CANOBOLAS Rural Technology High School student and Orange Tigers junior Gaige Saunders is now one step closer to the AFL career he dreams about, and he’s understandably chuffed about it.
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Even if it’s not with the Hawthorn Hawks, who he’s supported for years.
Saunders, 12, was picked in the Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy’s under-13 squad to compete at the 2016 Joss AFL NSW/ACT State Zone Trials in Albury next month, along with fellow Tiger and James Sheahan Catholic High School gun Charlie Kemp.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Saunders beamed on Friday afternoon.
“We had a few trial games down in Blacktown, three, and in between those we had two training sessions as well.
“After all that [Charlie and I] got picked.
“[The system is] the same in the under-14s as well and then there’s a year off, then you go into the proper GWS academies when you get a bit older.”
That’s a goal for Saunders, but for now he and Kemp will link with their Giants teammates for training, to prepare for the State Trials from September 26-29.
”We have three sessions before we go,” Saunders said.
The State Trials provide the junior guns with elite experiences and are an obvious stepping stone toward the AFL, they also give players the chance to demonstrate their abilities and heighten development in front of some of the best coaches across NSW and the ACT.
The system has spawned a number of household names in the sport, most recently boom Sydney Swans recruit Isaac Heeney, who featured at the State Trials six years ago.
Much like his hero Sam Mitchell does for the Hawks, Saunders will line up in the midfield for GWS as his Giants take on the best Sydney, the ACT and regional NSW have to offer.
Saunders is no stranger to the demands the State Trials will put on his body because he doesn’t just play for Orange – he also plays in the ACT junior ranks with the Eastlake Demons.
“You have to be playing for a side in the central west region to get picked for the GWS sides, but I play for Eastlakes as well,” he said.
“I drive there every Friday afternoon during winter with dad so I can play.”
The 12-year-old paid homage to the Canobolas High Performance Athletes Program as well, which he joined this year and said has helped him progress.
“It’s been really helpful,” he said.
“Especially with my endurance, next year we’ll move into strength and conditioning as well I think.”