AFL: Initial intake for North West Blue Heelers squad announced

The announcement of the 31 "trailblazers" who will be the first to don the new Blue Heelers identity, follows trials held late last month and early this month with the successful players selected based on the commitment and effort shown.

With the AFL North West club season yet to start, and with a number of clubs in their pre-season infancy, Taylor said the initial response to the development program has been exceptional and provides an extremely strong platform from which to grow.

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"Huge credit to these 31 early adopters who have already shown us they have a thirst for growing as footy players and learning as much as they can," he said.

"We can't fault their commitment or their passion for the game, and these traits will make them leaders within both the Blue Heelers program and their own club teams."

"We're particularly excited by the number of girls that have been included as the interest level amongst 14 to 17 year old girls bodes really well for the upcoming Youth Girls club competition."

The squad includes players from the Tamworth Roosters, New England Nomads, Inverell Saints, Tamworth Kangaroos, Glen Innes Celts, Moree Suns and Gunnedah Bulldogs.

The program is aligned with the Sydney Swans Academy and Taylor said there will be further opportunities for players to join through the scheduled training sessions. Training sessions are held twice a month in multiple locations and players wishing to be considered for inclusion can attend one of these sessions as a selection trial.

Anyone interested in being considered can email Taylor at paul.taylor@afl.com.au.

The Blue Heelers program is not only focused on individual development, it also encompasses the North West representative program.

SQUAD: Dane Cuddihy (under-13 mixed) Tamworth Roosters, Cameron North (under-13 mixed) Tamworth Roosters, Jesse Smith (under-13 mixed) New England Nomads, Emily Ussher (under-13 mixed) New England Nomads, Jock Cullen (under-15) Tamworth Roosters, Ned Hagon (under-15) Tamworth Roosters, Damon Martin (under-15 Inverell Saints), Shaun McKenna (under-15 New England Nomads), Jake Cosgrove (under-17) Tamworth Roosters, Harry Hagon (under-17) Tamworth Roosters, Dusty Hagon (under-17) Tamworth Kangaroos, Diesel Harvey (under-17) Glen Innes Celts, Tom Hyslop (under-17) Tamworth Roosters, Eli Knuckey (under-17) Glen Innes Celts, Flynn Knuckey (under-17) Glen Innes Celts, Mallee Martin (under-17) Inverell Saints, Jacob Tankard (under-17) Tamworth Roosters, Cooper Taveira (under-17) Inverell Saints, Alex Woods (under-17) Glen Innes Celts, Lauren Appleby (youth girls) Moree Suns, Tarryn Bowden (youth girls) Gunnedah Bulldogs, Bronte Davison (youth girls) Moree Suns, Grace Edgecock (youth girls) Tamworth Kangaroos, Amy Sams (youth girls) Gunnedah Bulldogs, Claire Selig (youth girls) Inverell Saints, Ruby Spark (youth girls) Tamworth Kangaroos, Victoria Sullivan (youth girls) Inverell Saints, Isabella Thompson (youth girls) Inverell Saints, Breeana Ward (youth girls) Gunnedah Bulldogs, Jayla Woolaston (youth girls) Gunnedah Bulldogs, Amelia Woolaston (youth girls) Gunnedah Bulldogs.

Training sessions will be held on: