The 12-year-old West Whyalla player will be flying to Melbourne with his team this Saturday, competing until July 26.

Max is the only player selected from Whyalla along with three other country players.

“They’re now sort of looking at country kids more,” Max’s mum Shirley Manners said.

The SA team will be playing against other states at Windy Hill Park, which is AFL’s Essendon Bombers home ground.

To kick-start Max’s trip, he and the other SAPSASA teams will be parading at the MCG on Saturday, where before the Essendon versus Richmond game.

For the past six weeks Max said he had been training in Adelaide every weekend Adelaide with his team.

Max’s older brother Alex was also selected for the same team in 2004.

He also has another older brother, Shaun, who played with Whyalla’s Melbourne AFL star Isaac Weetra.

Shirley said that both Alex and Shaun have been prone to injuries and hoped that Max doesn’t give him-self any while playing in Melbourne.

Max’s favourite Whyalla AFL star is Crows’ player Robert Shirley.

He hoped that one day he can follow his dreams and play AFL for his favourite team, Essendon.

Max and Shirley’s family were thankful to Westies and The Gift Foundation for the support donated to send him to Melbourne.

They also sent out their thanks to the Whyalla City Council for sponsoring Max.