Noah represents Balranald

The Riverine Grazier received an account from Noah Bodinnar, of his trip to represent Balranald in AFL.

By Noah Bodinnar.

On Tuesday May 21, Mum, Dad and I went to Albury for the NSW PSSA AFL trials.

We got going about 8:00am and then we got there at 1:00pm.

We went to the caravan park and set up. I got changed for footy training and my team was called Polding.

We got to training at 3:00pm.

We played a handball game where whoever had the ball, you had to call their name and they would have to handball it to the loudest person calling their name.

Then we played where we had to kick out of the square to a 40-degree angle then kick straight across to the other person who was there and someone behind to get the handball and kick the goal.

Our first game was against Riverina, premiers for last year. They came out hard and strong and we lost that game.

From that game we learnt to play as a team.

Our second game was at 2:00pm - Sydney East.

The kids in year 3, 4, 5 and 6 from my school watched the game in class, they made signs and Polding badges.

This was pretty special.

They even made up a song. “Polding Polding, Sydney’s gunna lose, Polding Polding, Noah’s from the Roos!”

On Thursday we had a later game at 12 noon against CIS and another game at 3pm against Sydney North.

We lost both of these games, but I played very well in the midfield.

On the last day, I was told I was 25th in the draft for the NSW state team, and I had to go into our last game against CIS and play hard and strong.

That game put me 22nd - into the state team. There were still two games to go, one which was the grand final.

I finished 24th, making the top 25 boys in the NSW state, which I was super proud.

My favourite thing about going to the NSW PSSA AFL championships was making new friends and having a great experience.

I believe I am a better football player after playing with better players and boys from all over NSW.

Noah Bodinnar makes his mark at the championships. Image: Supplied.