Bill Tydd's voice resonates with a maturity that belies his age. This boy among men sounds like a man.
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But at Wolseley Oval on Saturday, the 16-year-old Kangaroo will be back playing with boys when his Roosters meet the Saints in the under-17 grand final.
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It will be the culmination of the biggest season of the year 11 Farrer student's AFL career - one that started with a broken arm, included him making his men's debut, for the Kangaroos, and may end with premiership glory.
The teen's AFL education was fast-tracked this year, and his body did not always welcome it: he was replaced at half-time during his Roos debut, against the Suns in Moree in July, after severely cramping.
It was the first time he had played two games on the one day, having featured in the earlier Roosters-Suns clash.
"That was a bit of a shock to the system," he said.
Still, he said "it was pretty fun to get out there". "I had a shot at goal and it the post. So that was pretty cool."
Tydd played five games for the Roos, in what is his last season as a junior.
He prefers to play up front, but he said the Roos believed that he was "made for half-back".
