Farrer’s Angus McTavish will be on home turf at today’s GNA induction but he and the other academy newcomers could be in a for a tough day. Photo: Grant Robertson 061011GRB51
THE WESTS Greater Northern Academy program really heats up at Farrer High School today when this year’s squad is inducted.
Almost like clockwork, the temperature in Tamworth will ramp up today as the 42 players from around the region meet for the first time as a group.
16 of them have seen it all before but for the rest, the introduction and fitness testing will be a new experience and a major test, especially for those who haven’t kept up their training since the end of the local season.
“We’ll do the testing to see for ourselves and themselves what they need to work on to improve their footy,” GNA head coach Peter Stevens said. “It will be a reality check for some of them.
“But if they’re fair dinkum about their footy they will have to start working hard from this time onwards if they want to better their game.
“There will be scouts at these trials to look at them but you have to be prepared.”
The players and their parents will see a presentation to start the day at 4pm, which will outline the goals of the program and also the expectations for the players.
Then they will head outside for testing, which includes the dreaded yo-yo test, as well as strength and speed tests.
“It’s going to be pretty hot,” Stevens said.
“But they’ll be training in the heat all the way through.
“They won’t do the yo-yo test till at least 5 o’clock so it might have cooled down a bit by then, or maybe not.”
GREATER NORTHERN ACADEMY SQUAD: Jaime Abbas (Warialda), Harrison Abra (Bingara), Nathaniel Abrahamse (Muswellbrook), Tyler Austin (Merriwa), James Ballinger (Delungra), Drew Brown (Scone), Ethan Calliess (Invergowrie), Wade Campbell (Glen Innes), Jake Cocking (Manilla), Zac Collett (Muswellbrook), Lochie Collins (Tamworth), Jake Collison (Scone), Beau Dixon (Muswellbrook), Mitchell Doring (Tamworth), Tyler Fleming (Gunnedah), Matthew Fox (Inverell), Jay Gallagher (Glen Innes), Adam Hamilton (Singleton), Callum Hayne (Gunnedah), Lyall Houghton (Pilliga), Jacob Kennedy (Aberdeen), Josh Kenny (Singleton), Blake Kersely (Singleton), Zack Leonard (Werris Creek), Angus MacTavish (Duri), Dylan Manicaros (Manilla), James Mapperson (Gunnedah), Troy Martin (Tamworth), Alf Newman (Moree), Beau Parry (Werris Creek), Rohan Pottinger (Muswellbrook), Jordan Press (Uralla), Josh Pursche (Tamworth), Daniel Rafter (Bingara), Tremayne Sanbrook (Nemingha), David Smith (Gunnedah), Kyle Smith (Muswellbrook), Zander Smith (Dungowan), James Widders-Leece (Armidale), Tyler Wolfgang (Denman), Bevan Wood (Walcha), Liam Zell (Tamworth).