FOOTBALL: Young talent from the South West Football League will be on show when seven upcoming players take to Domain Stadium to play in the curtain raiser of the Fremantle Dockers’ Anzac Day clash with the Sydney Swans.
Liam Kinsella (Collie), Travis Cleggett (Collie), Cameron Lamonaca (Bunbury), Logan Giblett (Bunbury), Ty Armitage (HBL), Jack Quinn (HBL) and James Kirby (South Bunbury) will travel to Perth to participate in the match, taking on other upcoming talent from country football clubs.
Up to 50 young players from WA country football leagues were chosen to play in the game, with the group being split into two sides.
WA Football Commission South West talent and coaching manager Jaime Doust said the match is a great opportunity for the boys to experience something unique.
“This is a really good opportunity for the South West boys to play on Domain Stadium and play against other upcoming country footballers,” he said.
“It’s a really unique experience for the boys.”
"It’s a big chance for the boys to show off some of the talent we have here in the South West."
- WA Football Commission South West talent and coaching manager Jaime Doust.
Doust acknowledged that it was hard for some local clubs to clear their young players for the weekend.
“Some of these clubs really rely on the younger kids to fill their ranks, so we really appreciate them clearing them to play,” he said.
“It’s something that the players may never get to do again, so we commend the clubs on recognising that.”
The players will be accommodated on Friday night before they are taken to the dawn service in King’s Park on Saturday.
“It’s one thing to play on Anzac Day but it’s another to recognise the importance of it,” Doust said.
“The boys will be playing in front of a fairly large crowd so it should be a surreal experience for them.”
Doust said this was an opportunity for the boys to showcase the young talent of the South West to the rest of the state.
“It’s a big chance for the boys to show off some of the talent we have here in the South West,” he said.
“I think they’ll go really well.”
The Anzac Day selections come on the back of a successful South West turnout at the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles Derby game.
Auskick students from Binningup, Boyanup, Marist, Donnybrook and Augusta-Margaret River were all given the chance to play at half time.