Allen Christensen leaps over Chris Knights. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
ALLEN Christensen found out early on about the non-negotiables at Geelong.
A talented local Lara lad playing under Garry "Buddha" Hocking at the Geelong Falcons in 2009, Christensen had everything going for him but a work ethic.
Then he entered "the system" at Geelong, an uncompromising world where non-conformity leads to football's equivalent of a long walk off a short pier.
CATS WARY OF SLOW STARTS
Christensen, 21, or "Bundy" as he's known, realised he had two choices because if he remained a "box player" he wouldn't cut it.
"I remember Buddha saying that to me at the Falcons to not become a box player. I didn't know what he meant until he explained the box was the centre square and that was the only place I was running," said the 177cm midfielder/forward.
"He wanted me to push into the defensive 50 and forward 50 and kick a few more goals. Then I came to Geelong which was the best thing that could have happened to me. Very early on Lingy (captain Cameron Ling) was really strong with me in terms of what was expected.
"Then watching Joel Corey and James Kelly working back hard to help defenders, you really feel bad if you cheat.
"It's the first thing you are taught when you come here. They were hard on me, which was good. It is pretty ingrained in me now. Everyone gets taught the same way and if you don't play that way you'll be out the door, that's the reality of it."
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 16: A Allen Christensen of the Geelong Cats runs with the ball during the round one NAB Cup AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Geelong Cats at Patersons Stadium on February 16, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source:
Christensen was a regular member of Victorian under age teams, the talented son of father Brendan who was a good local Geelong player and mother Helen, who is part of Darwin's Long clan.
He expected to be drafted in 2009, although the placement ranged anywhere between 10 and 50.
Geelong swooped at 40 after the club had already taken Daniel Menzel and Mitch Duncan and before it took Nathan Vardy and Josh Cowan.
Cowan is Christensen's best mate at the club.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Allen Christensen of the Cats celebrates a goal during the round six AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 4, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images) Source:
Garry Hocking has always been a Christensen fan but said it took him a while to understand what was required.
"He was always beautifully skilled and balanced but there was a question on his work ethic around the ground," he said.
"That, and the fact he got a bit fat, would have been the knock on him around draft time. So going to Geelong where he trained alongside Selwood, Ling and Bartel would have been great for him ...
"He was one of those kids who would turn up to training with a cheeky smile and football oozing out of him. He was good at the lip and good at bringing players into the game because he read it so well. He has the X factor, being able to step up and change games in a short period like so many of his Geelong teammates."
The X factor was evident on 2011 Grand Final day on two occasions, one a well documented mark between two Collingwood opponents near the boundary line in the Magpies' attacking zone, the other a contest near the centre.
"That mark, well I was shocked to get the ball, it was a bit of a fluke. My favourite personal bit was winning a loose ball in the middle. I thought 'we have to win this ball' so I ran in and grabbed it then saw Stokesy out of the corner of my eye and handballed it.
"I was so lucky to be part of the team's success in 2011. I will never forget it and it just drives me even harder to have that same success again.
"It really annoys me when people say 'you are only young, you don't realise how lucky you are'. But I do, I know exactly how lucky I am to be part of such a great team."
Away from football he has developed a passion for throughbreds, racing three jumpers with Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston, one of which, Wacheem, races at Ballarat on Sunday.
As a kid Christensen remembers his father racing a grey jumper named Strange Addiction, and he was hooked.
For the past two years he has visited the Warrnambool carnival on his day off and dreams of having a runner in the Grand Annual.
"I'm doing work at Rosemont stud with Anthony Mithen on my day off. One day I would like to train horses but at the moment I'm just dipping my toe in.
"It takes my mind off footy and I just love everything about it. But I can't ride the horses because it says so in my contract."
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