The Western Jets implement the Elite Player Pathway in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. There are a number of squads and programs run by the Western Jets in order to facilitate delivery of the Elite Player Pathway.
Auskick
Introductory and early skills football development program aimed at primary school children. Conducted on weekends and weeknights throughout the region involving approximately 30 separate centers and approximately 2500 children annually.
Little League
Little League and Grid matches involve children at primary school level and gives them the opportunity to play matches at half time during AFL & VFL matches.
Primary School Clinics
Every school in the region is invited on an annual basis to participate in the QUIT AFL primary school clinic program. AFL players conduct a football clinic of approximately one hour's duration. The Collingwood and Western Bulldogs Football Club's are linked to the Western Region in 2002.
Development Squads
Players are prepared for the Under 18 competition through a series of development squads at the Under 14, Under 15 and Under 16 levels.
Players are normally identified in school, club and/or inter-league representative games as having outstanding potential, and are normally invited to train one night per week with a development squad, while playing matches with their local club.
Development games are played on occasions during the season, which do not normally conflict with club commitments.
The VMFL championships at U/14 and U/15 levels are the first opportunity for players to participate at representative level. Young players identified by the Jets will also participate in a development squad at these age levels.
At the Under 16 level players are invited to "Legend Squads" named after former champion players from the region.
The Western Jets Legends Squads are named after former Footscray greats Ted Whitten and John Schultz. Former Jets graduate and Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson has our U/16 state representative side named in his honor.
The Under 16 squads have similar training regimes to the Under 15's and train one night per week with a series of development games being played throughout the season. Players who do well in these games are often added to the Western Jets training list, and on occasions make the Jets team. This is an important year as players from the under 16's usually form the basis for the Western Jets team for the following year.
Secondary School Football
The Western Region conducts several football activities for secondary schools. These include 4 separate football competitions: Senior (yr 11 - 12), Intermediate (yr 9 - 10) and competitions at year 7 and 8 levels. The region also conducts clinics on request and invites teachers to participate in professional development programs such as the Level 1 and Level 2 AFL Coaching courses.
Last Modified on 10/08/2006 11:08