HE’S been earmarked as a player of the future and Jake Wilson is doing everything to prove his worth.
The Werribee Tigers defender has plenty on his plate this season. Aside from holding down the Victorian Football League’s power forwards, Wilson is participating in AFL Victoria’s VFL Academy and was selected in the VFL squad that took on the West Australian Football League on May 11.
The Vics lost by 17 points, ending a 22-year winning streak, but Wilson, who had 11 touches and three rebound 50s, says he cherished being part of the team.
“It was a great experience playing with some really big names,” he says. “We were disappointed not to get the win because we got ourselves in a good position. But it was really good playing alongside blokes like Sam Pleming who have been around the traps for a long time. I tried to learn as much as I could.”
Wilson has been named among the best players four times in seven matches for the Tigers.
“It’s been a pretty good start to the season personally I suppose,” says Wilson. “As a team we haven’t won as many as we’d like to. Hopefully we can get our structures right and start playing our roles for the team a bit better.”
It’s been a long journey for the 21-year-old. From Portland, he moved to Melbourne at the age of 18 after failing to make the North Ballarat Rebels’ TAC Cup squad.
He spent two years at Williamstown, playing only one senior game, before moving to Werribee, where he has flourished under Scott West.
“He’s been a tremendous coach, I’ve learnt a lot from him,” Wilson says.
The VFL Academy gives the AFL hopeful more experience. Coached by Darren Flanigan, the academy provides development programs for promising young VFL players.
“A fair few blokes have been drafted from it so it’s an eye-opening experience,” Wilson says. “Hopefully I can get a fair bit out of it.”
Werribee, sitting ninth with a 3-4 record, has a bye this weekend ahead of a Foxtel Cup clash against Queanbeyan on Tuesday night.
Wilson says the club’s 89-point win over Coburg restored confidence in the playing group.
“It was a really good win, one we really needed. It gave the guys a bit more confidence and you could see everyone was more upbeat at training during the week.”
