BULLDOG pup Callan Ward topped off an exciting few months by winning the Maribyrnong Leader Senior Sports Star Award last night at Telstra Dome.
The 17-year-old, who lives across the road from Whitten Oval, was picked up by the LeasePlan Western Bulldogs in the NAB AFL Draft last October.
Ward, who has yet to get his driver’s licence, was rapt to receive the award despite missing out on the grand prize of Leader Newspapers Northern-Western Senior Sports Star Award.
“The past few months have been amazing. I was really stoked to be drafted by the Bulldogs as it would mean that I could stay in Footscray, continue my education and be near my family while learning the ropes at an AFL club,” he said.
“West Coast Eagles were pick no.20 and the Bulldogs were no.19 so potentially I could have been going to Perth!”
Ward said his goal for the season is to get a senior game.
“I just want to keep working and training hard and learning lots. I would really like to get a game and then, if I do, try and get a few more,” he said.
When asked by awards host Stephen Quartermain whether any of the senior players had played any pranks on the draftees, Ward admitted there had been a few attempts from his peers.
“The most memorable one was when Jason Akermanis came up to us and introduced himself as “Frank”. All of us were looking at him going “you’re not Frank”, but he was adamant that that was his name, not Jason.”
