By JARROD POTTER
WHILE he misses playing for Berwick Junior Football Club with his mates, up-and-coming footballer Oscar Clavarino knows it is what he has to do to progress.
The Berwick dynamo is on the pathway to the peak of junior football – as he’s already in the Haileybury firsts side and also making a wave with the Dandenong Stingrays under-16s.
Add onto those achievements the peak of under-16 football – making the Vic Country National Championships’ side – it means he’ll be away from Arch Brown Reserve for a little bit longer.
It’s a a tough thing for Clavarino to be away from his mates and plying his craft in the South East Juniors, but he knows it’s important to his football to make the transition.
“It was a massive step up from club obviously, as you’re just playing with a few mates, but when you get into Stingrays it’s really good to be a part of that kind of footy,” Clavarino said.
“They (mates at Berwick) understand I might not be able to play many Berwick games with them, but I’m trying to get the best out of myself and they understand that.
“We played in a grand final and it’s always good to create bonds with your mates – winning games and best and fairest there.
“Then moving into the Stingrays squad and I thought that was a really good achievement.”
A tall utility, adept at playing either end of the field, Clavarino is currently clashing against the rest of the country at the under-16 National Championships, on the Gold Coast this week.
“Really exciting, just don’t get this opportunity too many times so to be able to make the squad and get my name out there at an early age is a good feeling,” Clavarino said.
“We want to get the win… we’ve created some good bonds over the last month we’ve been training and play well enough to be happy.”
Clavarino’s under-16s featured in a match on Saturday against Western Australia and one on Tuesday against Vic Metro before the final round-robin clash against South Australia on Friday.
All he wants to get out of himself at the championships is to improve and make it clear to the coaches that he’s always keen to learn.
“Just to keep developing – taking on new things from these coaches that are obviously there for a reason and to be able to learn and be coachable,” Clavarino said.
“I want to keep making these kinds of teams as that’s where you’re going to make the most of your footy career.”
Clavarino wanted to thank his parents and grandparents for watching and supporting him throughout his footy journey so far.
