable standard and I’ve been to a couple of NRL games, but to me the AFL is much quicker, more skilful and more exciting in general,” James said.
Whilst he has harboured dreams of playing in the AFL from the time he attended his first AusKick clinic at the Bankstown Junior Football Club as a four-year-old, James remains realistic with his expectations.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity given to me by the Kangaroos and am looking forward to learning as much as I can about what it takes to reach the top level,” he said. “I just want to get the most out of myself.
Stibbard paid tribute to James’ parents for supporting their son in fully pursuing his chosen sport.
“James reckons they would have been lucky to get 10 kids turn up on a weekend when he first went down to the local Bankstown club,” he remarked. “Over the years (James’ parents) Kevin and Janelle would have clocked up thousands of kilometres taking their son to representative training, trials and carnivals. For James to get to the stage he’s at now is a real credit to his family.”
RULES & Regulation
a. SCHOLARSHIP LIST ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a scholarship you must meet all
the criteria as set out below.
Age
Male turning 15, 16 or 17 in the
year of listing (by December
31st). Scholarship applies the
following year.
Region
Developing markets region
(DMR) as determined by Map
on page 6.
Domiciled
Must live in DMR for at least 3
years or live in NSW/ACT and
be a student of the DMR for at
least 3 years.
b. SCHOLARSHIP – IMPORTANT DATES FOR
2006
Player Review
From now until the end of
the signing period.
Signing Period
1 May to 31 January, 2007.
Lodgement Date
Within 7 days of the
agreement being reached.
Scholarship
Eff ective 2007 school year.
c. YEAR 1 TRANSITIONAL RULES
To be eligible each scholarship player will be
between 15 and 17 years of age ie must have
turned age 15 by 31 December and must be
under 18 as at 31 December. For 2006 a Player
that is eligible for both a Scholarship and the
National Draft (ie. turns 18 in January, February,
March or April 2007) must fi rst have nominated
for the National Draft and been overlooked
before he can be placed on a Scholarship List.
d. NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS
For 2006, Clubs are able to sign a maximum
of two (2) scholarship
players each
(mandated quota
of one). Each year
going forward Clubs
can sign a further (2)
(mandate quota of one) with a maximum number
at any one time of 6.
e. BENEFITS & CONDITIONS
Scholarship players can be signed by AFL Clubs
on a fi rst in-fi rst served basis with a minimum
contract of $10,000 per annum and a maximum
of $20,000 per annum (inclusive of all benefi ts
including any educational scholarships).
For 2006, the signing period will commence on
1 May 2006 and conclude on 31 January 2007.
The details relating to the required paperwork
and processes will be provided by AFL Football
Operations in due course.
f. FUNDING
The AFL will provide $10,000 per annum to each
AFL Club to assist in the search and identifi cation
of players. This money will be provided to clubs
upon receipt of a tax invoice and provision of
information as to the amount expended by the
Club. A confi dential register of club resources will
be maintained by the AFL for communication
purposes. The AFL will also provide each AFL Club
the fi rst $10,000 of each scholarship per annum.
g. CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS
No agreements, arrangements or understandings
are to be entered into before 1 May in any one
year. Any arrangements already entered in to,
shall not be enforceable as against a player.
thanks to Giantroo!!!!!