AFL dreams are becoming a reality for Year 11 Rowville Sports Academy student Baxter Sruk, who has officially signed a four-year deal with the Tasmania Devils Football Club. Baxter will head to Tasmania later this year to take the next exciting step in his football journey of playing AFL football.
Darren Bewick, Director of AFL Coaching at the Rowville Sports Academy, shared his excitement about Baxter’s achievement and the dedication that has brought him to this point.
“Baxter’s signing for the Tassie Devils is so exciting, not only for himself and his family but also for the Rowville Sports Academy. He is someone who has fully embraced the AFL program and worked so hard to get to this position.
To see Baxter grow on and off the field from when he entered the program to now being drafted into the AFL system is something he should be very proud of.
He has continued to be the best version of himself each day and has always been very driven to make the most of his talent. He has been, and I’m sure he will continue to be, a great role model and inspiration to all our current and prospective athletes in the AFL program. I’m sure this is just the next step in a very successful AFL career.”
Darren Bewick, Director of AFL Coaching, Rowville Sports Academy.
Getting to Know Baxter
We caught up with Baxter to hear how he’s feeling about this exciting opportunity, what life will look like after signing and how Rowville Sports Academy has helped him pursue his AFL dream.
How are you feeling about heading to Tasmania to play AFL football?
“I’m super excited to be heading down to Tasmania to live out my dream. This is what I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember, so it’s very exciting.
To be going down to Tasmania, which is already such a footy state, makes it even better. There’s just such a buzz around the footy team from the times I’ve been there.”
What does life look like now that you’ve signed?
“I’ll be finishing school as normal this term, and then at the end of November I’ll move down to Tasmania to live with my host family.
Obviously, there’ll be a lot of training and time around the club, but I’ll still get time to do my own stuff as well. It’s good to have a balance between footy and normal day-to-day life.”
How has Rowville Secondary College helped you achieve your dream of playing AFL?
“Rowville Sports Academy, and especially the footy program, have done so much for me. Darren Bewick has been huge for me. He coached my two brothers, who also came through RSA, and we’ve always just got along very well.
He knows what it takes at the next level, so he’s always been on to me about the little things. He gives me feedback whether I like it or not, and that’s what I like. I really think that’s got me to where I am today.
I couldn’t speak highly enough of Darren. Along with Dylan Roberton, who came into the school a bit later in my schooling years, he’s also been a huge driver for me to get to where I am now. I can’t thank them enough for the effort they put into not only my footy but everyone in the program.”
The Next Chapter Begins!
Everyone at Rowville Secondary College is incredibly proud of Baxter and all he has achieved. His dedication, determination and commitment to his football development are a credit to him and the Rowville Sports Academy AFL program.
Congratulations, Baxter! We wish you every success as you embark on this exciting new chapter with the Tasmania Devils. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.
