GSFL 2024: Young Albany stars Aiden Clark, Harvey Taylor and Kaleb Germain unlock true potential in flag win

At times this season, dual Great Southern Football League premiers Albany have relied heavily on their crop of young talent, and on the competition’s biggest stage they all stood up. Defender Aiden Clark, wingman Harvey Taylor and forward Kaleb Germain are all rising stars for the Sharks and played crucial roles in Saturday’s premiership victory at Retravision Stadium, despite still being colts-age players. George Bockman is another one of the Sharks exciting teenagers, although he was narrowly overlooked for selection in the decider but has stepped up with match-winning performances in the league this season. Despite having played just a few league games, Clark locked down Lions co-captain and powerful key forward Hamish McMorran in the second half, Taylor ran tirelessly on the wing and Germain booted two enormous goals including one in their blistering last quarter. Having watched last year’s premiership triumph from the sidelines, an elated Clark said he relished the opportunity to play on the big stage alongside two colts teammates and credited the belief coach Jamie Ramm instils in the playing group. “After putting all the work in it feels awesome,” he said. “It‘s great to have all the young boys in there, you get so close to one another and it’s just a great feeling. “We’ve got so many young guns in this team and they’re just growing every year. “I didn’t feel the pressure too much. . . it was just a normal game. “(Ramm) has got heaps of confidence in the players and he lets them play how they want to play and puts them in a role, and they do that role.” Ramm said the young talent emerging at Shark Park is promising for the future and the three players he coached on Saturday were assured beyond their years. “They’re massively important to the future,” Ramm said. “At times I think I’m go in too young, but I do love coaching young kids, because you can really get a lot out of them and I know they’re talented kids but they’ve still got to perform. “A year ago, some of those young men were struggling to compete with the bigger bodies, and then all of a sudden you see Aiden Clark and some of the marks he took, he’s a real talent. “I thought Kaleb Germain was fantastic and Harvey (Taylor) did his job which he always does.”