IT ISN'T every day a young football player in the making has the chance to be part of a national championship event.
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However, that is an opportunity young Parkview Public School student Tallis McMillan recently grabbed with both hands.
Tallis has returned from the sporting adventure of a lifetime after recently representing NSW at the School Sport Australia under 12s Australian Football Championship in Mandurah, Western Australia.
Tallis and his NSW side finished sixth overall as part of the championships having won five games and going down in a further five.
The event ran for seven days, with Tallis playing consistent football throughout.
He received high praise from the NSW coach Kate Stevens for his application, ball use and game sense.
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"Tallis had an outstanding carnival," Stevens said.
"He produced some classy performances in the midfield and is an elite decision-maker and ball user."
Tallis played as a utility throughout the carnival and was considered in the best five players for NSW at the event.
Aside from the many hours of game time, Tallis also had the opportunity to visit the new Optus Stadium in Perth for an AFL match during a shared excursion day with students from the Northern Territory, which included a water cruise.
Tallis received the "bluepup" honour as the NSW player of the day on day three of the championships.
He was also given the opportunity to meet former Sydney Swans star and Indigenous Team of the Century member Michael O'Loughlin, whose son was also playing in the NSW team.
"We congratulate Tallis on an outstanding achievement," Parkview Public School principal Travis Irvin said.
"The entire Parkview community is proud of you."
Results
Round robin stage: NSW 1.3.(9) def by SA 8.5.(53), NSW 2.4.(16) def by QLD 8.2.(50), NSW 6.9.(45) d ACT 0.0.(0), NSW 0.2.(2) def by WA 2.1.(13), NSW 2.5.(17) d TAS 1.0.(6), NSW 0.0.(0) def by VIC 6.5.(41), NSW 6.3.(39) d NT 1.0.(6)
Pool stage: NSW 10.13.(73) d NT 0.0.(0), NSW 15.7.(97) d ACT 2.1.(13), NSW 1.10.(16) def by TAS 7.5.(47)
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