It’s not often prospective draftees are asked for their autograph before they’ve been picked up by an AFL club, but that’s the situation Australian Institute of Sport AFL Academy scholarship holders Ben Kennedy and Emmanuel Irra faced after training at Max Basheer Reserve on Thursday.
Kennedy and Irra, both 17, have spent the past week at Adelaide as part of their involvement with the AIS AFL program, which provides the best young players in the country with an elite pathway to prepare them for the next step into senior football.
The talented pair only joined in selected football and strength drills early in the week, but was able to complete most of Thursday’s main training session with the team.
They also got to experience another side of AFL life, being asked for their autographs at an informal signing session at the Club’s Junior Fun Day, which coincided with training.
“I don’t think the kids know who we are … but it feels alright,” Irra told afc.com.au after training.
“Hopefully, it is something I could get used to, but I have to work hard out on the track first and all that comes after.”
Glenelg small forward Kennedy and athletic South Adelaide utility Irra were both eligible to be selected in last October’s 17-year-old ‘mini-draft’, where the Crows landed skilful midfielder Brad Crouch and West Australian onballer Jaeger O’Meara joined Gold Coast.
Both players are considered strong candidates to be taken in this year’s bumper national draft, but Kennedy said it was too early to start thinking about joining an AFL club full-time.
“I go to Europe with the AIS squad in March,” Kennedy said.
“After that, hopefully I’ll play state and try to have a good year there and with Glenelg.
“I really just want to enjoy my footy and we’ll see what happens at the end of the year.”
Being drafted by an AFL club would be another chapter in Irra’s already remarkable football journey.
A Ugandan refugee, Irra’s parents took him and his five siblings out of the troubled country to give them a better hope in life.
The impressive athlete couldn’t speak English when he arrived in Australia as an 11-year-old.
Last April, he became the first Ugandan-born player to play SANFL when he made his league debut for the Panthers.
An avid Crows fan, Irra couldn’t wipe the beaming smile off his face when asked about his week at West Lakes.
“It’s been unbelievable,” he said.
“The biggest thing I’ve noticed is just how hard all the boys work.
“They not only train hard, but they have great attention to detail in things like their recovery, diet and even in the gym.
“It’s been an amazing experience.”
