Reece Piper will represent Victoria at the under-12 AFL games in Perth this week. 50166 Picture Kim Cartmell
By Gavin Staindl
KEEP your eyes peeled because although he is only 11 years, Reece Piper could be the next big football prospect to come out of Narre Warren.
After dominating in the Dandenong and District Junior Football League, the Fountain Gate under-12 centre has been selected to represent Victoria in the under-12 national AFL games to be held in Perth this week.
In 2008, Reece led the league in goal kicking – as a midfielder – and took out the league best and fairest as well as the Lindsay Patching award given to the best junior over all DDJFL leagues.
Reece again won the best and fairest and Lindsay Patching award in 2009 after recording 32 votes from a possible 42.
But the most recent accolade to Reece’s name is representing his state.
“I am very excited. I’ll be playing on the wing and I’m just looking forward to playing with the Vic boys and seeing how good they are,” Reece said.
The Kangaroos fan who likes to watch Daniel Wells because of his skill and pace says the reason why he has been so good is because of his mum.
“I have a lot of skill and speed which helps me a lot… I get it (the gene) from my mum,” a humble Reece said.
Reece’s coach Tony Duncan praised Reece for his achievements, saying he can go as far as he wanted to with this football.
“If he keeps his head on his shoulders, he could make the distance,” Duncan said.
“He listens to instructions and is switched on and he is very good at reading the play. He will get tagged and double tagged and he still beats them all,” Duncan said.
Reece will play six other states over the coming week, but says he is just looking “to have fun”.
