West Coasts’ Naitanui Academy and Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy game

2020 has been an extremely tough year on football across Australia. The WAFC Kickstart and All Nations prorams did not escape the COVID 19 impacts, with both programs having to be cancelled. As the AFL programs, the National Boomerange and All Nations, were also cancelled the current 2005/06 cohort of boys in the Next Generation Academies missed the opportunity to participate in the talent programs.

Although both the state and national programs were cancelled this season, both AFL clubs continued to run their Next Generation Academies. On Saturday, the West Coast Naitanui Academy and Fremantle Next Generation Academy played a scratch match to thank the boys and families for continued commitment to the Academies and the state and national programs.

Saturday’s scratch match was played as the curtain raiser to the second under 18’s All Star match and was an opportunity for players to come together and participate in an inter academy game and display their talents. The West Australian Football Comission would like to thank both West Coast Eagles Football Club’s Naitanui Academy and the Fremantle Football Club’s Next Generation Academy staff and players for making the day a huge success.

Best players were adjudged by their Academy coaches and presented with match day footballs, congratulations to the following players

West Coast Eagles FC Naitanui Academy – Blake Offer , Jeremy Davis

Fremantle Football Club Next Generation Academy – Jesse Merillo , Terry Patrick