Liam Canny chasing AFL dream | junior sport

The 14-year-old has since risen through the ranks of the East Launceston Junior Football Club – where he was under-13s best and fairest last year – and has represented Northern development teams and been named in AFL training academies.

But it doesn’t stop there.

The Scotch Oakburn student is also a keen cricketer, having taken up the sport at the age of 10 to make up the numbers for his brother’s under-15s side.

And he’s made plenty of numbers since, scoring runs aplenty for Launceston to win the club’s under-13s and under-15s batting award in the past two seasons. 

For some multi-sport talents choosing just one sport can be difficult, but Canny has already made up his mind which way he’ll go should talent scouts come knocking. 

“I prefer playing footy over cricket, I just enjoy it more I guess,” he said.

“In footy if you make a mistake you can bring it back and fix it, but in cricket if you get out from a silly mistake you’re out and you can’t do much about it.”

Canny has now spent more than a decade playing football and has no plans to stop soon, nor to settle for anything less than the big stage.

“It’s been a big dream ever since I was little to play AFL.

“I play in the midfield most of the time as ruck-rover… I reckon (I play a bit like) Sam Mitchell, he’s not as fast as everyone else but he goes in hard for the ball.” 

Australia’s former Test captain Ricky Ponting will be guest of honour for The Examiner’s IGA Junior Sports Awards presentation night at Country Club Tasmania on November 1.

The Examiner has made it as easy as possible to nominate candidates for the six categories - male and female individual sportsperson, male and female rising star junior sports team, and service to sport. 

To make a nomination click here.