Darcy Jones.
GWS Giants newcomers Nick Madden and Darcy Jones are touring Coota schools tomorrow to promote sport in the region.
While the team is currently in Canberra, these two footy players will take the time out of the schedules to hop over to Cootamundra and spend some time talking to the kids and keeping grassroots AFL alive.
The boys will be in town at 10am before heading over to Coota Public School from 10:10am to 10:30am.
They will be at E A Southee Public School from 10:50am to 11:10am.
The tour will finish up at Sacred Heart Central School from 11:30am to 11:50am.
Nick Madden is a Riverina local so there is no doubt he will be more than happy to revisit the area he grew up in. Organiser Ben Walsh wants to welcome the boys into Coota.
“They’re young and up and coming players, just recently drafted. This is their first experience within the community promoting the game,” he said.
“It’s all part of their community camp. It’s about getting out and about and promoting the game at the grassroots level.
“[Nick Madden] went to school at Kildare in Wagga and went on to play his junior footy and senior footy with Osborne Football Club, which is in the Hume League, between Wagga and Albury. “He’s only a month into his AFL career, same as Darcy, but it’ll be quite exciting for all the kids being able to see firsthand, someone who’s grown up in the region and is going through this pathway.”
Nick Madden is a ruckman who is a giant already at 204cm and 112kg, he is an ultra-competitive player who is mobile, kicks the ball well and has impressive ruck craft for a player of his age.
Already, Nick has shown he can be an imposing marking target when he pushes forward and has a neat set shot on goal. He was impressive for the GIANTS Academy in the NAB League, averaging 13.8 disposals, four marks, 24.8 hitouts and 1.2 goals across four games.
He was the leading ruckman for the Allies throughout the 2022 NAB AFL National Championships U18 Boys, averaging 14 disposals, three marks and 16 hitouts over the four matches.
Also got a taste of senior football late that year when he made two appearances for the GIANTS in the VFL.
Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso said about Nick, “We feel he was one of the better ruckmen available and given he is an Academy product we’ve invested a lot of time into over the past four to five years, he’s a great project for us.
For the full story make sure to pick up this week’s edition of the Cootamundra Times.