TWO Dubbo Ultimate Frisbee Federation (DUFF) players have been selected in the under 18s NSW team to contest the 2016 Australian Youth Ultimate Championships (AYUC) in June.
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Alex Brouff, 17, and Aidan Shields, 18, were named in the 14-man state squad which will compete at the two-day national tournament in Melbourne on June 11 and 12.
The pair play in DUFF's weekly competition with league team the Floppy Discs and are members of Dubbo's representative team the Meerkats.
Brouff has also represented western NSW at state level and played with club side Manly at the national championships, and said he was excited to make the step up into the state side.
"I'm incredibly excited for youth nats, bonding with the team and getting to play with such a team of outstanding players," Brouff said.
"I performed well [at the tryouts] and displayed my quality and abilities to the coach and selectors. On the first game of the first day it wasn't my best, a few drops and a few wayward throws. But in the second day's game I think I really pulled it back, getting d's [intercepts], assisting goals and getting completions.
"It came as bit of a surprise [but] I felt I'd put in the hours and effort to have solid odds at the position."
Shields was even more excited to be chosen for the side - he's been playing ultimate for a little more than four months.
"The competition and skill level in Sydney was just insane and I thought I had no chance, but there were many skills I could transfer from other sports that helped my chances in getting in the squad," he said.
"When I found out I made the squad, I was absolutely ecstatic because this is the first state representative team I've been selected for."
NSW will head into the tournament as defending champions, but the side has experienced a high level of players turnover since 2015.
But assistant coach Gus MacDonald expects the side will still be competitive, thanks in part to the raw talent of players like Brouff and Shields.
"We still have some very experienced players and a heap of athletic youngsters, so I'm confident that we'll be a strong side and hopefully go deep in the competition," MacDonald said.
"Alex and Aidan both showed real enthusiasm and effort throughout the selection camp, and a high intensity and athleticism are two things you always want in an Ultimate Player.
"They both had a good base of skills (throwing, catching, defensive and offensive principles) and a knowledge of the game which we hope to develop further over our youth nationals campaign."
Dubbo Ultimate Frisbee Federation president Tim Hosking said it was a terrific result for the boys.
"I'm stoked that the two guys made the side but to me it's a real demonstration that what were doing with ultimate in Dubbo is headed in the right direction," Hosking said.
"These are two locally produced players, trained by locals and playing in our league and it's a great sign that they're able to make the state side.
"I think... it'll be great for their own personal development both as players and as fellas... and then they can bring what they've learned back to our community as well."
Hosking said the boys' selection, as well as the success of the Inland Gypsies women's side at last month's division two national championships, was a testament to the development work going on within the Dubbo ultimate community.
He said Dubbo ultimate would benefit from their experience.
"Another important thing that their selection does is demonstrate to young players in ultimate is that there are pathways to higher levels of competition," he said.
"I think we're seeing the results of eight years of concerted effort to grow ultimate in Dubbo and grow the quality of ultimate in Dubbo so it's starting to pay dividends.
"[Ultimate] is not just a metro-centric community anymore and the rise of clubs like Albury, Temora and Dubbo is going to mean great things for the future."