philhawk
15 Dec 2007, 23:15
http://www.cleve.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/general/a-change-of-colours-for-highflying-local-footballer/1105209.html
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14 December 2007 - 9:41AM View all news | Comment on this Article | Send to a friend | Print
A change of colours for high-flying local footballer
ROOKIE... Former Cowell Cat footballer Tim Walsh goes to the Hawthorn Hawks in this week’s AFL rookie draft.
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Long-time Cowell Cats footballer Timothy Walsh has been selected by the Hawthorn Hawks this week in the AFL 'rookie draft'.
The eighteen-year-old ruckman and tall forward moved to Adelaide last year to play SANFL for the Port Adelaide Magpies after almost 10 years of local football on the Eastern Eyre Peninsula.
A career in football has always been Walsh's dream - but when the call came in from the Hawks on Tuesday he was considering a whole different direction.
"I was actually looking at an electrical apprenticeship today when I got the call-up," Walsh said.
"That's on hold now because I think this is definitely the better deal."
"It's very exciting and I'm happy to be with Hawthorn.
"They're a good club…relatively new and really moving forward."
At age eight Walsh first donned the green and white for Cowell, working his way up through the ranks to A Grade before moving to Adelaide to play for the Magpies.
“I want to thank Cowell Football Club for their support and I’m looking forward to being home for Christmas this year.
"The Port Adelaide development system has also been great, they were always on to me to get into SANFL footy," Walsh said.
Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club talent manager Tony Bamford said Walsh is one of four Eyre Peninsula players to be picked up by the AFL in just the past two years. Most recently, former Ports player Levi Greenwood was drafted from PAMFC to the AFL by the Melbourne Kangaroos.
"Tim's at the AFL club now and he's got a foot in the door," Mr Bamford said.
"As a rookie you can't play an AFL game until you're upgraded to the national squad but it's a massive step, considering 12 months ago he was playing football at Cowell."
More than 50 country players from Eyre Peninsula took the field for the Magpies in Season 2007, Mr Bamford said.
Walsh distinguished himself over the past two years playing in the NAB Under 18s Cup and being named Magpies U19 runner-up in 2007.
Proud parents Jan and Rob Walsh - who farm at Mitchellville, just out of Cowell - were overwhelmed by their son's selection.
"We always told Tim that if you get the opportunity you should take it," mum Jan Walsh said.
"He relocated to Adelaide last year to follow his football dreams and now he has been given the opportunity to push for selection at the elite level."
"Looks like we will be Hawthorn supporters this year," she said.
Just down the road, the Cowell Cats are also celebrating their team mate's success.
"We're all very proud of Tim," club president Jon Mills said. "He's always been a talented kids with a good head on his shoulders.
"Like most clubs, we're committed to junior development and Tim's proof that it's important to make it easy and cheap to play, and reward the kids to keep them keen.
"Tim's family are great supporters of the local club and we're very happy for them and for Tim."
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9688/42987719mm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
14 December 2007 - 9:41AM View all news | Comment on this Article | Send to a friend | Print
A change of colours for high-flying local footballer
ROOKIE... Former Cowell Cat footballer Tim Walsh goes to the Hawthorn Hawks in this week’s AFL rookie draft.
Most Viewed Articles
Cleve
Finland school massacre: The boy next door to us all
A change of colours for high-flying local footballer
Local firefighters battle Kangaroo Island blaze
Research underway to establish marine parks
Fun times at local softball
Life is Local
Editor defends 'revealing' McKew photo [National]
Leikvoll, Wessel to give Dapto punch [Illawarra]
An unflattering view of a historic political moment [Canberra]
Quake hero on charges [Newcastle]
Storms, king tides forecast for Aust as warming melts ice [Canberra]
Long-time Cowell Cats footballer Timothy Walsh has been selected by the Hawthorn Hawks this week in the AFL 'rookie draft'.
The eighteen-year-old ruckman and tall forward moved to Adelaide last year to play SANFL for the Port Adelaide Magpies after almost 10 years of local football on the Eastern Eyre Peninsula.
A career in football has always been Walsh's dream - but when the call came in from the Hawks on Tuesday he was considering a whole different direction.
"I was actually looking at an electrical apprenticeship today when I got the call-up," Walsh said.
"That's on hold now because I think this is definitely the better deal."
"It's very exciting and I'm happy to be with Hawthorn.
"They're a good club…relatively new and really moving forward."
At age eight Walsh first donned the green and white for Cowell, working his way up through the ranks to A Grade before moving to Adelaide to play for the Magpies.
“I want to thank Cowell Football Club for their support and I’m looking forward to being home for Christmas this year.
"The Port Adelaide development system has also been great, they were always on to me to get into SANFL footy," Walsh said.
Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club talent manager Tony Bamford said Walsh is one of four Eyre Peninsula players to be picked up by the AFL in just the past two years. Most recently, former Ports player Levi Greenwood was drafted from PAMFC to the AFL by the Melbourne Kangaroos.
"Tim's at the AFL club now and he's got a foot in the door," Mr Bamford said.
"As a rookie you can't play an AFL game until you're upgraded to the national squad but it's a massive step, considering 12 months ago he was playing football at Cowell."
More than 50 country players from Eyre Peninsula took the field for the Magpies in Season 2007, Mr Bamford said.
Walsh distinguished himself over the past two years playing in the NAB Under 18s Cup and being named Magpies U19 runner-up in 2007.
Proud parents Jan and Rob Walsh - who farm at Mitchellville, just out of Cowell - were overwhelmed by their son's selection.
"We always told Tim that if you get the opportunity you should take it," mum Jan Walsh said.
"He relocated to Adelaide last year to follow his football dreams and now he has been given the opportunity to push for selection at the elite level."
"Looks like we will be Hawthorn supporters this year," she said.
Just down the road, the Cowell Cats are also celebrating their team mate's success.
"We're all very proud of Tim," club president Jon Mills said. "He's always been a talented kids with a good head on his shoulders.
"Like most clubs, we're committed to junior development and Tim's proof that it's important to make it easy and cheap to play, and reward the kids to keep them keen.
"Tim's family are great supporters of the local club and we're very happy for them and for Tim."