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Article on Josh - www.afl.com.au
He idolised Paul Kelly as a child but never ventured further into the harbour city than the airport.
He made guest appearances on Channel Nine?s drama McLeod?s Daughters and now he is part of the Swans? future.
Joshua Willoughby was selected at No.16 in the National AFL Draft by Sydney, and although he didn?t have any club favourites, the 17-year-old admitted ?in the back of my mind I had Sydney as a real high preference?.
?It?s unbelievable. On draft day I was just so nervous but to be picked by Sydney I was overwhelmed,? Willoughby said.
?I have never really experienced Sydney before, it?s sort of new territory.
?The football club is going places, like last year was obviously fantastic and Paul Roos especially as coach. I am really looking forward to it.?
The new recruit was a joint winner of the Sheehan Medal in the National AFL Under-16?s, and received AIS-AFL Academy and All-Australia Under-18 honours this year.
Drafted from Glenelg in the SANFL, the forward/midfielder has moved in with Luke Ablett and Scott McGlone in Pagewood (in Sydney?s south) - a far cry from his farming background.
Willoughby?s father has been ?a man on the land all his life?, which led to his other career.
?I have had a couple gigs on McLeod?s Daughters at home.
?My dad works out there with his animal involvement, he works with the horses and cattle and sheep on the show. So if they ever never someone that can ride a horse over a hill as an extra dad calls me up and gets me over there.?
Though the acting experience was fun, he prefers to make his future in football but doesn?t expect too much in the short term.
?I have talked to a lot of people and the first year is all about learning the club, learning the players, learning routine, learning the city and all that stuff.
?If I could play a game next year, if not a couple, I would be over the moon.
?In three years time I would like to sit down and say, ?yeah I have played 40 games at the Swans and I am happy. In ten years time I would like to sit down and say I have played 200 games for the Sydney Swans and have a big grin on my face.?
He idolised Paul Kelly as a child but never ventured further into the harbour city than the airport.
He made guest appearances on Channel Nine?s drama McLeod?s Daughters and now he is part of the Swans? future.
Joshua Willoughby was selected at No.16 in the National AFL Draft by Sydney, and although he didn?t have any club favourites, the 17-year-old admitted ?in the back of my mind I had Sydney as a real high preference?.
?It?s unbelievable. On draft day I was just so nervous but to be picked by Sydney I was overwhelmed,? Willoughby said.
?I have never really experienced Sydney before, it?s sort of new territory.
?The football club is going places, like last year was obviously fantastic and Paul Roos especially as coach. I am really looking forward to it.?
The new recruit was a joint winner of the Sheehan Medal in the National AFL Under-16?s, and received AIS-AFL Academy and All-Australia Under-18 honours this year.
Drafted from Glenelg in the SANFL, the forward/midfielder has moved in with Luke Ablett and Scott McGlone in Pagewood (in Sydney?s south) - a far cry from his farming background.
Willoughby?s father has been ?a man on the land all his life?, which led to his other career.
?I have had a couple gigs on McLeod?s Daughters at home.
?My dad works out there with his animal involvement, he works with the horses and cattle and sheep on the show. So if they ever never someone that can ride a horse over a hill as an extra dad calls me up and gets me over there.?
Though the acting experience was fun, he prefers to make his future in football but doesn?t expect too much in the short term.
?I have talked to a lot of people and the first year is all about learning the club, learning the players, learning routine, learning the city and all that stuff.
?If I could play a game next year, if not a couple, I would be over the moon.
?In three years time I would like to sit down and say, ?yeah I have played 40 games at the Swans and I am happy. In ten years time I would like to sit down and say I have played 200 games for the Sydney Swans and have a big grin on my face.?
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