Four Park Ridge AFC juniors were training in the senior leagues

Four Park Ridge AFC juniors were training in the big leagues, hammering home the fact the Pirates can offer youth a pathway toward QAFL, NEAFL and even AFL.

Four Park Ridge AFC juniors were training in the big leagues, hammering home the fact the Pirates can offer youth a pathway toward QAFL, NEAFL and even AFL.

Nathan Colenso, Riley Greene, Anthony Stewart and Zac Griggs were spreading their wings beyond their junior club, with Morningside senior player Colenso doing pre-season training with the Gold Coast Suns.

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Greene, who progressed last season to play with Sherwood, was training with the Southport NEAFL outfit while Anthony Stewart (Morningside) and Zac Biggs (Mt Gravatt) were with respective QAFL clubs after breaking into senior footie last season.

“They all went into the QAFL,’’ said Pirates president Andy Colenso.

Nathan Colenso, right, playing for Morningside in the QAFL. .Pic Mike Batterham

“There would not be too many community clubs that achieved that, if any,’’ he said.

Colenso said the four were hardened by playing against men either last season when Park Ridge were in Division 4, or in 2018 when the Pirates played in Division 2.

“The feedback was they were ready to play senior footie because they were hardened because they had that experience in senior footie,’’ he said.

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Colenso said his son Nathan was training with the Suns’ senior squad two days a week, was with the under 18s each Monday night and then had an all-in sessions with the entire club of a Saturday.

“He is really enjoying that experience.

An outstanding player for Morningside in the QAFL last season, Colenso has returning to the Panthers as a quality fallback option if he misses NEAFL selection with either the Sharks or Redlands. “If the kids are good enough, they will find their right level.’’