LUCAS Ali and Oliver Pike will go from classmates to teammates this August when they represent WA in a national football competition.
The Phoenix Primary School duo are among 23 young footballers selected to play for WA in the upcoming 12 Years and Under School Sport Australia National AFL Championships in Mandurah.
Eleven-year-old Lucas, who plays for the Fremantle City Dockers Junior Football Club but counts Eagle Willie Rioli as his biggest idol, said he loved playing football so much he believed he “was born to play it”.
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READ NOW“I felt very proud of myself (to make the WA team) and was very shocked as well,” he said.
“I think our team will be really good because I have played against a lot of the players in the team and they are really good.
“As long as we try our best we will do great.”
Winnacott Kats JFC member Oliver (11) said he modelled his game on some of the big, hard-hitting midfielders in the AFL; Nat Fyfe, Dustin Martin and Joel Selwood.
“Lucas and I were the first in the history of our school to make the team,” he said.
“I’m really excited to know that I’m going to the championship with Lucas.”
The 12 Years and Under School Sport Australia National AFL Championships is on from August 3 to 10.