School Sport - Team Vic Football

National AFL - Will M

Earlier this term, Year 6 student Will McGeoch, competed at the School Sport Australia National Championships in the Victorian AFL Under 12 Boys team.

Will is only the second student from Cheltenham Primary School to achieve this level & be selected for the U12 SSV AFL team. Former CPS student Ben Furzer was a player and captain of the team back in 1995. As fate would have it, Ben went to school with Will's father Jesse and they were good friends. 

See below a recap written by Will of his journey to the Victorian team. 

This year I trialled for the School Sport Victoria AFL U/12 Football Team. The selection process began in March and ran for about six months, with around 1,000 boys competing for just 23 spots. It was nerve racking and a tough process of elimination, but I gave it everything and was fortunate to be selected in the squad. I was also named as one of six in the team’s Leadership Group, with the role of leading our huddle chats and team chants.

In the lead up to the tournament, we trained regularly at Trinity College and played three practice games. We also had our team presentation and jersey ceremony at Melbourne High School. The team is steeped in tradition, honouring Cameron Baird and others in an emotional ceremony. My No. 5 jersey was presented to me by Nick Watson from Hawthorn, known as “The Wizard.”

Each year the National Tournament is held in a different state, and this year it was held in Maroochydore, Queensland. In August my family flew up and we stayed in Mooloolaba with some of the team. From the very start it felt professional and action packed. We had training, team commitments, team dinners, an opening and closing ceremony, and even an Amazing Race with both the boys and girls Victorian teams.

We played six full games of footy in seven days, competing against every state and territory. The program gave an insight into what professional sport entails, with one and a half hour recovery sessions after each game including hot and cold plunge pools, compression boots, and strict nutrition and hydration goals. As Victoria is the largest AFL state, there was a lot of pressure to perform, and we did. We went through undefeated and brought the cup home to Victoria. To win and to be recognised as a “Vic footy player” was the best feeling ever. Go Vics!

The whole experience was the highlight of my year. I am very proud to have represented both my state and our school, and I am really grateful to have been part of the SSV program. I would encourage my schoolmates to give trials a go in any sport, it is heaps of fun.

A big thank you to Mr Penny for organising for some of the students to watch my games at lunchtime. That was awesome!

Will McGeoch