Winmalee’s Nathan Fokes will represent NSW at the national Under-12 Australian Rules Championships in Darwin in August.
The 12-year-old made the state team after impressing selectors at the NSW championships held in Parkes in May. In his second year playing for the Sydney West side, Nathan’s ability to read the game helped him make the next step to state selection.
“I just tried hard and played well,” he said of the tournament.
Teams from 13 regions around the state competed for the Bob Bevan Cup in Parkes, with Sydney West finishing sixth.
Nathan, who goes to Winmalee Public School, plays locally for the Blue Mountains Kangaroos and is a member of the GWS Giants Academy. He counts Geelong’s Joel Selwood and Josh Kelly of the GWS Giants as among his AFL “idols”.