BRENDAN LINES
LOXTON North product Jesse Thackeray is knocking on the door of state under 19 selection, after strong performances in West Adelaide’s under 18 side this season.
A part of Loxton North’s 2020 under 18 premiership team, Thackeray was selected in the phase one 52-player SA squad, which will be trimmed to 35 after an internal trial match to be played at Thebarton Oval on July 16.
Thackeray said his achievement came as a bit of a shock, but that he was keen for his first meeting with the squad.
“It will be good to meet the boys and get their perspective and the coach’s perspective of how they want to play the game,” he said.
The 18-year-old will be up against players at the older end of the age bracket, but he said feedback from both West Adelaide and state coach Tim Bamford had been positive.
“My Westies coach Paul Streatfield… identified that the state coach was pretty happy with my clean possession out of clearance at stoppages,” he said.
“I’ll try to make that one of the areas I’ll try and exploit… and show them everything I can do hopefully.”
Described as a “ball magnet” by Riverland academy co-ordinator Tim Jackson, the midfielder has seen plenty of it this season, playing on a midfield and forward rotation with the Bloods.
Thackeray said the support of West Adelaide for its contingent of 11 Riverland-based under 18 players has helped him get to where he wants to be.
“I know all the other Riverland boys will agree that our families are really thankful with the opportunity they give us – training on Tuesday (in Adelaide) then being able to come and train with our local clubs on the Thursday,” he said.
“It’s good we’re able to go down there and train and get the same recognition as the metro boys.”
On Monday, the SA squad had it first familiarisation training run ahead of its intensive program of three training session before the internal trial match.