By JARROD POTTER
FOOTBALL takes Aiden Bonar across the state on most weekends but his talent has earned him a bigger honour and a few thousand more kilometres to add to his resume.
Bonar, 15, from Cranbourne West, will represent the School Sport Victoria Australian rules football team when it heads to Sydney to clash for the School Sport Australia under-15 football championship.
The Cranbourne East Secondary College student currently plays for Sorrento in the Frankston and District Junior Football League – which leaves him with a lot of experience after a career spent running around the footy grounds of the Mornington Peninsula ever since he was four-years-old.
“Started when I was four,” Bonar said.
“Started at Crib Point then moved to Langwarrin later on, then a guy from Karingal saw me and I started playing there for a few years, then I moved on to Seaford
“I’ve won two premierships there and all through my career I’ve won three best and fairest.
“I feel as though it’s a better league and I’ve made mates through the past and just stayed down there in the Frankston District league.”
Preferring to function as a versatile player, Bonar is one of the taller players in his age group but loves to spend his time at the bottom of packs and roving half-back to generate carry for his team mates.
Getting the call up for the SSV team was a standout moment in his developing football journey and he hopes to continue his good form as a junior through to the Dandenong Stingrays under-15 development squad that he’s also been selected in.
Bonar wants to improve himself not only as a footballer but also as a leader and wants to work on these aspects in the years leading up to his ultimate junior ambition – playing as a Dandenong Stingray in the TAC Cup competition.
“Probably become more of a leader on the field and just be an all-round player and play in all the different positions the coach wants me to play in,” Bonar said.
“TAC Cup is the big thing for me but I’m just going along with my local footy and all the other stuff on the side is helping me improve as a player.”
The national championships are held in Sydney from 19-26 July.
