GREATER Western Sydney Giants Academy's Riverina coach Tim Sullivan is confident a reduction in games for his troops won't be a major impediment for the program.
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The Wagga-based players returned to action on Monday for phase one for under-16 to under-19 players, which will focus on the basics.
The squad will be trimmed to 15-20 players for phase two, where players will head to Canberra for training to begin preparations for games.
A reduction in funding across the AFL landscape due to coronavirus means the Academy's clashes against NAB League teams have been reduced for next season.
"We'll play a few more against the Sydney Swans Academy, but the NAB League cuts down from seven to three games next year," Sullivan said.
"You've still got the new look Eastern Football League, a few top end boys will be playing that as well as the nationals for the Allies. There's still opportunities at that top level, there's just not as many games as we've usually got due to funding."
Sullivan will oversee the 18s and 19s players, Tom Groves is in charge of the 16s and 17s while Daniel Scroop has also returned to the coaching staff, while former Wagga Tigers coach Troy Maiden will assist with talent identification and individualised coaching.
"The first phase is a trial run really for fitness, skills, basic things like that," Sullivan said.
"We're not trying to pump them full of knowledge just yet, that will be more phase two. Especially for the 18s and 19s group, they're all over it after so long.
"We're looking to get a bit of an advantage by training in a group. In other states like Victoria they can only train in groups of ten but we're lucky enough to be able to train as a squad.
"We'll make a cut down to 15 or 20 boys in the 18s and 19s. After a five week phase one period we'll do a cut, and go from there.
"Troy will identify things with individual player and do a bit more specific coaching with them one-on-one."
The initial plan is for the newly-formed female academy to commence at the end of the month.
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