Cameron Taheny one of six rising SA stars to showcase their talents on AFL grand final day
HE’S been compared to Collingwood rookie sensation Jaidyn Stephenson and on Saturday Cameron Taheny will grace the same turf at the MCG as some of the nation’s best under-17 talents showcase their wares on the All Stars ‘Futures’ match.
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HE’S been compared to Collingwood rookie sensation Jaidyn Stephenson and today he will grace the same turf at the MCG.
While Rising Star winner Stephenson will have a big role to play in the Magpies’ AFL grand final against West Coast, 17-year-old Norwood and Rostrevor College dynamo Cameron Taheny will be showcasing his immense talent in front of recruiters in the curtain-raiser.
Taheny, who like Stephenson is a livewire medium forward with pace and great skills, is one of six South Australians playing in the AFL All Stars ‘Futures’ match which will feature the nation’s best under-17 talent.
All the players are eligible for next year’s draft.
Taheny will represent Team Bartel, along with fellow Croweaters Will Gould from Glenelg and Karl Finlay from North Adelaide.
The other South Australians — Woodville-West Torrens’ Jackson Mead and Kysaiah Pickett and Norwood’s Dylan Stephens — will represent Team Riewoldt.
Team Bartel will be coached by SA under-18 championship-winning coach Tony Bamford while AFL Academy head coach Luke Power will take charge of Team Riewoldt.
AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan said the match will give AFL recruiters the chance to see how the ace teenagers perform on the big stage against quality opposition.
“This game will give the clubs a great insight into next year’s crop,’’ Sheehan said.
“With trading of future selections now a part of the AFL drafting landscape this game becomes essential viewing for clubs and should be a great spectacle for fans.’’
Taheny, who was born at Wudinna and raised at Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula, said he is excited to be able to play on the big stage and get the chance to push his draft case.
“It will be an unreal feeling to run onto the MCG to play on grand final day,’’ he said.
“There will be a few nerves there because it is a big occasion and all the recruiters will be there but it’s also an opportunity that I am looking forward to. Hopefully I can show them what I can do.’’
A Year 11 student at Rostrevor, Taheny was a bottom-age member of this year’s SA under-18 squad but he did not play a game in the carnival because of the depth of talent that saw the Croweaters win their first title since 2014.
But he starred for Norwood’s under-18s and helped Rostrevor — alongside State captain Luke Valente — beat Sacred Heart in Intercol for the first time in seven years.
The 185cm excitement machine’s outstanding season was recognised by him winning Rostrevor’s First XVIII best and fairest award.
andrew.capel@news.com.au