ALLIE S’ FIRST

BRENDAN RHODES u The northern academies have been maligned by some who don’t understand what they are doing for the game’s development and players in non-traditional markets. where they sometimes held their functions and gatherings.

And while there have been a host of stories of players being plucked from other sports at an early age and turned into AFL players in the past 18 years, in turn releasing more boys from traditional footy states to other clubs – there has never been a collective group as talented as this year.

The book is the only accurate account of the start of Australia’s national game in the country’s largest city and goes on to explore the game’s development in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley District.

It also identifies attempts to start the game in Wollongong in 1878 and 1886 and in Kiama in 1888 and details a game between the NSW towns of Yass and Bookham in 1891.

The Allies – players from NSW-ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and Northern Territory – last week won the AFL National Under-18 Championships for the first time with a perfect 4-0 run and a percentage of almost 175.

Previously having never won more than one match a year, the Mark McVeigh-coached Allies squad featured 23 players from the five northern academies and another four AFL Academy members.

Three potential first-rounders are available to Gold Coast in key forward Jed Walter, midfielder Jake Rogers and ruckman Ethan Read, plus Will Graham, Nick Williams and Leonardo Lombard.

The Swans have four they are excited about in midfielders

A Living Hedge details the representative fixtures NSW was involved in as well as providing venues, crowd numbers, scores and goalkickers.

Included are tales of two interstate tours NSW combined teams embarked upon which were wonderfully described by their participants.

This book also focuses on rugby union, its officials and how it took ahold in areas of Sydney and the country regions of NSW.

Caiden Cleary, Lachlan Cabor, father-son prospect Indhi Kirk and ruckman Caleb May, plus Max Rider and Tye Gander.

The Lions were represented by Sam Marshall, Brad McDonald and Patrick Snell and the Giants had Harvey Thomas, Jack Glanvill, Charlie McCormick and Dayne Posthuma, with many having already tasted VFL action this season.

The Suns also have access to the NT Academy, represented at the championships by Stanley Waistcoat, William Rowlands, Orlando Turner and Clay Shadforth.

Australian Football in Sydney 1877-1895

– A LIVING HEDGE is available from the Society for $60, plus $11.50 postage.

Email admin@nsw footballhistory.com.au

The four clubs can’t take them all, which means opportunities for other teams to benefit from their hard work and investment over the past six years.

When you add the young Tasmanians headed by Colby McKercher, Ryley Sanders and Jack Callinan, it is no surprise the Allies performed so well.