Andrew Gaff and Tim Golds have returned from an 11-day South Africa tour with the AIS-AFL Academy squad.
Both 17, Andrew and Tim are amongst 30 of the best young footballers in the country involved in the 12-month AIS-AFL Academy program. The 2009-10 squad has enjoyed the insight of assistant coaches former Geelong premiership captain Tom Harley, former Sydney Swans’ 300 game player Michael O’Loughlin and champion goalkicker and former Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd.
The squad was in South Africa from April 4 until April 15 played three matches over a two week period. The first against Swans Reserves at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday April 3. The second against the South Africa Lions at Newlands in Cape Town. The final match against West Perth at Subiaco as a curtain-raiser to the West Coast v Essendon match on April 16.
During the South Africa tour the squad conducted footyWILD clinics for hundreds of children in the Nyanga township outside Cape Town and visited Robbin Island, toured Soweto and saw African wildlife up close in a game park.
AIS-AFL Academy High Performance coach Jason McCartney said while this was the first time the players had worn an Australian guernsey, the tour was not just an opportunity for the players to represent their country, but an opportunity to assist in the growth of the Australian game in South Africa.
"The squad travelled well, trained well and have really developed as people and footballers We had a great tour and really pushed the Sydney Swans reserves before easily accounting for the South African Lions, many of whom had only taken up the game in the past 18 months and West Perth," McCartney said.
The AIS-AFL Academy is an element of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program provides recognition and a clearly identifiable direction for a player's career, comprising the following elements:
NAB AFL Rising Star
NAB AFL Draft
NAB AFL Draft Camp
NAB AFL Under 18 Championships
AIS-AFL Academy
NAB AFL Under 16 Championships