Westminster School rising star Antonio James likened to Port Adelaide premiership player, Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett
He is the college footy star from the Top End likened to Port Adelaide premiership player Byron Pickett. And Antonio James is just one of the many young talents set to shine in The Advertiser’s inaugural live stream of the Messenger Shield.
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He has been likened to Port Adelaide premiership player Byron Pickett and began his career at the same club in Darwin as Crows great Andrew McLeod.
But Westminster rising star Antonio James’ sole focus is on playing team football and supporting his teammates.
Dragons coach Tim Weatherald said the 17-year-old’s skill and strength were comparable to the 2004 Norm Smith Medallist.
“Byron Pickett,” said Weatherald, when asked who James reminds him of.
“AJ is a powerful defender who has explosive speed and a penetrating kick.
“This has enabled him to cut off a lot of the opposition forward movements and then move the ball quickly down to our end of the ground.
“He is a very exciting player to watch, who has a great attitude and just wants to do his best every week.”
James is among the young guns set to showcase their potential in The Advertiser’s live streaming of select Messenger Shield games.
James hails from Mataranka, a small town of 350 people located 420km southeast of Darwin.
He was enjoying the change of lifestyle in Adelaide and the challenge of the city’s premier schools competition.
“Footy and schooling here has been going good,” the Year 11 student said.
“I wanted to move here to get a good education, as well as to try to develop my footy skills.
“It is a bit different to Darwin, training is a lot more full on and how we play footy here in Adelaide is very different.
“The boys in Darwin are small and skilful. But the boys here are big and strong.”
Before featuring in three senior games in the NTFL Premier League last year, James played for NT Thunder’s under-16 side.
He was also named MVP for the Flying Boomerangs – a national Indigenous team – in a two-match exhibition series against a multicultural World Team in 2018.
James cannot be drafted until next year, but is keen to showcase his qualities to AFL recruiters.
“Hopefully one day I can play AFL, but I have a lot of work to do first,” he said.