Giant opportunity

The inaugural AFL Riverina under 17 squad has been selected to take on AFL Canberra’s under 17 representative team in a one-off game.

It provides a great opportunity for Riverina teenagers with the game set to be held as a curtain raiser at Manuka Oval ahead of the game between Greater Western Sydney (GWS) and Geelong on Saturday July 25.

The 30-man squad was selected from Riverina and Farrer League’s under 17 representative games at Robertson Oval in May.

AFL Riverina football operations manager Shane Buchanan said it is a great chance for our young footballers.

“This is a great opportunity for these players to play in a curtain raiser prior to an AFL game, play on Manuka Oval in Canberra and play in front of the coaching staff of two AFL clubs,” Buchanan said.

The only downside for the players is the likelihood they will have to miss their club games on that weekend.

The squad will train with the AFL NSW-ACT under 18 academy squad in the lead up, at Robertson Oval on Wednesday July 15 and 22.

AFL Riverina junior clubs will also play half-time Auskick on the same day in Canberra.

AFL Riverina under 17s

Will Keough (MCUE), Dylan Morton (Wagga Tigers), Harry Fitzsimmons (Coolamon), Harry Stapleton (GGGM), Ethan Schiller (MCUE), Steve Senior (Coolamon), Matt McGowan (Coolamon), Jacob Whitley (MCUE), Luke Redfern (Coolamon), Jacob Conlan (Griffith), Justin Jenkins (Wagga Tigers), Jake Gaynor (Wagga Tigers), Brendon Myers (Wagga Tigers), Tyh Evans (Leeton-Whitton), Nathan Richards (Griffith), Chris Ryall (Northern Jets), Tariku Fitzgerald-Holmes (North Wagga), Mitch Conlan (Barellan), Will Bassett (North Wagga), Joel Kelly (Marrar), Jacob Turner (Temora), Luke Cuthbert (EWK), Jackson Quade (EWK), Mitch Maguire (Northern Jets), Harry Perryman (Collingullie-GP), Zac Wiencke (Temora), Tim Banks (Collingullie-GP), Ben Kelly (Wagga Tigers), Danyan Evans (Leeton-Whitton), Jed Winter (North Wagga)

Coach: Greg McKelvie

Selectors: Matt Noonan, Rick Pratt