GROWING up with five older siblings, including four brothers, meant Zavier Fowler knew the rough-and-tumble of backyard football battles from a young age.
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The talented 11-year-old used that experience when he trialled for School Sport Victoria.
He impressed, earning a spot on Vic Country's under 12 team.
Coronavirus state border restrictions means the School Sport Australia carnival, originally planned in Adelaide next month, has been replaced with a one-off match against Vic Metro.
But Zavier, a Mortlake College grade six student who plays football for Hampden league club Camperdown, is just happy he has a chance to wear the Big V.
"It's really good fun and you learn new stuff and I have (Port Adelaide footballer) Xavier Duursma's dad as a coach," he said.
Zavier, a Hawthorn fan who has played on the MCG on grand final day, said he'd played football since he started Auskick at five.
"I am good at running and jumping," he said of why he made the team.
Football is a big part of his family.
"I have four brothers who have done it," Zavier, who also plays basketball and cricket, said.
"I like footy because you meet new people and have fun."
"What they (organisers) are trying to do, because they can't get to the carnival, is give them as much of the experience as they can with training," he said.
Jason said Zavier first trialled in Horsham and then had three sessions in Melbourne.
"He was lucky enough to get in - he was pretty surprised," he said.
"He plays mostly midfield and back line with the under 12s at Camperdown but with the (state) trials, I thought it was really well run.
"They played the kids in every part of the ground - they'd play up forward, then midfield and then go to the back line or vice versa.
"They got an opportunity to play in each third of the ground to show how they went."
There will be a jumper presentation on a Friday night before Vic Country plays Vic Metro, most likely on a Sunday afternoon in August.
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Justine McCullagh-Beasy
Sports journalist with an interest in feature reporting. Email: justine.mc@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Sports journalist with an interest in feature reporting. Email: justine.mc@austcommunitymedia.com.au
