After South Africa's second provincial championships in late September 2009 the talent managers selected two squads to carry the country forward over the next few years. The Inland (North West and Gauteng) and Coastal (KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape) squads feature a mix of the country's best senior and youth talent,
Stewart Edge, an AFL talent expert spending an extended period in-country, said “We were really pleased by the improved standard of play at this year's Nationals and thrilled to announce two squads that will regularly attend intensive weekend camps and play more often against quality opposition”.
Clearly the AFLSA brains trust have identified regular quality matches as a key to advancing their national program. For players not selected, there is hope. “The squads will be fluid with players coming in and out of contention based on two measurable criteria - ability and effort,” said Edge, when speaking to the players at the Nationals. “The three areas you will need to improve on to maintain your place in the squad include physical fitness, skill development and knowledge of the game”.
The first camps will take place in November with both squads set to play the Flying Boomerangs Indigenous Youth team when they tour early next year.