A MARGARET River football player has won a spot in a state team after he stood out from more than 300 contenders.
Kane LaFontaine, 15, must have impressed judges with his height as well as skills at trials in Bunbury and Perth, as the numbers whittled down to 25 and he was selected to play for the State Schoolboys Western Australian 15s.
The team will battle other states later this month in the grand tournament in Sydney.
According to Sally Zirnis of School Sport WA, it has been more than eight years since a Margaret River student made it to the 15s team.
“I’m pretty stoked to play for my state,” Kane said.
After picking up a footy at the age of five, he has gone on to feature in plenty of local matches with the Augusta-Margaret River Hawks, but this will be a huge step towards his dream of playing in the AFL.
Unsurprisingly, the level of training has also taken a big step up.
“We do training every Monday and we did a camp for three days, which is full on training,” he said.
“It’s taught me how to use the football better instead of just kicking it.”
Kane hoped to do well at the tournament, before trying out again next year for the state 16s, the following year for the 17s, and lastly for the 18s, which is the team the AFL draft is picked from.
With help from his community, Kane has been able to raise the funds needed to reach Sydney and it looks like some of the family will be there to cheer him on as well, including his number-one biggest fan.
“Dad was always a massive footy fanatic,” Kane said. “[He’s] pretty proud.”
His mum, Sandy LaFontaine thanked local businesses and residents for their donations.
