by Peter Argent
Both members of the Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy in the Silver City, defender from the South Broken Hill Roos, Max Roberts, and athletic tall from the West Robins, Harper Bromson, had their first taste of SANFL junior football on the weekend.
They donned the famous Norwood navy and red jumper, playing for the Under-16s in the round five match against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval last Saturday afternoon, April 22.
While this Redlegs side went down to the Roosters by 32 points, 14.15 (99) to 10.7 (67), both the Broken Hill lads didn’t look out of their depth.
Roberts took a game-high 12 marks, to go with 17 disposals, 11 of them kicks and was credited with a tackle, while Bronson was used on a wing and also went into ruck for a period. He collected 10 possessions (four kicks and six handballs), took two marks, one of them contested, along with laying three tackles and winning four hit outs.
Norwood Under-16s head coach, Craig Roberts, said the pair adapted pretty quickly from the slower pace of country football.
“Max [Roberts] comes from more of a traditional football background,” Roberts explained to the Barrier Truth.
“We played him across half back and he took a dozen marks, reading the game well. He needs to work on this kicking efficiency, but that performance was a strong base to work from.
“Harper Bromson is from a basketball heritage and his football acumen is developing. He is already six foot, three inches (191cm) tall, having a strong athletic profile and he covers the ground really well. Other attributes include having good speed for his size and solid skills. There is plenty of upside to his football.
“We are hoping this pair will come down and play four or five games for us over the course of the season.”
Roberts is hoping to give more opportunities to rural footballers from the Silver City, and their country zone on the Eyre Peninsula during the ’23 season.
Locally, the Broken Hill Under-18s competition starts this evening, Wednesday, April 26, with North Bulldogs taking on the South Roos at 6.10pm at Jubilee Oval. The West verses Central Magpies clash will follow at 7.30pm at the same venue.
