Young Eagles get picked to play for Canada

Robin McDonald & Justin Oertel have been rewarded for their great form this year and been added to the Canadian National Australian Football Team – Northwind.

Both boys who graduate from grade 12 this month have shown the potential this year that many people in BC have seen over the past 3 years. It has been no coincidence that their BC Footy club – The Burnaby Eagles – have started very strongly this year with both lads having many standout performances.

McDonald – who has grown a few centimetres over the off season – has really shown he now plays both ends of the ground with competence. With some great jobs at Centre Half Back & Full Back on more reputable opponents, McDonald not only has held his own but completely shut out his opponents so they have little influence or were even moved off him. In the past he has been seen leading quickly and marking strongly from Full Forward whilst kicking bags of goals with his dependable kicking skills. He has also been seen playing as a tall midfielder this year.

Oertel – who has got a stack load of courage – is a hard in and under midfielder/backman. You will not see Oertel take a back step on the field with many times this year putting his head and body into packs that most people would not try. His sublime foot skills are also a real feature as shown by the licking of lips of the Eagles forwards when Oertel pumps the footy deep into attack. He has also shown a keenness to kick a few goals this season.

Mark Block – Northwind Coach – expressed his excitement about McDonald & Oertel when he was in BC last week. Block mentioned that these boys were the future of Canadian footy and the start of many young kids coming through the ranks here in BC.

These young Eagles get their first chance to play for Northwind when Canada takes on the USA in Ohio, August 1 and we can be assured they are not just there to make up the numbers!