Congratulations 

Will Green

Congratulations to Will Green, class of 2023 Year 12 graduate, on being drafted to Sydney Swans with the club’s first pick, pick 16 overall in the 2023 AFL Draft.

Will was an exceptional athlete at Thornbury High School across many different sports: football, cricket, volleyball, basketball, netball, cross country and athletics just to name a few. His dominance in each game last year in the Year 11/12 football team was a major factor in the team making it all the way through to the state semi finals.

Will was a valued Nicholls house captain this year and his leadership skills continued to grow when he took on an assistant coaching role with the senior school football team, with his understandable workload management precluding him from playing. Another highlight from the year was at the THS Athletics Carnival in May where the crowd gathered to watch him jumping over small buildings in the high jump event!

Whilst he had different sports jostling for his services, his height, skills and athleticism was always going to catch the eye of AFL recruiters and steer him towards the oval ball!

Midway through his junior career, Will moved into the talent pathways program at the Northern Knights, based local  school at Preston City Oval. He was part of the Vic Metro Under 18 squad as a bottom aged player in 2022. This led to his naming in the national 2023 AFL Academy Squad, featuring 30 elite junior players eligible to be drafted at the end of the program. He then took it to the next level this year being named captain of Northern Knights, featuring prominently again for Vic Metro. His outstanding performances for Vic Metro culminated in his selection in the Under 18 All-Australian team, alongside the top 3 draftees Harley Reid, Colby McKercher and Jed Walter.

While the elite pathway programs get due kudos for the development of players coming through, recognition also needs to go to the local clubs that nurture the players from a young age. In Will’s case this is Northcote Cougars Junior Football Club - Congratulations. 

Well done to Will, all of Thornbury High School is very proud of you. We look forward to watching your exciting journey in the harbour city of Sydney.

Patrick Sowersby

Sport Coordinator