Steinfort receives All Australian honours

GEELONG Falcons defender Tom Steinfort has been named in the All-Australian team for Victoria Country in the under-16 Boys AFL National Development Championships.

Steinfort was named at centre-half back in the side of the best players of the tournament, despite sustaining an injury early in Country’s third and final game.

The backman’s local club is listed as South Melbourne Districts, but because he attends Geelong Grammar School, he is affiliated with the Falcons in the Coates Talent League.

He is also the son of former Geelong and Collingwood midfielder Carl, but his dad only played 65 games for the Cats and 27 for the Pies, meaning he is not father-son eligible.

AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan was impressed by Steinfort’s mobility and strength overhead, despite standing at 194cm.

“(Steinfort is a) tall defender and forward who is mobile and a very strong overhead mark, which he displayed at both ends of the ground before being injured early in the final game against Western Australia,”he said.

“Averaged 13 disposals and 5.5 marks in games against Victoria Metro and South Australia.”

Victoria Country failed to win a game across the tournament, finishing last in Pool A.

Rivals Victoria Metro were undefeated and won Pool A, whilst Tasmania won each game in Pool B by a convincing average margin of 84 points to finish with a percentage of 355.

Steinfort was joined in the under-16 Victoria Country squad by fellow Falcons Archie Blood (St Mary’s), Ted Buchanan (Colac), Nate Mensch (St Mary’s), Charlie Montebello (Torquay) and Kyan Walters (Newtown & Chilwell).