Adam Oxley will join Collingwood best-and-fairest winner Dayne Beams (above) as another Queenslander at the club. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
THE AFL'S rookie draft barely registered on Adam Oxley's radar.
He knew it was looming but if the Redland Bombers utility was to step outside his home last Tuesday it would be for a round of golf, not football matters.
Then his life turned on a phone call from Redland teammate Blake Grewar congratulating him on his recruitment by Australia's biggest football club.
"I thought he wanted a game of golf but it turns out that he was congratulating me," said Oxley who flew to Melbourne last week to begin training with Collingwood.
"I was pretty surprised at the time and it still hasn't sunk in, I guess."
Oxley's selection continues Collingwood recruiter Derek Hine's recent fascination with Queenslanders.
He will join best-and-fairest winner Dayne Beams and Cairns product Peter Yagmoor at the club while former Brisbane Lion, Bulldog and Crow Ben Hudson was also rookie listed.
The 20-year-old modelled himself on Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow, yet if you read between the lines on all his scouting reports, Oxley is a clone of former Brisbane superboot Josh Drummond.
He played most of his junior football at half-forward and grabbed attention for a seven-goal haul earlier this year against Mt Gravatt.
After answering a call to switch to defence, Oxley added another element to his game and Collingwood started calling.
"He played that sweeping role across half-back, playing on some really well credentialled Gold Coast and Brisbane players," Hine said.
"The pleasing thing from our side of things for Adam was there was a real cross-section of players he was playing on.
"He's an elite kick, he's a right footer, so that complements our group in terms of the depth of his kicking and his ability to use the football.
"We see him predominantly playing wing (or) half-back and if he can develop into that role, particularly on a wing, it gives us real power across there with (left-footer) Clinton Young."
The 190cm Oxley played in two national under-18 championships for Queensland but was overlooked in the past two national drafts.
Rather than sulk, he committed to enjoying his football in the NEAFL last season and the results were obvious.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
They make tasty Pies up north
Dengan url
http://sudahterlupakan.blogspot.com/2012/12/they-make-tasty-pies-up-north.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
They make tasty Pies up north
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar