Narooma AFL Lions player Jai Reed has been selected in the 25-man Under 16 NSW/ACT Rams squad to participate in the 2016 national championships.
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Reed's performances for the Under 16's Giants academy in the tri-series against the Swan's academy was enough to impress selectors and coaches even though he missed game three in Canberra due to illness.
Reed's ability to play within the midfield and up forward was evident in the first two matches where Reed racked up possessions across the two contests whilst also kicking six majors in game two.
Sapphire Coast Football Operations Coordinator Jarrod Moore also noted that the league was ecstatic with Reed's selection into the squad.
“It's an absolutely fantastic achievement for Jai and everyone involved within his development at the Narooma Football Club,” Moore said. “It was pretty evident that Jai was an exceptional player having won back-to-back premierships with the Narooma Under 16's. In both finals he was awarded Best on Ground as a 14 and 15-year-old while also claiming the league best and fairest and playing senior football at 15 years.”
Reed and his other 24 team mates will be heading into camp on April 29 in Wagga Wagga with games against the Northern Territory on June 11, Queensland on July 5 and Tasmania on July 9.
“As a league, we wish Jai all the best within the NSW/ACT Rams structure and also look forward to him pulling on the Lions colours throughout the season.”
Dakota picked for girl squad
Former Eden Whaler and current Ainslie Tricolour player, Dakota Hooper has been selected in the 30-girl NSW/ACT squad as an emergency.
Young Naooma talent Zalie Betts had also been travelling up to Canberra and trying out for the squad and now will continue to play for the female Narooma AFL Lions team.
Having played in a dominant Giants youth Girls side, the 30-girl squad is filled predominantly with Giants academy girls.
Having moved to Canberra at the beginning of 2016, Hooper is planning to take her game to the next level in an established and highly competitive AFL Canberra women's competition with the Ainslie Football Club.
If called up, Hooper will travel to Melbourne with the team on May 1 for the Youth Girls National championships.
‘It’s great to see Dakota challenging herself within the AFL Canberra women’s competition whilst hopefully getting the call up to represent her state in Melbourne at the national championships. Dakota should be super proud of her achievements to make the 30-girl roster,” football operations coordinator Jarrod Moore noted.
