CASTERTON Sandford footballer, Jedd Rhook, is set to take a big leap in his development, selected in Glenelg’s Under-16 squad for this year.

Rhook, who turned 16 last month, has plied his trade at the Cats, before an Interleague game at Bordertown helped get the midfielder noticed.

The junior Cat has been playing football since Auskick and said he has been involved in football development programs for a while and was excited to step up and be involved with a SANFL club this year.

“I have been doing this footy about two years ago and was going over to Millicent for a start doing Under-15s, like an academy thing,” he said.

“Over the last two years I have gone over to Adelaide for camps and this year I have been picked from Interleague at Bordertown and was picked from there to try out for the (Glenelg Under-16s) team.

“I have been training in Adelaide, there was a few in Penola for country kids for eight weeks, and I went up to Adelaide a couple more times then I got picked in it.”

Rhook was one of about 40 kids from the Kowree Naracoorte, Mid SE and Western Border leagues involved in the tryout process and trained in Adelaide twice last week following his selection in the squad.

Playing predominantly as a midfielder who can float forward, Rhook expects the football to be a lot faster in Adelaide.

The Henty resident models his game on Nick Daicos and Jordan De Goey and is eyeing off improvement in his skills, fitness and the mental side of the game during the 2024 program.

“I am guessing it will be a lot quicker up there, it is a bit more congested down here,” Rhook said.

“Last week I was up there and trained, Tuesday and Thursday night training and I did both of them, but I will just go up every couple of weeks.

“I am keen to get a lot fitter and better by foot and hand and increase my footy smarts as well.”

The Collingwood fan was involved in a trial game before Christmas in Adelaide from which the final squad was selected, with an even amount of country kids, private school kids and public school kids selected.

When he isn’t in the gold and black, Rhook will suit up for the Cats each week.