WESTERN
Australia’s top junior talent will be showcased over the next fortnight when
the WAFL 14’s and 15’s development carnival kicks off as part of WA football’s
talent pathway.
Starting today, the carnival will see games played at league venues around the metropolitan area, with teams grouped into different age brackets to represent WAFL clubs over five rounds of competition.
Today’s ‘Rival Round’ games will see East Perth and West Perth play at Arena Joondalup, Swan Districts host Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval and East Fremantle and South Fremantle and Claremont and Perth play at Fremantle Oval.
Games continue on Friday and into next week, with the final round to be played on Sunday, October 11 with games at Medibank Stadium, Steel Blue Oval and Bendigo Bank Stadium (Rushton Park).
The carnival is a critical aspect of the player development pathway in Western Australia, providing a unique opportunity for players to be exposed to a higher level of competition and training, which plays a vital role in player development.
The carnival is also a development opportunity for coaches, who are encouraged to adopt individual philosophies, while maintaining a development focus for players. There is a common set of agreed practices for coaches regarding tactics and the use taggers, rotation of players, style of play and coaching behaviour.
The emphasis is placed on providing a positive environment for players to participate to the best of their ability, regardless of the scores. The carnival prides itself on enhancing an individual player’s development within a team environment.
Fremantle Football Club 2008 AFL Rising Star Rhys Palmer, who progressed through WA’s talent pathway, said the carnival was “about being the best you can be and working hard at every level of football to create your own opportunities.”
“One of my favourite sayings is – ‘Give people more than they expect’. With this statement in mind, I would encourage all players involved in the WAFL 14’s and 15’s Development Carnival, whether you are taking part in training or competing in a game, to give it their absolute best,” Palmer said.