By JARROD POTTER
THEY call it the spine.
Full forward, centre-half-forward and ruck are part of the centre spine, but these are decorative positions that tall types take up for their lack of accountability.
But the real strength of the footballing backbone – emphasis on the word back – comes from defence.
Full back and centre-half-back fail to get the glamour of their goal-ward bound team mates up the other end, but as unglamorous as spoiling, tackling and manning-up may be, it’s important to harness and develop at a very young age.
Officer Kangaroos under-9s have found a general to marshal its backline and hold down the fort when the going gets tough – he controlled proceedings at the Little Demons Day on Sunday.
Alex D’Amelio is a defender’s defender. He’s nothing flashy – substance is a much higher rank than style in his game-play – but the tall backman gets the job done, and then goes off to tick off his next task without question.
He goes back with the flight – not afraid to turn his head to the oncoming forwards.
D’Amelio shrugs off tacklers like they’re nine-pins a-scattering. The key defender can thump the kick-ins out of this world as his Kangaroo super-boot makes his opponents hop for cover.
He can even turn around and kick the crucial goals – with a thunderous kick that goes 10 stories up and 10 leagues down the field.
There is no better way to kick off a brand new season of Little Legend than to highlight a champion of the last line, who his team mates can admire as D’Amelio dominates those who step into his defensive end.
How long have you been playing footy?
Two years
What’s your favourite part of playing footy?
Kicking goals.
What AFL team do you go for?
Geelong.
Who is your favourite AFL player?
Joel Selwood – because he’s our captain and he’s really good at kicking goals.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Football player.
