1 August, 2008

The AFL Players’ Association is pleased to announce the Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship recipients for 2008.

Liam Tobin and Michael Hurley, pictured with Mike Fitzpatrick, accepted their scholarships on behalf of all sixteen recipients at the AFL Players' Association's Most Valuable Player Awards night.

Since 2001, the AFL Players’ Association has awarded scholarships to help young footballer’s aged between 15 & 17 in their education & training whilst they are aspiring to an AFL career.

For 2008, sixteen promising young footballers are to receive a Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship, including:

2008 Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship Recipients
Steven May - Southern Districts FC (NT)
Nicholas Price - Caloundra FC (QLD)
Tyson Davis-Neale - EncounterBay/ South Adelaide FC (SA)
Luke Tapscott - North AdelaideFC (SA)
Daniel Gregory - Sturt FC (SA)
Matthew Thompson - Sturt FC (SA)
Alex Carey - Flagstaff/ Glenelg FC (SA)
Luke Breust - Temora FC (NSW)
Dylan McNeil - Lavington Panthers FC (NSW)
Jake Hall - Golden Square/Bendigo Pioneers FC (VIC)
Nicholas Heyne - Orbost Snowy Rovers FC (VIC)
Jack Fitzpatrick - Wyndham Vale FC (VIC)
Ben Cunnington - Cobden FC (VIC)
Liam Tobin - Noble Park FC (VIC)
Michael Hurley - Macleod / Northern Knights FC (VIC)
Daniel Jago - Smithton FC (TAS)

The 2008 Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarships will be formally announced at the 2007 AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player Awards, held Grand Final eve, Friday September 28th, at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt.

ABOUT THE MIKE FITZPATRICK SCHOLARSHIPS
Named after Carlton premiership Captain, businessman and AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, the scholarships recognise Mike's outstanding efforts in combining football & academic excellence.

Since 2001, around $350,000 has been distributed to 73 young players to support their dual academic and football aspirations. Around 60% of scholarship recipients have gone on to be drafted by an AFL club.

The scholarship program has been developed as part of the AFLPA’s ‘Player Development’ services and reinforces the association's commitment to the future player education and welfare of AFL players.

One of the recipients will accept the Scholarships on behalf of all sixteen, at the 2007 AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player Awards on Grand Final Eve at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt.

Some previous Mike Fitzpatrick scholarship recipients include;
Richard Cole (Essendon); Jimmy Bartel (Geelong); Xavier Clarke (St Kilda); Raph Clarke (St Kilda); Ryley Dunn (Fremantle); Beau Waters (West Coast); Ryan Griffin (Western Bulldogs); Cameron Wood (Brisbane); Lance Franklin (Hawthorn); Patrick Ryder (Essendon); Wayde Mills (Brisbane); Marcus Drum (Fremantle); Bachar Houli (Essendon); Leroy Jetta (Essendon); Travis Varcoe (Geelong); Albert Proud (Brisbane) & Joel Selwood (Geelong).