Joyce part of tradition
JESSE Joyce has led the growing contingent of local footballers making their way in to the AFL through the Gold Coast Suns in recent years.
But the young defender says it is the plethora of elite players to have come before him through Palm Beach Currumbin State High who have inspired what the school’s junior football coach Peter Hill describes as a purple patch of talent.
Players like Dayne and Claye Beams, St Kilda grand final player Sam Gilbert and Joel Wilkinson – the first player from the school to make it onto the Suns list – are among the players to come from Palm Beach Currumbin before the arrival of Joyce.
Joyce, who grew up on the southern side of the border at Tweed Heads, said it was the specialised focus on footy at the school that enabled him to reach the AFL.
“It’s basically being treated as an athlete,” Joyce said.
“You’re not just on the field every day. You’re doing education sessions on structures and kicking vision and getting in the gym.
“At that age it’s about the progression in to becoming men, footballing men and developing as athletes.
“It’s just a wide focus on what it takes to become an AFL footballer.
“The professionalism of the coaching staff and the program has taken this school to the next level and that’s probably why they have got sustained success at the top of the school footy program and why we could produce six players in last few years.”
Those six players include Joyce, Max Spencer, Brad Scheer, Brayden Crossley and Jacob Dawson, Jacob Heron.
Palm Beach products Caleb Graham, Dirk Koenen and Cory Beaman are also being touted as potential draftees for 2018.
Palm Beach has become a powerhouse in producing Australian rules talent and has strong links to both the Suns academy and Palm Beach Currumbin Lions AFC, located across the road from the school.
But Palm Beach Currumbin SHS doesn’t have it’s own oval, a situation many schools face.
It’s a major reason why the AFLX has been created and Hill said the new format, played on a rectangle field, would be introduced at the school.
“I’m sure it will filter into our PE (physical education) classes,” Hill said.
“I can see it working really well with girls and women's footy in particular to open the game up and boys at a younger age to make sure to get more touches of the footy.”