Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy members have dominated selection in the NSW/ACT RAMS squad announced for the U18 NAB AFL National Championships.

Twenty-seven Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy members won selection in the thirty-five-man squad, which will enter camp this weekend in Albury, with the first round of the NAB National Championships to be played in early June.

Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy Manager, Lachlan Buszard said he was thrilled with the result, which shows the Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy and NSW/ACT AFL Talent Pathway Programs are strengthening the development of players in the Greater Western Sydney zones.

“I’m very happy and very excited for the twenty seven players chosen. It is the highest level you can play at the U18 level and it’s a credit to the players selected for the hard work they have put in It’s a good opportunity for them now to go and play on the national stage and play against the best young players in Australia and see where they are at and whether they are good enough to play AFL level.”

“I certainly think the development of the NEAFL has enabled young players in Canberra and Western Sydney, of which there are seven or eight, it has enabled them to play a high standard of football which is another thing that has helped them push for selection,” Buszard said.

Whilst Buszard was thrilled with the Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy contingent selected, he is aware of the challenges that still exist in the Greater Western Sydney zones.

“The biggest challenge still is trying to provide the pathway for Western Sydney players and this year we have two players in the squad which is sensational for them.  The challenge going forward is building the talent around Western Sydney, and we hope that later in the year we get three or four players selected in the U16 NSW/ACT RAMS squad from Western Sydney, so that’s the challenge for were we are as a code,” said Buszard.

“We have been quite blessed to have a lot of talent in the Riverina and Murray zones, and the Slater & Gordon Academy has helped develop those players to strengthen these areas as well, and at the same time strengthen the ACT/South Coast and Western Sydney zones, to help them become better footballers and allow these players to compete on the highest level.”

Buszard said the involvement of Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy coach; Ryan Houlihan in the NSW/ACT RAMS coaching staff will be a great asset to those GIANTS players involved.

“Having the same person involved across our program and the Rams program will help with the key messaging and player feedback and development as Ryan knows the players intently. We work very closely with the NSW/ACT coaches and team to help get these players onto AFL lists, be it that of the GIANTS or another AFL club,” said Buszard.

SLATER & GORDON GIANTS Academy Players selected for the U18 NSW/ACT RAMS SIDE

ACT/SOUTH COAST

Jack Baker

Jed Clothier

Liam Flaherty

Lachlan Harper

Sam Jensen

RIVERINA

Jake Barrett

Samuel Clyne

Michael Gibbons

Zac Keogh

Max King

Nick Pleming

Joseph Redfern

Dean Robertson

Caleb Vearing

Zac Williams

MURRAY

Christian Burgess

Jim Grills

Lonnie Hampton

Tom Hargreave

Iain McGillivray

Josh Robinson

Jordan Taylor

Ben Vile

WESTERN SYDNEY

Jackson Dwyer

Stuart Turner

Benjamin Wharton

Craig Moller*

*Craig Moller is a Fremantle Football Club Scholarship Player currently playing with the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL Competition