WILLIAM Smythe admits he is still pinching himself following his selection in the Victorian Country under-18 team for the 2019 Australian Junior Championships.
This time last year the now 16-year-old had never been picked in a state team and was playing with the Bendigo Braves under-18 B team.
But following an impressive 12 months the blossoming Braves centre finds himself preparing for a national championships tilt in Townsville from April 13-20.
Smythe is another classic example of when hard work pays off.
The son of Braves junior coach Charlie Smythe, William – or ‘Billy’ – readily recalls being overlooked for selection in the Braves’ under-14 squads when he first tried out.
A season later he won a place in the under-14 C team and has continued to steadily work his way through the grades and age groups en-route to becoming a state player.
“That was where it really kicked off, that under-14 C team,” Smythe said.
“I can say now that I wasn’t that good when I started out, but as the season have gone on I have developed.
“I’m lucky to have had coaches get me to where I am …. I’ve always had goals.”
Smythe credits much of his development from a Braves B to A squad member and now state representative to a switch in position.
“When I was bottom age I didn’t play centre, I played more of a guard position, but I was still fairly tall at six foot three. I’m six foot seven now,” he said.
“That growth spurt has led to a change in where I play.
“But I also hit the stadium pretty hard, putting up a lot of shots, or anything else I could do to get better.
“I have benefited from good advice from one of my coaches Kenny Day, he’s pretty much taken me under his wing and I have learnt so much from him.
“My coaches this year Ben McCauley and Justin Cass have also had a big role in my success, and dad too. He’s always wanted me to succeed and spent a lot of time with me working on my game.”
Smythe is coming off an impressive Bendigo Junior Classic tournament, where he averaged nearly 14 points for a Braves team, which made it to the grand final but was beaten by Ballarat Miners.
His team-mate Dyson Daniels has also been picked in the Victoria Country team, while another Dylan McCauley has been selected as an emergency.
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The Braves will be hoping to turn the tables on Ballarat when the state under-18 championships are contested in Bendigo this weekend.
Smythe, a year 11-12 student at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, plans on making the most of his national championships opportunity.
“Getting to play with and against the best (under-18) players is all you want to do,” he said.
“It will be great having Dyson there – he’s a great player and a good team-mate.
“I have played with him for a couple of seasons and against him a lot.
“It’s going to be a very tough competition, but we will give it our best and should go pretty far in the tournament.”
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