The message from Western Jets coach Torin Baker was the same for his club’s “chosen six” for the Vic Metro squad and the unlucky ones who missed out – the hard work must go on.
The Jets had Wilson Berry, Oscar Junker, Brock McGregor, Lachlan Fogarty, Daniel Venables and Brodie Romensky named last week in Vic Metro’s 38-player squad for the AFL under-18 national championships, with a number of worthy contenders missing out, including Judah Dundon and Harry Bult.
To the players who were unfortunate to miss out, Baker said it was not a dead end, pointing to Melbourne draftee Clayton Oliver as a prime example of a player who can make the AFL without pulling on the Big V.
“It’s a good reward for those boys who’ve had good TAC Cup form to get their opportunity with Vic Metro,” Baker told Star Weekly.
“At the same time, we think we’ve got a couple of boys who are a bit unlucky to miss out … they’ve still got opportunities in front of them in terms of TAC Cup, playing really good footy there and potentially playing finals.
“We’ve seen a lot of examples of players who, for whatever reason, didn’t make their state teams and then have been able to get drafted.
“Clayton Oliver is a really good example of someone who didn’t play for Vic Country last year but got drafted pick three.”
Conversely, being named in the Vic Metro squad is not a golden ticket to the big league.
The much-scrutinised championships can damage a player’s reputation on poor form just as much as it can enhance it with good outings.
The championships feature the best under-18s in the country and every possession will have to be earned.
“They’ve been given the opportunity, but they’ve still got to make sure they perform and do themselves justice playing against the best in the country,” Baker said. “Their performances will be scrutinised at this level, but for the boys that don’t make it, their performances will also be scrutinised at the next level down.”
Baker has urged his players to lap up the experience of playing for Victoria.
“It’s a reward for their efforts in both training and playing over a long period of time, so they will be feeling proud and excited with the opportunity,” he said.
While the Jets are disappointed for players who missed out on selection, overall they are happy with having six selected.
“Two years ago, when they got the squad down to 25, the Western Jets had the most and Calder had the second most, then last year we had the least,” Baker said.
“It can depend on the year and what talent is coming through.”
Vic Metro’s first game in the under-18 championships will be against Vic Country at Simonds Stadium on Monday.
