Balmain has forged links with two junior Central Coast clubs - Lake Macquarie and Niagara Park - and could act as springboard for talented teenagers into the AFL.
Born at the start of the year, the academy will offer young players a chance to play in the Sydney competition and train under the club’s new colts coach Tony Kibler, a former coach at the NSW Talented Player Program.
“The Balmain Dockers academy has effectively created a country zone for Balmain,” general manager Adam Coles said.
The academy could also offer rising stars a path into the big leagues with the Fremantle Dockers, and WAFL partner East Fremantle.
“The partnership has a strong focus on junior development in Sydney and we are excited by the resources they have provided us already,” Coles said.
He said there would be “half a dozen or more” young players from the academy playing for Balmain this year.
One of the stars is Niagara Park centre half forward Thomas Head.
The 16-year-old has been awarded an AFL scholarship with the Fremantle Dockers but will play for Balmain this year.
“Fremantle picked me up at end of last year and if I’m good enough I don’t have to go through the draft and go straight into playing for them,” he said.
Growing up in Gosford, Head has been playing the sport for more than 10 years.
“I thought it was an athletic game and I wasn’t into (rugby) league or soccer so I thought I’d try it out,” he said.
