GWS Signings

Sam Darely
15/02/1993
Height 185 cm
Weight 73 kg
Hobart, TAS

A utility midfielder who's performance for Tasmania in the recent under-18s national carnival saw Darley awarded the Hunter-Harrison Medal as the best player in division two and subsequently earned himself selection in the All Australian side.

“It’s a massive honour to be asked to join Team GWS. To play for an AFL club is a dream I’ve had since I was just three years old. It’s surreal that it’s actually happening.”

Tim Golds
06/4/1993
Height 192 cm
Weight 77 kg
Xavier College, Vic

An athletic running half back who was a member of the 2010 AIS/AFL Academy squad. Hailed as a strong leader, Golds was awarded the Ben Mitchell Medal by his fellow AIS-AFL Academy Squad members as the player whose personal qualities on and off the field rated the highest.

"It’s just so exciting, all my life I’ve dreamed of getting drafted by an AFL club and to be given the chance with Team GWS is unbelievable. I’ve seen the talent out there and to be picked in the same boat as some of those players is just such a huge honour."

Josh Bruce

8/6/1992

Height 194cm

Weight 88kg

Eastlake, NSW

A strong marking left footed tall forward and the first signing for GWS from Canberra, Bruce is also the first ever player to graduate onto the club’s AFL list from the inaugural TAC Cup side and recently gained selection in the 2010 NAB AFL Under 18 All-Australian Team.

“Everyone at Team GWS has invested in me and showed a lot of faith. The class of the personnel they have up there is just second to none. I know it’s the right place for me to be to keep developing as a footballer and as a person.”

Kurt Aylett
02/4/1992
Height 190cm
Weight 77kg
Leeton, NSW



An athletic midfielder with an excellent endurance base, Aylett has been a part of the AFL NSW/ACT Talented Player Program since he was 13, playing for the state at both U16 and U18 level.

"I started playing footy when I was ten and it has been my dream since then to make it on to an AFL list. I can’t believe it’s finally happened."
 
 

Anthony Miles
28/2/1992
Height 181cm
Weight 76kg
North Albury, NSW

An Inside midfielder from Howlong near Albury, Miles is hailed as a natural leader having captained both the U16 and U18 NSW/ACT RAMS at the National Carnivals

"This is something I have wanted since the first day I picked up a footy. I can’t believe that now I get to be an example to other kids from Southern NSW. We can show them that this club is a reality now and this is a great opportunity for players from the region to have a real crack at AFL footy."

Sam Schulz
19/9/1992
Height 183cm
Weight 73kg
Culcairn, NSW

Schulz, an explosive midfielder from Culcairn was developed through the AFL (NSW/ACT) Talented Player Pathway and is currently playing with the Murray Bushrangers.

"All I ever wanted to do is play AFL footy so this is really just too good to be true. A month ago I never even thought about meeting people like Kevin Sheedy or Paul Kelly and now I’m going to be working with them, it’s pretty amazing."

Mark Whiley
1/12/1992
Height 188cm
Weight 80kg
Finley, NSW

Whiley is a rebounding defender from Finley, he plays for the Murray Bushrangers and has come through the AFL (NSW/ACT) Talented Player Pathway from the outset.

"In the end I didn’t find the decision pretty easy. I went up there with Mum and Dad and we were really impressed with everyone we met and the club’s set up. I was pretty keen to get on board.
 

Shaun Edwards
13/12/1993
Height 188cm
Weight 79kg
Saint Mary’s, NT


Edwards, a 16 year old from Darwin, played his junior football with St Marys where he wont he won the NTFL's Lew Fatt U13 medal before representing the Thunder at both U16 and U18 level.



"It’s was all so surreal when I signed the contract. It’s such a huge opportunity to be part of history."
 

Curtly Hampton
10/3/1993
Height 187cm
Weight 85kg
Pioneer, NT


Hampton, an AIS-AFL Academy graduate from Alice Springs, has impressed recruiters for a number of years after first playing at under-16 level as a 14-year-old. Hampton plays predominantly forward and through the midfield and this year he demonstrated elite physical testing for speed, agility and endurance.


"This is all only really just starting to sink in now. It’s been my life dream to sign with an AFL club and I have finally got there. I can’t believe it, I’m just really happy."
 

Israel Folau
3/4/1989
Height 195cm
Weight 103kg
Minto, NSW


"My family and my community in Western Sydney are extremely important to me, I know I have much to learn around the tactics of the game, but I am determined, I am a hard worker and know that there is a lot to do but I am determined to succeed as an AFL footballer."