Berwick teenager Harry Canning has won a VFL contract with Box Hill.
The key-position player signed with the club last week as an injury-replacement player, having been with the club as a train-on player this season after spending the entire pre-season immersed in the VFL program.
It follows a sustained period of form of local footy, capped off by taking a match-saving mark in Berwick’s upset win against Doncaster East two weeks ago.
Box Hill currently sit on top of the VFL table and with plenty of AFL players taking spots in the VFL lineup each week, he is no guarantee of getting a game, but the list spot means he will train with the Hawks full time, rather than splitting his time between the VFL club and Berwick.
“We’ve been super impressed with his attitude first and foremost,” Box Hill coach Zane Littlejohn said.
“It’s not easy to be on the list of an aligned program where there’s so much unknown, let-alone being a train-on where there’s no guarantee at all but his attitude didn’t waiver and he’s always looking to get better and ask for feedback which is awesome.
“Ultimately, the flexibility of his role, allowing him to play at both ends is great and he’s spent time in the ruck as well at Berwick so that flexibility is great.”
While only standing at 189cm, Canning locked down several now AFL-listed tall forwards including Jobe Shanahan, Jonty Faull and Jack Whitlock during his time playing for Gippsland Power in the Coates League.
“He definitely plays taller and he’s a real competitior,” Littlejohn said.
“He jumps at the footy when he’s forward, he’s really hard when he’s behind the ball, he can crash a pack and do all that and he’s eager to learn and get better and he doesn’t use the ball too badly either which is always promising.”
