Narooma young AFL star Jai Reed has suited up for the Greater Western Sydney’s Under 16 squad, kicking an awesome six goals in his last match against his beloved Sydney Swans.
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The 16-year-old, Year 11 student at Narooma High School has been travelling up to Canberra a couple of times a months to train with with the GWS Giants Academy.
The GWS Giants and Sydney Swans academy teams are in the middle of a three-game series, with GWS winning the first two matches, including the last match at Sydney Olympic Park on March 6 where Jai scored six goals.
He plays centre and full-forward for the Giants and kicking all those goals was all that much harder given that he has been a Sydney Swans supporter all his life. His ultimate goal would be to drafted to the Swannies.
“My goal is to be drafted and that’s what I’ve always wanted to be,” Jai said.
The next and final game between the Giants and Swans Under 16s is this Saturday in Canberra. After the series, each of the team’s two 25-man squads will be cut in half to form the NSW Rams development squad that will train and travel around Australia.
Jai has previously played at the State level being selected to the Boys 15 Years and Under side, and in the region he has also played for the Sapphire Coast Stingrays.
When his schedule allows he plans this season to play both Under 16s and First Grade for the Narooma AFL Lions, who have their first game this Saturday at home against Tathra/Bega.
The action kicks off at Bill Smyth Oval with Auskick at 9am, the ladies playing at 1.15pm and the Seniors at 2.30pm. Get down and support for Narooma AFL Lions.
Fellow young Narooma AFL player Zalie Betts, aged 14, is also having some success up in Canberra.
Mum Nicole said Zalie was now part of the NSW/ACT Female Talent Academy with lots of hard work and travel up to Canberra, along with fellow young South Coast female player Dakota Hooper from Eden.
“We travel to Canberra every Wednesday training so just like Jai she has to work hard at this level to make Gaints/Swans teams and many under 18 teams as well,” Mum said. “ Zalie is the youngest for Canberra, as the other girls range from 15 to 18. So just her being there makes us proud parents.” Read more
