Cobram Football Netball Club’s strong representation at the AFL under-16 National Development Championships continued last weekend, with 15-year-old Riley Thompson kicking off his campaign in fine fashion for GWS Academy.

Despite playing his local football in Victoria, which would ordinarily have seen the young gun line up in the Big V for Vic Country, Thompson ran out in the charcoal and orange, having been tied to Greater Western Sydney this season due to living just across the border in Tocumwal.

In an all-Sydney derby to kick off the championships on Saturday, June 27, Thompson and his GWS teammates ran riot at Corroboree Group Oval in Manuka, Canberra, claiming a 10.16 (76) to 8.7 (55) victory in a perfect opening to the titles.

“It was great to get the win over Sydney, they’re our rivals, so it’s always good beating them,” he said.

“I think there was a stat, we hadn't beaten them for maybe six years (at the championships), so it was a great win.

“My game, I thought I played pretty well, the coaches were pretty rapt, I think, and (that helped) in making the selection for the Gold Coast.”

Lining up on a wing, the Cobram junior showcased his running ability, becoming involved in overlap play moving forward while working hard defensively to shut down any of Sydney’s attacks the other way, and also displaying his high footy IQ and clean ball skills on both sides of the body.

“At Cobram I normally play in the midfield and forward line, but the Giants have been playing me on the wing,” he said.

“I’ve been really enjoying it, actually.

“I have had to change (my natural game) a bit, a lot of structure stuff and holding out of the contest, which has been a bit of a struggle, but I’ve gotten used to it now.

“We get heaps of revision and stuff on how to play, so the coaches always give us that, and that helps me a bit.”

His adaptability to the position proved invaluable in the victory, as Thompson and his GWS teammates finally broke the contest open just prior to three-quarter time, making a small but decisive surge that they capitalised upon effectively in the final term to run out 21-point winners in what was an otherwise hard-fought contest.

He earned a positive review from the coaches, too, who praised his ability to hold his width and remain on the outside of the contest, although they did remind him to use all of his weapons, first and foremost being his speed, with his high intensity and very high intensity running — that’s speeds above 19km/h and 23km/h, respectively — ranking highly among the academy members.

While he has excelled in his first game at the titles, to even earn a spot in the Giants side — effectively the equivalent of a NSW Country team — for the championships has been no mean feat.

Up to 60 boys had trialled in two intra-academy games in Canberra on June 6, with players coming not only from within the Giants Academy, but from right across NSW, as well as some from the Murray Bushrangers and Bendigo Pioneers.

Twenty-three players were then selected to take part in a trial match against Brisbane Lions Academy on June 23, again in Canberra, which Thompson was included in, contributing to a solid 17.12 (114) to 6.10 (46) victory and sealing his spot in the championships side.

On top of the recent trial games, Thompson has travelled to the GWS Academy regional hub to train twice a week throughout the season, making the two-and-a-half-hour trek to Wagga Wagga on a Monday and Wednesday, which has meant leaving school at lunchtime and catching up on school work after training, a massive commitment for a 15-year-old.

Thompson, who also thanked his parents and grandparents for their sacrifices in helping to drive him to all of his football commitments, admitted it had been a bit of a slog to get to this point.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle for me,” he said.

“Leaving school early twice a week, it’s been hard on school work, but I make up for it after and do catch-up work.

“I had to sacrifice a lot of things for it as well, I don’t really go to my club trainings as often now because I’m up there.

“I’m not really mingling with my team as much, and I’ve missed a few games for them as well.”

But the young gun has received plenty of reward for effort, having last week been named in the 23-man GWS squad to travel to the Gold Coast for round two and three of the championships, where he will continue to take on the best under-16 talent in the country, a goal he has had circled since the start of the year.

“I’m looking forward to it heaps,” he said.

“Ever since I started at the Giants this year, that's been my main goal, to go up to the Gold Coast and play.

“I’m thrilled to go up there and play against some pretty good competition.”

Thompson won’t be the only Cobram representative on the Gold Coast, either, with fellow Tiger and close mate Eamon Hyde set to represent Vic Country also.

While the pair won’t play each other given their respective teams are in different pools, Thompson said it was a big thrill to be competing at the same time as each other in the national competition.

“I can't wait to go up there with him and watch him play at a high standard as well,” he said.

“It’s (pretty cool) knowing that we're both in the same competition, really, even if we are (technically) against each other.

“I’ve spoken to him heaps about it, and we’ve actually done a few trainings together, just us two, talking about how excited we are and what we think will happen.”

Thompson will be in action for GWS Academy on Monday, July 13, when his side takes on Tasmania at People First Stadium to kick off the run of Gold Coast games, before the third and final game of the championships on Thursday, July 16, with his team’s opponent still to be confirmed.

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Sunday, 14th March 2032

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