By JARROD POTTER
PAKENHAM’S Bol Jok is determined to make a name for himself on the football field.
After moving to Australia with his family in 2006 – leaving war-torn South Sudan – Jok, 15, found his way to football a few years later and started honing the skills that would earn him a state representative jumper last month.
Representing the Victorian All Nations team, coached by recently retired AFL player David Rodan, at the AFL Under-15 All Nations Cup was a great honour for Jok and the first time he had travelled within Australia since moving here.
“I felt honoured and very privileged,” Jok said.
“It was very interesting – it was amazing and I’ve never been anywhere out of Victoria yet.”
The Victorians managed to knock off Western Australia by 13 points for the national title and Jok impressed with his high-marking and skilful tap-work in the ruck.
His efforts earned him a place on the World team, coached by former Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides, for the under-16 National Football Championships on the Gold Coast in July.
“Feels quite amazing – same as when I got into the Nations Cup – very privileged as well,” Jok said.
“I want to make a name for myself I guess up there, do the best I can, play my heart out and give it my all.”
Anyone who has watched Pakenham play in the South East Juniors recently has probably seen one of the Jok boys dominate a match – with Bol’s older brother Thomas now on the Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup list and his younger brother Tot earning a Best on Ground medal in the Under-12 Division 3 grand final last year.
Jok wanted to thank David Rodan, Bobby Lee Blay, Xavier and Shaggy and all the boys that were in the Victorian All Nations team.
