mmg.com.au

Talented young footballer Jake Marshall is one step closer to his dream of playing AFL after receiving a scholarship through the AFL’s official high performance talent partner, DraftStar.

The 14 year-old, who plays football for the Deniliquin Rams, learnt of his selection after AFL footballer and DraftStar leadership coach Robbie Campbell contacted his mother Jacquie Marshall recently.

‘‘It was really quite a shock,’’ Mrs Marshall said.

‘‘He called up and said that he wanted to inform us that Jake had been chosen for a scholarship with their academy out of around 1500 kids Australia wide.

‘‘They only give four out each year and Jake was lucky enough to be chosen.’’

DraftStar is a nationally run football development program which provides high performance coaching for young athletes aged 11 years and up.

A typical DraftStar camp includes leadership and teamwork activities, football skills training and assessment, fitness testing as conducted at the AFL, match simulation activities, recovery sessions, and special presentations on topics including fitness, nutrition, hydration, motivation, goal-setting and recruitment.

‘‘I’ve been to the camp at Assumption College in Kilmore a few times,’’ Jake said.

‘‘With the scholarship I get free gear, access to AFL games and the chance to meet all the players.

‘‘It also means that DraftStar pay for all of my camp fees.’’

The regular price for a three-day residential camp through DraftStar is $599.

The price includes accommodation and all meals on site at Assumption College valued at $150.

All camp participants also receive access to their own webpage on the DraftStar website where they can view and compare their camp testing results.

DraftStar has access to intellectual property around the AFL Combine brand and its unique player rating system used at the AFL Draft Combine.

All of a participant’s stats and data are recorded and sent to the 18 AFL clubs.

The program’s director of coaching is former Hawthorn footballer Ben Dixon, who is joined on the DraftStar coaching staff by Brett Deledio from Richmond, Cyril Rioli from Hawthorn, Scott Pendlebury from Collingwood and Joel Selwood from Geelong.

‘‘The program provides specialist camps which offer skills and fitness testing that simulates the AFL Draft Combine, and incorporates sessions on leadership, teamwork, motivation, public speaking, and nutrition,’’ Dixon said.

‘‘Together with Brett Deledio, Cyril Rioli, Scott Pendlebury and Joel Selwood, our team of specialists include Richard Douglas from Adelaide, Travis Boak from Port Adelaide, Campbell Brown from Gold Coast, Stephen Hill from Fremantle, Adam Selwood from West Coast, Ryan O’Keefe from Sydney, Jobe Watson from Essendon and Mathew Kreuzer from Carlton.’’