Williamstown Football Club ESTABLISHED 1864 - PREMIERS : 1907, 21, 39, 45, 49, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 69, 76, 86, 90 & 2003
WILLIAMSTOWN WESTERN BULLDOGS AUSTRALIA
“The Liam Picken Academy” WFC Development Program
Williamstown Football Club Development Programs Partner
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
The WFC Development Program is a high quality personal development program that provides support to 1 st and 2nd year players aged around 18-21. Young footballers with dreams of being drafted onto an AFL list or inspiring to be involved with elite VFL Club will be given every opportunity to realise their full football potential. Along with an intense football focus, the program will also concentrate on developing the personal attributes of participants to enhance their ability to build an alternative career beyond football.
The Program will also assist in developing Australian Rules footballers and at times young talent from other sporting backgrounds who have been identified as potential talent or possible future AFL draftees. The program will also develop the basic decision-making potential of participants and help to develop other performance deficiencies. The Program will encourage potential talent to maintain a balance between football development and life outside of football. It can also provide an ideal platform for AFL delisted players to continue to train in an elite environment with industry specialists whilst waiting for the upcoming National or Rookie drafts.
The Liam Picken Academy will take a holistic approach to development with players undergoing a Career Oriented Participation induction program with all players graduating with a Certificate 3 in Sport & Recreation. This is the same induction program that all 16 AFL clubs undertake with their first year players. With an emphasis on life and professional development, components of the induction program include financial advice, goal setting, resume writing, time management, cooking lessons and health and wellbeing.
The Williamstown Football Club is excited about witnessing our players flourish within the Liam Picken Academy. We look forward to many more Liam Picken’s making the transition from VFL Reserves to AFL football.
WFC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
“”CORE GROUP – HOLISTIC APPROACH”
STUDY ‘STAR’OR PEER FEEDBACK ‘A’GRADE OPPO SEFLESS/TEAM 1ST PLAYER
CODE OWN GAME & LINE EDITS INTERSTATE TRIPS MECHANICS DYNAMICS
INDIVIDUAL SKILL ALIGNED TO DEVELOPMENT BUSINESSES
FEED COMMUNITY BACK/INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS VISION/ISO/GPS
THE LIAM PICKEN STORY:
The Williamstown Football Club is very proud of Liam Picken and to see him perform at such a high level in AFL ranks for the Western Bulldogs in 2009 and 2010 and then to recently represent Australia against Ireland is truly an outstanding achievement. Not everybody knows of the struggles and setbacks which Liam encountered to reach his current status and his story is a great example to all aspiring footballers. The Williamstown Football Club were privileged to see a young boy with a fierce determination to succeed, finally achieve his dream of playing AFL football.
Liam played a handful of games with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup competition in 2004 and finished that season playing in a Senior grand final for Hamilton against North Gambier in the Western Border Football League. As a young skinny 17 year old Liam kicked 5 goals to spearhead his home town to premiership glory. A Williamstown Football Club scout rang General Manager Brendan Curry to inform him of this young fella’s achievements and to notify him that he planned to move to Melbourne to attend University. A quick phone call followed and Liam Picken left Hamilton the day after his final Year 12 exam to relocate to Melbourne for Williamstown’s pre-season training.
In 2005 Liam played 8 senior games and was also a member of our Reserves Premiership side in that year. From a skinny country kid Liam continued to develop and became a regular senior player in 2006 by playing 12 senior games. In 2007 Liam played 20 senior games and finished 3rd in the Seagulls Senior Best and Fairest and followed up in 2008 by playing 22 senior games and being joint winner of the Best and Fairest (Gerry Callahan Medal) with Captain Brett Johnson. Liam's outstanding season was also recognised when he was selected in the VFL Team of the Year. During 2005 – 2006 Liam played 24 Reserves games as he battled to establish himself as a regular Senior VFL player. At the end of both the 2006 and 2007 seasons Liam was invited to Collingwood pre-season training but in both years was overlooked by the Magpies and all other AFL clubs.
After jointly winning the 2008 Gerry Callahan Medal Liam was invited to train with the Western Bulldogs. The Williamstown Football Club were convinced Liam had what it takes to make an AFL player and even committed to pay $20,000 towards his Rookie Contract. The Western Bulldogs selected Liam as pick number 30 in the Rookie Draft and this was the opportunity he had always dreamt of. Liam debuted for the Western Bulldogs in Round 3 of the 2009 season and was directly opposed to Kangaroos captain Brent Harvey. Liam made an outstanding debut and has quickly become a favourite of his coaches and team mates and Bulldog members. Liam has now played 43 AFL games including 6 finals and he also was awarded the Scott West Most Courageous Award in 2010.
THE ROOKIE COMMITMENT:
The Williamstown Football Club is wholly committed to providing opportunities for young, talented footballers to play at the highest possible level. For the past three years the Club has provided financial backing to the Western Bulldogs Football Club to allow them to draft rookie listed players.
Over the past three years the Western Bulldogs have drafted Liam Picken, Brodie Moles and Patrick Rose as result of our financial support. The Club is committed to this initiative and is excited about the prospect of Liam Picken Academy Graduates joining the Western Bulldogs Football Club.
THE PROGRAM:
Each Academy Inductee will undertake a specific, tailored development program designed to improve on their football deficiencies and to increase their football learning. Our Development Program consists of five main components.
1. Football Education 3. High Performance: “Getting the Understanding the game plan most out of my body” Modern Day football Meeting training standards Trends in football Individual fitness and weights Game sense program – Jesse Campisi Learning from the best Nutrition Advice Constant video review and Body Management analysis Dealing with injuries Seeking feedback Match Day Preparation / Senior mentor program Recovery Situation “walkthroughs” Truths and Myths Feedback and advice from AFL Recruiting Staff 4. Professional and Life Development Certificate 3 in Sport & 2. Skill Acquisition and Development Recreation Identifying strengths + Career Orientated Participation weaknesses Program Goal Setting Goal setting Improving Technique Leadership Continual review and analysis Off Field Assistance One on One tuition Time Management Resume Writing Financial Advice Cooking Classes Respect & Responsibility Dangers of Social Media
5. Being a Seagull: “What it means to play for Williamstown” History of the Club Respecting the Club and Jumper Relationship building with players and staff Transition from TAC Cup / Other Leagues
LIAM PICKEN ACADEMY COACHES:
JUSTIN PLAPP
M: 0411 748 094 E: [email protected]
- Williamstown FC Head Development Coach - Box Hill Development Coach 2010 - Box Hill Development Premiership 2010 - Burnie Dockers Head Coach 2008-2009 - 44 AFL Games with St. Kilda & Richmond
JEREMY BARNARD
M: 0419 533 758 E: [email protected]
- Williamstown FC Senior Midfield Coach - Williamstown FC Development Coach - Sandringham FC Reserves Coach 2009-10 - Strathmore FC Premiership Coach 2005 - 3 times East Perth Premiership Captain
CHRIS DIXON
W: 9391 0309 M: 0430 440 788 E: [email protected]
- Williamstown FC Football Manager - Oversees Liam Picken Academy - Williamstown FC Development Squad Assistant Coach - Heavily involved in player welfare - Assists players with employment, education, professional development and training opportunities