When the Australian 15 years and under side lost its opening match af the Junior World Series in New Zealand recently, few could have predicted how the rest of the elite international tournament would have played out.
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Most of all, Dubbo’s Tom Coady.
After a slow start, the Australian side soon found it’s groove and didn’t lose another match on it’s charge to the title.
If the moniker of best in the world wasn’t enough, Coady went on to be named leading run-scorer and Most Valuable Player for his age division.
“It’s extremely special to do this at 15,” Coady said of his efforts.
“Some people spend their whole lives trying to do this.
“I was really excited with how I played but I didn’t think I had any chance (of being named MVP).”
Some people spend their whole lives trying to do this.
- Tom Coady
This marked the second time Coady had played at the World Series, but he said the standard this time was far better.
He added that was one of the reasons his side lost it’s first match to the hosts.
“The standard was higher than I thought it would be based on the last World Cup,” he said, before speaking about the first loss.
“I think we went in expecting to win but then we realised we really needed to fight harder.
“Our team bonded extremely well and we all got on really well. There was a lot of experience and good players.”
Coady wasn’t the only Dubbo player in action in New Zealand, with Anthony Atlee and his Australian 13s side making it all the way to the final before being beaten while Thomas Nelson and the 17s were knocked out in the semi-finals.
Despite of the varying results, each of the three Dubbo players performed well and each created memories which will last long into the future.
“There was lots of pressure. It was so loud and there was so much cheering,” Coady said of playing in the final, before speaking about crowds in general.
“They made it really good and the intensity is really high. There was just so much quick movement on the field as well.”
Coady handled it all extremely well, and he said much of what he achieved was down to the coaching and mentoring of Dubbo trio Greg King, Dan French, and Don Skinner.
Coady is having a break from the indoor scene now as the outdoor version of the game has taken over again.
He will feature in the CYMS RSL-Whitney Cup lineup again this weekend while he is also waiting on the teams to be selected for the looming under 15s State Challenge.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
