Two Northam boys have represented Australia in the NAB AFL Under 17 football competition, held in New Zealand last week.
First cousins Sydney Stack and Ian Hill, represented the State in a competition on the Gold Coast earlier in the year and were chosen for their performance, along with 24 others, to compete in the overseas tournament as part of the AFL Academy.
Two other players from Western Australia were also chosen for the team.
Led by AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan and AFL Academy coach Luke Power, the academy played the NZ Hawks national side in a one off game at Westpac Stadium on Monday, April 24.
Sydney Stack said the boys learned professionalism, teamwork and leadership skills from the trip.
“We had meetings with the scouts and AFL crews,” he said.
“We spoke to them about lifestyle and how to live well off field to be the best players we can.”
Ian Hill won the best on ground out of all the players in the New Zealand competition and received a trophy.
The 17-year-old boys currently play for Colts in the Perth Football Club and hope to be draughted in the 2018 AFL.
The local boys attended Northam Senior High School and played on the Federals Football Team.
Proud grandmother Cathy Davis said the pair are role models to local children in the community.
“They both have lovely natures and are a great example for other young people,” she said.
