There’s plenty to like about APY Lands youngster Markus Young according to Crows great Andrew McLeod.
Young was a member of the APY Land representative team showcasing their natural talent on the Crows shed floor today as they underwent high performance testing.
The APY Lands and Maralinga Representative teams are in Adelaide this week getting ready for their Rio Challenge Cup curtain raiser match at AAMI this Sunday from 11.10am.
McLeod was watching closely as the squads were put through their paces in the 20metre sprint, beep test and vertical jump.
Young wasn’t a standout in any of the individual tests, unlike a couple of his teammates, but McLeod says he is an outstanding young man and ticks all the boxes.
The 15-year-old defender from Amata is part of the Adelaide Crows/McLeod Beach Energy year 10 Governance and Leadership program.
“He’s well mannered, respectful, willing to have a go, mature, leads by example and has a really good school attendance,” McLeod said.
“He epitomises our program.
“He’s a good footballer too. He’s tough, quick, got great skills and is not scared to get the hard ball.
“He’s one of the youngest in this APY Lands side this year.
“Our programme will give him the opportunity and the tools to make some decisions about his future.
“It will open his eyes to the opportunities available to him.”
One of Young’s mentors in the Governance and Leadership programme is 21-year-old Kieran Roberts who did stand out today scoring 13 in the beep test.
Roberts, from Fregon on the APY Lands is an SANFL trainee and a regular member of the APY Lands rep side.
He is also one of only 80 SACE graduates from the APY Lands.
McLeod says Roberts, who is on the Woodville West Torrens senior list, is paving the way for young lads from the APY Lands.
“He is an outstanding young man and kids like Markus really look up to him,” McLeod said.
Just like they look up to Amos Frank who two years ago starred at the performance testing during the “Rio Challenge” week and went on to be rookie drafted by Hawthorn Football Club.
Frank’s selection by Hawthorn in the 2011 rookie draft made the now 24-year-old the first from the APY Lands to get a crack at AFL footy.
The Adelaide Football Club has had an on-going fostership program with the APY Lands (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands) , 1400kilomtres from Adelaide in the north-west of South Australia since 2008.
Through the Club’s Aboriginal programs, which includes McLeod’s Governance and Leadership program, McLeod Challenge and Future Leaders, the Club is aiming to make a difference to the lifestyle of people living in the APY Lands through football.
In September each year selected Adelaide Crows players spend a week in the Lands, watching the local finals, holding Crows in Schools clinic and talking to the community about health and education. This year the trip will take place between Sept 16 and Sept 19.
