World Footy News

The Broadview Hawks, along with their brother club North Old Boys St. Patricks College (NOBSPC) of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in Australia, are pleased to announce the introduction of a joint effort player development initiative.

The development program is aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of young Canadian players about the Australian code of football and, likewise, giving a young Australian a chance to travel abroad and experience the great north of Canada. Starting in 2008, one player from each club will be able to nominate themselves to be selected and have the opportunity of a lifetime to play the 2009 football season on the other side of the earth. In addition to this great experience, the selected individuals will receive a return flight plus assistance with accommodation and employment once they arrive in their new surroundings.

After a year playing at the respective clubs, each player will then return to their home club and pass on their experience to help bring these two great clubs closer together.

This is a great opportunity for a young Canadian athlete with a passion for footy to travel to the birthplace of the game and get a first hand taste of football while seeing Australia. The program is designed to challenge the selected individual's skill level against more experienced opponents, and help fast track the development of the player while getting to live and work overseas.

As part of the exchange, the Hawks will have one NOBSPC player come over and join the Hawks line up to share their experience and knowledge and help further the development of the players at the club in Toronto, all whilst experiencing all that Canada has to offer.

Other player placement programs have taken place in Canada before and have worked with great success. The players who have taken part in the program came back to Canada with a greater understanding of the game and have better developed skills; with some of these players currently representing Canada on the national team.

Broadview Hawks currently have five members on the roster who have been involved with either NOBSPC or attended St. Patrick's College. The Hawks look forward to continuing this relationship for many years to come.