The pressure of performing and impressing at the under-18 National Championships is one of the most stressful times of any aspiring draftee’s season.
Just ask Goulburn Valley League duo Oscar Ryan and Coby James.
On the biggest of stages, up against the best teenagers in the country, who are vying for the same goal as you, it’s a long way from the turf of Deakin Reserve and Mooroopna.
But for James and Ryan, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
When Vic Country takes to the field on Friday night for round five of the under-18 National Championships, the team’s backline will comprise of a quarter of GVL talent.
Ryan, a Shepparton United product, will be joined by good mate James, a Mooroopna junior who is hoping to become the next AFL draftee from the Cattery.
The duo shares a tight bond, not due to its ties at Notre Dame College, but for where its names are tossed on the magnet board.
Both on-ballers-turned-defenders, the Murray Bushrangers’ pair is on a similar path to reach the elite level.
And the two 18-year-olds are sharing it together, one step at a time.
Ryan and James featured heavily for the Talent League outfit in 2022 during their bottom-age years, which has laid the perfect platform for their draft year.
“You sort of gel together, even Browny (Bushrangers coach Mark Brown) notices and always says ‘you two just find each other and kick to each other’,” James said with a laugh.
“We always know where each other are on the field.”
Ryan highlighted a moment from a recent Young Guns representative game where he found trouble from dropping a mark, only to indistinctly find James with a kick.
“I think it works out really well,” Ryan said.
“In the recent Young Guns game we were just passing it back-and-forth, I reckon we would have done it like 10 times in the last quarter.
“It helps, even outside of footy, just talking about things other than footy and we help each other out with stuff and we hang out on the Country camps and we’re good mates.”
Anyone who has watched a minute of AFL football in 2023 has seen first hand the important role of the running defender.
The likes of Jack Sinclair, Nick Daicos and Dan Hueston have turned the position into one of the most important on game day.
With games now dictated with how well teams can rebound off half-back, the two electric talents don’t mind seeing their names in defence.
“Browny said I was going to go into the midfield at the start of the year, but I never got to it. I don’t mind though, I love playing down back, that’s my favourite position,” Ryan said.
“You get so much space, especially if your forward’s not running with you, you can run and get that chain going. It’s a good position to play in right now with the way footy is being played.”
For James, who stands at 176cm, any time he can find a clean runway on the field and turn on the jets is a fun time.
“I just love running off half-back and joining in a chain and linking up with the midfield,” he said.
“If you can shut your player off and not let them kick a goal it’s a win. In the midfield you’ve got to sort of have 20-disposal games to look good, but in the backline if your opponent isn’t kicking a goal you’ve done your job.”
The 2023 campaign has so far delivered both exciting teenagers the chance to showcase their talents to recruiters.
James, vice-captain of the Bushrangers, is averaging 19.3 disposals from eight games while Ryan has impressed with 23.9 from seven hit-outs.
Ryan credited senior players at home club Shepparton United, such as captain Kyle Clarke, who have been in the Bushrangers’ program before for assisting his development.
James praised the input and feedback from Mooroopna coaches Darren Ogier and John Lamont — with the latter constantly asking James’ dad how the young Cat is travelling.
Their efforts in the Talent League had them considered for Vic Country selection, which was rubber stamped earlier this month.
The pair was included in Vic Country’s opening match of the championships against South Australia, a game that caught both talents off-guard.
“It was so much faster, the skill level, the decision-making, everything is quicker, it’s a big step up,” James said.
Ryan agreed with his mate’s sentiments.
“It was hard to get the footy, it’s so fast,” he said.
“If you’re not switched on your opponent will run rings around you and it’s definitely a step up. I loved it though and it’s good to get another opportunity this weekend.”
And that they do with a trip to Perth to take on the Sandgropers.
“They have a few All-Australians, it should be a good game and we need to back-up after our last game to SA,” James said.
“We weren’t playing as a team and we weren’t playing to the best of our abilities. It’s hard, you know everyone’s name and stuff, but you’ve never played with them before, which is why it’s so good to play with Oscar.”
James and Ryan will front up for Victoria Country at 8pm AEST.