Sci-Fleet Hino - Copland & Fletcher into QLD U/18 Side
Andrew Thomson
Sam Copland and Will Fletcher join a long list of Sherwood/Western Magpies players who have represented their state when they were named in the Queensland Under 18 team after a series of Queensland Under 18 Academy trial matches over the past few weekends.
Playing for a Brisbane Lions selection against a Gold Coast Suns selection over several weekends both Copland and Fletcher were among the best players for their Lions outfit as they went down narrowly to the Suns in both trial matches.
Will Fletcher has been a Sherwood junior and started to find his feet as a footballer in Under 16s in 2014 and since then has continued to improve as a player. He developed into an attacking half back flanker in 2014 and throughout 2015 he showed good skills and is a smooth mover who is excellent in traffic and does not mind the tough stuff. He is also not afraid to fly for a hanger and plenty of them stick.
He is a home grown junior and was a member of the Magpies undefeated Under 17 Division 1 Premiership team last year. As a December baby he is the youngest in the squad which makes his selection all the more meritorious. He is a young player who has worked hard on his skills which has obviously impressed the Queensland selectors.
Sam Copland is highly regarded at the Western Magpies after playing most of 2015 at QAFL level in the Western Magpies senior team, starting as a 16 year old half forward. Copland joined the Pies from Coolaroo in Toowoomba last year and quickly established himself as an integral part of the Pies forward set up.
He is a 187cm tall spring-heeled jack and can take a big mark and knows where the goals are. He is also good at ground level and he booted 4 goals in a classy display last year against Palm Beach-Currumbin which lifted the Pies to an important away victory.
When available after Under 18 duties are completed Copland will again be an important player for the Pies and Fletcher will also look to break into Senior ranks.
In a new format this year, Queensland will play a Division 2 Carnival in May then a team from Qld/NSW/ACT/Tasmania/NT (The Allies) will be selected to compete with Vic Metro/Vic Country/SA/WA in the NAB Under 18 Championship in June where performances go a long way to gain AFL draft selection.
Queensland fixtures are:
May 8 v NSW/ACT at Blacktown
May 14 v NT at Hobart
May 22 v Tasmania at Carrara
Allies fixtures are:
June 4 v SA at AAMI Stadium
June 18 v WA at Perth
June 24 v Vic Metro at Etihad
June 29 v Vic Country at Geelong