The budding Aussie Rules star is taking part in the School Sport Australia Championships in Canberra next week after being selected in the NSW side in May.

To make it into the side, James first had to play at a school level, followed by the Leeton/Narrandera PSSA competition and then he was chosen to play for Riverina. 

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From there the Riverina team went to the NSW PSSA event on the South Coast where he caught the eye of selectors to be named in the state team. 

Fellow Parkview student Tallis McMillan was also selected in the Riverina team. 

NSW will now contest the national championships, along with teams from across the country.  

James is expecting it to be a big week of football after spending a week training in Barooga during the recent school holidays. 

“It’s going to be really tough, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. 

“Everyone is going to be at the same level, it will be pretty hard.”

James typically enjoys playing in the centre half back position and the midfield, but is unsure where he will be positioned with the NSW side. 

Along with his team mates, James has learned all the structures for the upcoming week of footy. 

He said there were many reasons why he enjoyed the sport so much. You just get to play for fun and it’s just a good sport,” James said. 

James also plays at a club level in town with the under 13s Leeton-Whitton Crows and he was selected as the captain for the Riverina side at the NSW PSSA competition. 

It is his dream to one day play professionally. 

“I want to one day play for Carlton when they are a bit better than they are now,” James said. He lists his football idols as Chris Judd, Alex Jesaulenko and Garry Crane. 

James is the third Parkview student to make the state team following in the footsteps of Riley Bradshaw and Ben Dryburgh. 

He has thanked those who bought raffle tickets in the lead up to the competition, as well as his family for their support. 

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