FOURTEEN south-west teenagers have made a TAC Cup list touted as one of Geelong Falcons’ best.
Falcons region manager Michael Turner said the squad, which was announced yesterday, was talent-laden.
“Potentially it’s the best list we’ve had and I have been doing this 19 years,” Turner said.
“The AFL clubs are aware we have a potentially strong draft group.”
Terang Mortlake’s Lewis Taylor, Xavier Lourey, Alex Moloney and Sam Crawley, Kolora-Noorat’s Nick Bourke and Warrnambool’s Will Couch, a boarder at Geelong College, were named in the squad of 51.
Taylor and Bourke shone in their debut seasons with the Falcons in 2012, earning Vic Country honours as bottom-age players.
Lourey and Moloney also played for the Falcons last season, while Crawley and Couch are new to the TAC Cup system.
Colac’s Kody Spokes, Darcy Lang, David O’Sullivan, Jack Williams, Steven Presani, and Tom Rienniets, Birregurra’s Campbell Floyd and Irrewarra-Beeac’s Jack Berry also made the Falcons’ list.
Colac’s Jack Parker and Birregurra’s Lewis Melican were named on the club’s development list.
Turner forecast busy seasons for close friends Taylor and Bourke.
The pair travel to Europe with the AIS-AFL Academy later this month and will aim for back-to-back Vic Country guernseys after playing in the under 18 national championships last year.
Moloney played 11 TAC Cup games last season, while Lourey had an injury-interrupted season and was limited to two appearances.
Turner said both Bloods teenagers had impressed at pre-season training.
“Hopefully they come on as 18-year-olds,” he said.
“Xavier can play wing, forward or back and has a good leap. Alex is better suited to the backline in the TAC Cup.
“Both are likely types.
“Crawley is a good pick up for us. Will is a good get too. He is in our area because of where his mum and dad live.
“He will miss half the season because he is at Geelong Grammar and will have private school football with them.”
