The 14-18 year olds returned to the West Coast Eagles metro Next Generation Academy (NGA) program in huge numbers, with 104 players taking part in the first session for the year.
The players were taken through their 2024 handbook, detailing what’s on the horizon this year as part of the program before heading out to the oval to get straight back into their on-field work.
The boys had twelve weeks away from the program to recharge and build upon their work in 2023, with Academy Manager Chris Brown highlighting the impressive work during the offseason from many returning players.
“You can really see the players that have worked on their craft in the offseason and are looking fit and firing for their first games back in a month’s time,” he said.
“It was great to see some players travelling up from Bunbury for the first session, as well as those in boarding schools who’re originally from the Pilbara and Goldfields regions.
“The huge numbers to start the season blew us away a little bit, it’s great validation that the program is going well and that our players are engaged.”
There are upcoming games pencilled in next month, with the 14’s debuting for the Naitanui Academy in their first match as part of the program and the 15’s to follow a week later in their first match for the year.
With 2024 officially underway for the Juniors and Seniors, the Rookies will have their induction next week, the first session of the continuous program up until November.
These 11-13 year old players will be a combination of new faces in the youngest crop and a mix of new and returning players for the older rookies, all hoping to further their development as they move through the program.
Naitanui Academy 2024 Coaches
Michael Prior
Rohan McHugh
Steve Malaxos
Trey Ruscoe
Jason Gilbee
2023 volunteer coaches with some additional new coaches
High Performance Academy
Led by Manager of Game Development Michael Prior, the High Performance Academy will see a small crop of players continue to put their best foot forward in 2024, as they look to progress further in their footballing journeys.
“We had four of our NGA boys and one of our Father-Son’s training with the AFL players once a week during their offseason,” Prior said.
“It was great to have them immersed in our AFL men’s program, getting to know the players and coaches in a money-can’t-buy experience which will further assist the development of these players as they look to take another leap with their football this year.
“Thanks to the support of General Manager of Football Gavin Bell, Head Coach Adam Simpson and the AFL playing and coaching group, these players got a taste of an elite sporting environment.”
The Next Generation Academy pathway has seen huge success in developing talented footballers with another four additional AFL draftees in 2023 stemming from the Naitanui Academy: Coen Livingstone (West Coast), Lance Collard (St. Kilda), Lawson Humphries (Geelong) and Robert Hanson Jr. (North Melbourne).
This adds to the program’s growing list of alumni who’ve developed from the Naitanui Academy to the High Performance Academy and then eventually moved onto the playing lists of a number of AFL clubs.
