Dual Glenelg SANFL premiership defender Will Gould to train as NFL punter

Dual Glenelg SANFL premiership defender and former Sydney Swan Will Gould has quit football to chase his dream of playing in the NFL, writes Andrew Capel.

Just a month after winning his second SANFL premiership, powerhouse Glenelg defender Will Gould has quit Australian football to chase his American dream as an NFL punter.

The long-kicking, 23-year-old has been accepted into Prokick Australia, which trains gridiron punters and kickers before trying to land them scholarships at US colleges, and will join the program in Melbourne next month.

“I had a kicking trial with Prokick (in Adelaide) last month, went all right and earned the invite to Melbourne, so I’m going to give it a go,’’ said Gould.

“I’ve always been a decent kick so playing college football or in the NFL is something I’ve always thought about.

Dual Glenelg SANFL premiership defender Will Gould practising his long kicking at Glenelg Oval this week in preparation to pursue a career as an NFL punter. Picture: Mark Brake

Will Gould is dreaming big as he chases his American dream as an NFL punter. Picture: Mark Brake

“A good mate of mine, Oscar Chapman, who was a year above me in school (at Prince Alfred College), kicks for the Auburn Tigers in American college football and he suggested I give it a go and now here I am.

“It’s a good opportunity to try a new life experience, so I’ll give it a crack and hopefully things work out okay.’’

Gould, who played four AFL games in four years for the Sydney Swans after being drafted from Glenelg at pick 26 at the 2019 national draft, will spend 12 to 14 months learning the art of punting with Prokick before “hopefully’’ being placed at a US College.

He hopes to combine college punting with a four-year Master of Teaching degree.

Then the NFL might beckon.

“I thought about this possibility when I was 18 but opted to pursue an AFL career, which didn’t quite work out for me,’’ Gould said.

Will Gould (left) celebrates with his Glenelg teammates after winning this year’s SANFL premiership. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

“But the opportunity is here now and the time is right to give it a crack.’’

The 191cm Gould said it would be tough to give football away after playing in premiership teams in his two seasons of league football (2019 and 2024) with Glenelg and also getting a taste of the AFL, although that career didn’t go as planned as he spent most of his time in Sydney stuck in the VFL.

“Giving up footy is hard, so it’s a decision I ummed and aahed about for a fair while,’’ he said.

“Obviously my time in Sydney didn’t quite work out, so I had to ask myself ‘do I really want to uproot again after getting settled back in Adelaide’.

“I’m in a great place at the Glenelg footy club, so winning another one (premiership) was an incentive, and I have a partner (Grace) here, so there was a lot to consider, but at the end of the day it was too big an opportunity to pass up.’’

Will Gould in AFL action for the Sydney Swans against Richmond at Adelaide Oval during Gather Round in 2023. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Superboot Gould regularly roosts a Sherrin 60 metres but admitted most of his practice punts with the gridiron ball had gone “sideways’’.

“I managed to get hold of a couple of long straight ones at the (Prokick) trials but most went sideways,’’ he said.

“The ball’s very different, so it will take a bit of getting used to and a fair bit of practice.’’

Gould follows the Buffalo Bills in the NFL and is a huge fan of Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

He is hoping to follow in the footsteps of other Australians who have found their way to NFL or college football through Prokick Australia, including San Francisco’s Mitch Wishnowsky, Pttsburgh Steelers’ Cameron Johnston, Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Dickson and former Philadelphia Eagle Arryn Siposs, who played 28 AFL games for St Kilda from 2011-14.

Former AFL players Darren Bennett, Ben Graham and Saverio Rocca are other Australians to make it in the NFL as a punter.

Originally published as Dual Glenelg SANFL premiership defender Will Gould to train as NFL punter