AFL: North Ballarat Rebel signs on with GWS

NORTH Ballarat Rebel midfielder Kurt Aylett is Greater Western Sydney's latest football recruit.The AFL franchise announced yesterday afternoon it had signed the 18-year-old in a four-year deal.Aylett, who hails from New South Wales town Leeton, was secured in GWS' pre-selections, which allows the club to pick 16 promising players from southern New South Wales over the next four years.He was thrilled to already be assured of a spot on an AFL list."It's definitely a very exciting time - I couldn't be happier," Aylett said."It takes a lot of pressure off being drafted and gives you a lot more confidence but there's still so much I want to learn first with the Rebels."You can't just sit back and enjoy the ride."The hard work starts now."The Ballarat Clarendon College boarder is representing NSW/ACT in this season's AFL under-18 national championship.He will join Team GWS two weeks after he has completed his Year 12 studies in time for the club's first pre-season and Victorian Football League debut in 2011.Aylett will continue to play school football with College and TAC Cup with the Rebels this season.Team GWS unveiled Aylett's signing with Murray Bushrangers' midfielder Anthony Miles as the third and fourth southern NSW pre-selection picks.The club has also signed two Northern Territory Thunder youngsters and NRL superstar Israel Folau.Aylett can hardly wait to train alongside the Brisbane Broncos winger."He'll be great. I'm very excited about that," Aylett said."He'll be an icon for the club itself and a great promotion."I'm looking forward to seeing how he trains, because he's already a professional athlete, and how he goes about the game."Aylett moved to Ballarat to study years 11 and 12 at College, which he said was a big challenge that had been worthwhile.Two weeks after his final Year 12 exam he will move to Breakfast Point, near Homebush, and expects the change to not be as daunting.Aylett has already spoken at length to GWS head coach and AFL legend Kevin Sheedy about the club and what to expect.GWS, like the Gold Coast a year before it, will debut in the VFL before stepping up into the AFL in 2012.Aylett said it was a great chance to develop his body for the game.Sheedy was impressed with Aylett's enthusiasm and dedication to the club's campaign."Both Aylett and (Anthony) Miles had the opportunity to enter the draft this year but have elected to be apart of this club from the start - that's a pretty powerful message," Sheedy told www.teamgws.com.au.Rebels regional manager Phil Partington said the Rebels were proud to have Aylett in their TAC Cup program for two seasons.Partington said the Rebels and GWS had worked closely with Aylett and his family before the signing, which was too good an opportunity to pass."He's worked extremely hard the past two years to get to where he needed to and the Rebels and his school will continue his important development," Partington said."He's very level-headed and determined."Congratulations to the boy but at the moment there's still a long way to go ... Kurt knows that. He will not relax."