By JARROD POTTER
EIGHT Dandenong Stingrays made the grade and will pull on the white jersey for Victoria Country in the AFL under-18 national championships.
Clayton McCartney and Billy Hartung earned their second season in the national championships while Zak Jones, Josh Pickess, James Harmes, Daniel Capiron, Tom Lamb and Brady Egan earned their jumpers.
Stingrays region manager Mark Wheeler said it was a shock to get this many players in the championships initial list.
“Bit of a surprise after round one – didn’t think we’d have many in there,” Wheeler said.
“Probably good for them and good for us – don’t know where Vic Country is compared to last year – but we’ll get eight exposed.
“We’re looking forward to exposing the next line of players to top tier football – hopefully the other ones on the fringe – the 13 who made the final cut – get their opportunities if they play good football with us as well.”
Wheeler believes Hartung and McCartney will impress at the championships, with McCartney working towards this point all off-season, wanting to play a superhuman five-from-five carnival matches.
“Clay started his year brilliantly and went after what he wanted,” Wheeler said.
“Wanted to play all five Vic Country games and we tried to wheel it back a bit and get him in the side first.
“He’s kicked multiple goals every game he’s played – gone up the ground when he needs to and into the midfield.”
Dandenong’s captain Nathan Foote is a shock omission from the side, as are in-form forward Nathan Gardiner and midfielder Jordan Bastinac.
“Surprised on a couple that didn’t make it,” Wheeler said.
“Gardiner, Bastinac and Foote made the last cut and were a bit surprised with Nath (Gardiner) – forward who clunks them and needs to learn the game.
A selected squad will travel to Darwin this weekend to face the Northern Territory in the first match of the championships.
