Fremantle’s WAFL-aligned 12s and 13s program has commenced training in preparation for a two-day carnival to be held in early October.
 
Over 150 boys and community coaches are currently attending Fremantle’s training facility for a four-week training block as part of the South Fremantle zone of the program.
 
Participants have been nominated by their local community Club as players who have ability and will benefit from being involved in a more elite program than what they currently have access to at a community level.
 
The program is run by local community coaches, giving them an opportunity to further develop their coaching skills while delivering the program within their local WAFL zone.
 
In total, there are five WAFL-aligned zones taking part in the program, with hubs in East Fremantle, Claremont, Peel, West Perth and South Fremantle. 
 
Over 700 participants in total have registered for the program which will be divided into around 24 teams that will play across a two-day carnival during the October school holidays.

Paying homage to current and past Fremantle stars, the WAFL 12s boys will be playing for the ‘Michael Walters Shield’ while the 13s will be playing for the ‘Aaron Sandilands Shield’.
 
Fremantle NGA Manager Wade Spilcker said the WAFL program was beneficial for both players and coaches with the opportunities it presents.
 
“It just gives the boys another opportunity further to what they’d get at community football, it’s a little bit ‘next level’ without being too focused on talent,” Spilcker said.
 
“it’s also two-fold as it gives community coaches the opportunity to hone their skills and look at ways that they want to develop if they want to go down the coaching pathway as well.”
 
Spilcker also spoke about how pleased Fremantle have been with the uptake of the program.
 
“It’s been massive, it’s really exceeded our expectations,” Spilcker said.
 
“We were hoping for around 500 participants across the board and we’ve ended up with over 700 which is really exciting.”
 
WAFL 12s/13s Carnival

• Tuesday 4 October (12s) – Michael Walters Cup
• Wednesday 5 October (13s) – Aaron Sandilands Cup