Up-and-coming footballer Aiden Holland has been award a scholarship as part of the Crows’ Next Generation Academy.

The scholarship, which was developed in 2017 in partnership with the Crows Children’s Foundation, aims to further increase the opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue a career in football.

Originally from Swan Reach, Aiden currently lives in Murray Bridge. The 15-year-old key position player is from the Nganguraku and Peramangk tribe and plays with the Mannum Roos and Sturt Football Club.

Each day he travels to Bowhill where his dad works, gets picked up by bus and travels to Swan Reach Area school to complete his Year 11 studies.

He then has to undertake further travel to attend football training, with his total travel estimated to be somewhere in the vicinity of 1,000 kilometres a week.

Aiden already has quite the football resume, he was selected in the 2016 SANFL Kickstart Indigenous team and the AFL Flying Boomerangs which is the best underage Indigenous players in the country. The program saw Aiden spend time in Cairns, on the Gold Coast and in Fiji.

A huge Eddie Betts fan, Aiden started playing football when he was 10 and has since won two underage Best and Fairest awards in the River Murray Football League.

He was invited to join the Crows Next Generation Academy emerging talent squad in 2016, giving him the opportunity to further his skills and knowledge through an elite football program.

As part of the scholarship, Aiden will receive a financial grant to assist with progressing both education and football opportunities.

“I was excited when I heard I had received it,” he said.

“I’d love to play AFL one day and I’m hoping to improve my tactical knowledge through the Academy.”

Next Generation Academy Coordinator Jarrod Meers said Aiden was a worthy recipient.

“This scholarship is presented annually and is designed to open up pathways for aspiring players and help them to navigate any roadblocks,” Meers said.

“We’re grateful to the Crows Children’s Foundation for assisting us to provide the opportunity to Aiden so he can reach the next level in his football career.”

The Crows Children’s Foundation is supported by Variety – The Children’s Charity.