A GROUP of AFL North Coast’s top juniors are set to be put through their paces over the summer months.

The group of 28 players have committed to a gruelling series of training sessions that will be conducted between October and March, where the focus is on individual development of skills, fitness, and footy IQ.

In addition to the squad training sessions, players will also be given individual running and strength and conditioning programs to complete over the Christmas/New Year period.

The sessions are part of AFL North Coast’s Northern Heat representative program, which comprises the best players from the North Coast and North West regions in Under 15 and Under 17 squads.

Community Football Manager, Paul Taylor, said that the Northern Heat program continued to build its reputation as a way for players to help progress to a higher level of footy.

“We’ve had a great response to the program from players in both the North West and North Coast since it commenced in 2018,” he said.

“Our focus is on preparing players to take the next step within footy, whether that be stepping up an age group, moving into open age footy, or progressing to higher level honours, and we’re already seeing our past players making a significant mark on local footy and further afield.

“This group of the most talented players from across the North Coast and North West are in for a long hot summer of both group training sessions and individual fitness work as we prepare them to take the next step in their footy pathway.”

Once again the Northern Heat program will have a Colts squad (players born 2005 and 2006) and a Futures squad (players born 2007 and 2008) and will conclude with both groups playing a pre-season match on the Gold Coast.

Additional players will be added to the program, with a number of individuals unable to attend the selection trial due to prior commitments, injury, or illness, who will trial at the first training session.

The Northern Heat representative AFL program comprises the best players from the North Coast and North West regions in Under 15 and Under 17 squads.

Players are selected into the program based on their performance at the Northern NSW Challenge.

This off-season program exists to extend the representative pathway for the players of the regions and provide them with a further avenue to build their game ahead of transitioning towards senior footy.

The initial group of 28 players. Colts squad (players born 2005 and 2006): Chad Anderson (Sawtell Toormina Saints) Max Cracknell (Sawtell Toormina Saints) Beau Guthrie (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Diesel Harvey (Glen Innes Celts) Lochlan Jones (Port Macquarie Magpies) Will Kelly (Port Macquarie Magpies) Cooper Marle (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Charlie Martin (Sawtell Toormina Saints) Angus McFarlane (Sawtell Toormina Saints) Oscar McKenzie (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Luke McLennan (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Josh Monaghan (Nambucca Valley Lions) Evan Pitt (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Futures squad (players born 2007 and 2008): Wilson Baade (Nambucca Valley Lions) Riley Bates (Port Macquarie Magpies) Lincoln Chambers (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Tom Gallagher (Port Macquarie Magpies) Freycin Hostettler (Port Macquarie Magpies) Isaac Luke (Port Macquarie Magpies) Shaun McKenna (Glen Innes Celts)

Max Morgan (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Riley Morrissey (Coffs Harbour Breakers) Lincoln Proctor (Port Macquarie Magpies) Cooper Sheldon (Port Macquarie Magpies) Reeve Simmons (Port Macquarie Magpies) Tane Skinner (Sawtell Toormina Saints) Tristan Staines (Sawtell Toormina Saints) Mitchell White (Port Macquarie Magpies).

By Aiden BURGESS