Walcha’s young Australian Rules footballers have earned more accolades for their skills and on-field efforts, this time as part of the Northern Inland Academy of Sport’s annual awards night on Saturday.
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Nicholas Buckland, Morgan Dunn and Brayden Bloomfield were part of the Academy’s squad this year.
After co-captaining the squad for the season, Dunn received the AFL athlete of the year award which put him in the running as a finalist for the Academy’s top gong, male athlete of the year.
He also recorded impressive results in the end of season fitness tests.
He was first in the beep test run, first in agility, tied in top spot for speed over 10 metres and second over 30m.
Dunn also plays with the New England Nomads in Armidale and made his top grade debut earlier this season.
Bloomfield was honoured with the coaches award for the season.
Throughout the 2016-2017 NIAS season, the trio gained further insight into what it was like to be a professional Aussie Rules player.
They had training sessions throughout the region, played a curtain raiser for the Sydney Swans, travelled to Newington College in Sydney and trained with staff from the Swans in Sydney.
The three boys are looking forward to next year’s Northern Inland program as the Swans will be working with the local squad and encouraging players to try out for the Sydney program.