World Footy News

As reported in a previous article, Liam Ackland traveled to Adelaide from Auckland to trial in an SANFL Under 18 game for the Glenelg Tigers against the Central Districts Bulldogs on Saturday 25th July.

By all reports he performed quite well – despite the usual limitations of coming from a non playing country. He got a full game, in a game which they only won by four points. Glenelg has said that his best quarter was the last quarter when he got 6 possessions in a tight match.

One interested spectator said “His running ability was fantastic and he was able to get to an enormous amount of contests. His physical work is very good, particularly his tackling, which obviously links into his rugby background”.

Liam stated that Mark Mickan (Senior Coach and ex Brisbane Bears ruckman) encouraged him to go over in November this year and do a full pre season with the Under 18s. This would be with the view to giving him as much of an opportunity at Under 18 level in 2010. Liam and his family are quite keen to explore this option.

Liam turns 18 on the 8th of January so he is eligible for Under 18s next year – and it is a very real possibility that Glenelg could apply to the SANFL to play him the following year as a 19 year old. Two years in a football environment, at Under 18 level is a very good opportunity for Liam and football in NZ.

With PNG's Meli at Essendon and Pirika and Susuve at the Gold Coast, it might soon be time for another AFL Club to take a punt on another of Oceania’s young, talented footballers.