West Coast Eagles’ Josh Kennedy presents WA Country Builders AFL scholarship to Geraldton footballer Jack Carroll

Exciting talent Jack Carroll is the WA Country Builders 2018 AFL Scholarship recipient, valued at $5000.

Carroll, a Chapman Valley Football Club product, represented WA at 15s State Schoolboys level last season, before being selected for East Fremantle at the recent WAFL 16s development carnival.

Before being presented his scholarship from West Coast Eagles forward Josh Kennedy last week in Geraldton, Carroll said he was excited about where his football could take him.

“The scholarship is going to help me a lot,” he said.

“It will give me more opportunities to develop and hopefully be doing what Josh is doing one day.”

Carroll was one of several Mid West players who had a solid development carnival with the Sharks and his form has resulted in selection for WA’s under-16s training squad of 38 players.

“I’ve got club footy at the moment but I’ve been invited to the State 16s squad, so I’ll be doing that,” he said.

“Hopefully, later in the season, I’ll get some colts games in at East Freo.”

Kennedy, who is originally from Northampton, is passionate about mentoring young country footballers and was delighted for Carroll’s achievement.

“It’s pretty hard being from the country sometimes — with the opportunities that are in Perth which the metro kids get; and to get those for the kids up here,” he said.

“I was lucky enough to be in a position to be able play State football. We never had much when I was a kid and for mum to bring me down every week was pretty taxing on her.

“We were down once during the week and then playing again on the weekends. It is financial stress but also there wasn’t much support I suppose for mentoring and opportunities like that.

“This is the reason why we have got the scholarship and WA Country Builders have been supporting that.

“They’ve been helping grassroots footy, helping youngsters like Jack to get the opportunity to get down to Perth and put themselves in that position to be able to seen by selectors at State and AFL level.”