Park Ridge High School’s AFL Academy continues to churn out some of the best young Aussie Rules talent in the state.
The school’s reputation was further enhanced this month with 12 players picked for under 16s and under 15s Met West representative teams to play at the state championships in Maroochydore from May 25-28.
The under 16 girls who boast four state players from 2016 among them, earned their selection at a trial at Kenmore on March 14 while the boys trialled at the same venue on March 22.
Director of AFL Derek Berry said the school is thrilled with the result, adding that their is a number of others who will have a good chance at Met West selection in 2018.
“We’ve probably had a strong tradition within the met west region of having a high number of our students making those teams, obviously being an AFL academy gives our students a really strong advantage because it’s a subject and they are playing at elite level within the school system, so we’re really proud of them,” he said.
“It’s a great reward for them, and really kick starts the year ahead for a lot them, both with the academy season and their club footy coming up as well.”
“To be honest there is probably a couple of girls that we should of pushed a bit harder to go to the trial and they probably would of made the team but they’ll get another shot at it again next year and we had one of our boys who would of been every chance of making the met west team who was out injured , but he’ll get another shot at it again next year.
“And for them it’s just a learning curve that it’s something they have to bounce back from and that relates back to our core values around attitude and commitment, if they’ve got the right attitude and their committed enough I’ve got no doubt those students will make it next year.”
Berry said the state championships in May where the players will vie for Queensland selection will be a unique opportunity for the players to cheer each other on.
“It’s the first time we've had both the girls state championships and the boys at the same time and same venue so hopefully what it will mean for our students is that real opportunity to support each other at that next level which is something we’re really looking forward to,” he said.
“From my perspective it gives me a chance to see the girls play because of my role as an assistant coach of the Met West under 15 boys I never get the chance to watch them play.”
