Murray league recruit Fernandez looking to change the game in junior football development

Then came the introduction of state pathway systems, talent leagues and AFL-aligned academies.

Now, it appears the next generation of footballer nurturing and development is on the horizon and a freshly-signed Murray Football League player wants to be at the forefront.

Sebastian Fernandez, fresh off being part of Katandra’s run to the 2024 Picola District Football League grand final, joined Murray league club Mulwala during the off-season.

The midfielder-forward is yet to play any minutes due to a MCL injury.

Fernandez said he couldn’t wait for his Lions debut, which he hoped would be in mid-June.

“I am looking forward to it, it will be a lot of fun, it will be a challenge being at a new club and (having) a résumé and standard that you have to hold yourself to,” Fernandez said.

“What I have noticed so far (since moving from the PDFL) is that the speed has definitely changed; very similar to Melbourne footy, but obviously there is that country element of a crowd, that local support and community-type vibe which you don’t really get as much of in Melbourne.”

Keeping Fernandez busy while he rehabilitates his injury is his business Round1Ready; a regional football development program that he runs solely as his full-time job.

Fernandez acts as a personal coach for roughly 20 aspiring junior footballers aged 14-18.

The 24-year-old unwittingly started the business as a “side hustle” to keep himself busy when the pandemic struck across 2020-21.

“I was coaching in Melbourne, coaching a local junior team down there and during that COVID phase wanted to keep the boys passionate and interested in footy as well as myself,” he said.

“It was a bit like a, 'Come with me for a kick down at the park and we will work on a few things', and I just grew a passion for it and found the love with it.

“I loved working with young players as well because I can relate to them because there is not much of an age gap between me and those boys and girls.

“That was the starting point and then it has just grown.”

Fernandez’s business offers one-on-one, two-on-one and group training as well as a new offering for junior clubs.

“I am looking to bring my skills and advice to coaches and team structures; I understand the game and how it works,” he said.

“(The offer) involves a club or coach getting in contact with me and saying, ‘We want some help with our midfield group or key forwards or rucks or whatnot’.

“They get me down to a training night and I work with those individuals or the team or even just the mindset type of things.

“I have a few clubs in the loop for that at the moment, I want to push that forward and especially in the season because it can be hard with junior players and their training loads and it can be hard to get your one-on-ones and organise them around school.

“I don’t think anyone offers it anywhere.”

Fernandez was involved in high-level junior football pathways while growing up in Melbourne.

He was part of an under-16 Vic Metro squad and featured three times for Coates Talent League side Oakleigh Chargers in 2018.

The young coach also spends his time assisting the under-16 Murray Bushrangers development squad.

As junior football pathways head towards more professional and elite-level training for those hoping to make high-performance squads, Fernandez said he knew the importance of allowing plenty of time to let children be children.

“I like to reiterate the importance of enjoying being a kid, that is a big part of my business, it’s not just football, it’s life and making sure they enjoy it,” he said.

“Being able to relate to the players is a really important asset to have.

“The learning challenge is how can you coach versus a mate-type vibe, for me having that balance is really important.

“Doing the hard work can be fun.”

In terms of the talented footballers among his crew, Fernandez highlighted the likes of Shepparton United young gun Lucas O’Hora and Tatura’s Tanner Miller as ones to watch for the future.

Although based at Mulwala, Fernandez said he planned to put more time and energy into the Shepparton region.

“I just want to grow in the Shepparton area, there is a lot of talent in this pool out here and a lot of hidden talent and that is what I like to find,” he said.

“I like to find the ones that are willing to put in the work, but just aren’t quite there yet.

“On my website Round1Ready.com.au and Round1Fitness that can also be a point of contact as well and see all the programs that we offer.

“I always recommend people to get in contact first before just booking the session, so I can get an idea of what the player wants and what they want to get out of it and how I can assist with that.”

Fernandez is aiming to open his own high-performance academy in time for next pre-season.

To do this, he is changing out his boots and Sherrins for pens and a laptop as he studies a Bachelor of Football at the Australian College of Physical Education and does a Certificate Three and Four in Fitness.

“Hopefully, (we) can expand to be the best regional Victoria football program,” he said.

“What I want it to become is to be an academy-based high-performance program working with players pushing for the draft and pushing for the AFL.

“Ultimately, (my program) is to get players drafted and, if not, then playing the best football they can at any level they set their sights on.”