The 11-year-old will attend the final training session in Melbourne on Sunday where he will compete against 49 others to be selected in the final squad of 30.

If successful, he will play in the under-12 national championships in Canberra later this year.

Jennings said he has been playing football since he was six and has learnt from a lot of talented coaches.

“I have played in the Ararat under-13s, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac under-12 team and the Ararat Rats under-14 team,” he said.

“I definitely did not expect to get this far in the tryout process.

“I have learnt a lot of things along the way like looking sideways before I kick it to see if anyone is free and to shepherd more.

“It would be a massive achievement If I can make it.”

Jennings credited Gary Davidson, Shane Allgood, Tim Shea and his father Mick for his development which prepared him for these games.

The Ararat Primary School pupil uses family friend Tom Williamson as someone he wants to emulate with the passionate Blues fan keen to follow the former Rat’s path to the AFL.

Jenning’s father Mick said he was proud of the work that has gone into getting to this stage.

“I am very proud, he has worked hard to get to this stage and he has seen how hard Tom has worked to get to where he is and so he just wants to be like him,” he said.

“We are family friends and Tom has been fantastic in supporting Jim and his aspirations in football.”

Jennings will find out in Sunday if he is successful in qualifying for the final squad.