World wide open for young receiver

GABE Bradshaw hasn’t been playing American football for long, but he’s already grabbed the attention of state selectors.

He’ll be lining up with the under 20s team, the Junior Eagles, in May and June after finishing his first season with the Bendigo Dragons Gridiron Club in late 2022.

Bradshaw will be the only central Victorian to head north in mid-May to play against Queensland in an amended national competition.

A weeklong under 20s championship series was originally scheduled for April in Wollongong, however costs proved prohibitive for many junior players and it was cancelled.

The 18-year-old Heathcote local has gone through preseason training with the Dragons over the last two years and first hit the field last September as a wide receiver in the Victorian Gridiron League senior competition.

His short career has already yielded some memorable moments.

“One of them was my first scoring touchdown,” he said. “That was the last home game of the season against the Melton Wolves.”

Bradshaw has previously played basketball for the Heathcote Panthers and was runner up for the Heathcote Football Netball Club’s 2022 under 18 best and fairest award.

But he said he had always wanted to play American football and the Dragons were an obvious choice.

“I’ve loved gridiron since a very young age,” he said. “Bendigo has the closest team and Bendigo is pretty much where I’ve grown up.

“I went to school there and played sports all through Bendigo; it was the no-brainer option.”

Bradshaw is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and said their legendary former quarterback Terry Bradshaw was his all-time favourite player.

He has also been inspired by his on-field encounters closer to home.

“I don’t know very many players names,” he said. “But there have been a couple I’ve played against who’ve been really really good and they had a lot more technique than I did.

“It was kind of a wake up, there’s a long way for me to go.”

Bradshaw is ultimately hoping to head for America on a college football scholarship.

His mother, Fiona Bradshaw, said he had worked hard, and his recent achievements showed his long-term potential.

“It was a big pool he was selected from,” she said. “There were 22 wide receivers invited to trial for the Junior Eagles.

“The world is his oyster now. He’s put in the effort and so far he’s got a strong commitment to the game.

“He’s always had a good work ethic when it comes to everything, but particularly his sport.”

Ms Bradshaw said the Dragons had provided a supportive environment for her son.

“He’s got a strong pool of young men who are positive role models for him,” she said.

“A couple of them have gone out of their way to help him to continue to develop. They don’t have to, but they do because that’s who they are.

“We don’t actually have a junior side in Bendigo, we only have a senior team.

“Gabe has worked hard to stay alive on the field while playing against men, but he’s proved that he can hold his own.

“For him to actually get to this point it’s been to his benefit to have that level of competition.

“He’s the youngest in the team and he was last year’s Dragon of the year which is testament to his attitude on the field and off as far as his volunteerism and support for the club goes.

“I’m super proud of him.”