Joel Perry-Warren makes Qld side

GYMPIE Junior AFL's resurgence is showing no signs of waning with yet another wave of success breaking on the club.

Joel Perry-Warren will play for the under-12 Queensland schoolboys side. Picture: Renee Pilcher

GYMPIE Junior AFL’s resurgence is showing no signs of waning with yet another wave of success breaking on the club.

Junior player Joel Perry-Warren has been selected in the under-12 schoolboys Queensland representative side to play in national competition in Perth come July.

The best junior players from throughout Australia will be at the event and Perry-Warren believes he is more than ready for the challenge.

Perry’s selection is the first time a junior has been selected in a state schoolboys side since former Cats club player Dean Warren in 1981.

Proud dad Glenn Warren, Dean’s brother, said it was a big moment for the club and something worth celebrating.

“It’s broken a long drought for the club, so it’s a big deal and we are very excited about it,” he said.

The honour to play for Queensland is by far Joel’s biggest representative success to date.

“I played pretty well to get selected, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do at the nationals,” Joel said.

Joel joined fellow players Wade Bliesner and Hayden Tompkins playing for a Country side against Metropolitan West in a bid to be selected.

While Joel was successful, Bliesner and Tompkins enjoyed thumping Metropolitan West convincingly 72-12 despite missing out on a Queensland team berth.

Joel’s modesty shines through when he talks about his performance for Country, but “pretty well” included kicking five goals.

Reaching Dean’s achievement is just the icing on the cake for Joel.

Gympie Junior AFL was highlighted by Queensland AFL last year for its efforts in junior development and the success just keeps on rolling for the club.

Originally published as Joel Perry-Warren makes Qld side