Sam Colquhoun has been picked up by Port Adelaide in the pre-season draft. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
ALL-AUSTRALIAN defender Sam Colquhoun's weeks of torment came to an end yesterday when he was picked up by Port Adelaide - the club he barracked for as a child - in the AFL pre-season draft.
The Central District player had endured a passage mixed with doubt and effort after missing out at the national draft on the Gold Coast on November 22 and could finally breathe out as he took in the view at his new work place at Alberton.
He had trained with the club for the past fortnight but the niggling doubt at the back of his mind - and the fact that he was never offered any guarantees - meant he had been on tenterhooks since his season ended.
Colquhoun's nervous wait was made worse by his mates in the game being shocked by his non-selection and his own jaw dropping on draft day.
But Colquhoun could afford to have a laugh at it yesterday as he prepared for a future in the game at the highest level, having already decided he would continue with the Bulldogs in the SANFL if he wasn't picked up.
"A few of my mates were pretty shocked and I guess I was pretty surprised (at not being picked up in the national draft)," Colquhoun said.
"But that just made me more determined."
Colquhoun was the Power's only pick in yesterday's pre-season draft.
But the club also took Kane Mitchell of Claremont and Port Adelaide Magpies' Justin Hoskin in the rookie draft.
Colquhoun didn't keep tabs on the pre-season draft, but as his selection was beginning to sink in he began to realise the magnitude of being selected.
Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker
He had tried to shut out the negative thoughts as he was waiting to be informed.
"I suppose I had people in my ear just telling me to keep my head up," Colquhoun said. "I didn't let it get to me too much.
"Pre-season was starting shortly (afterwards) with Central Districts so I just got out there, open-minded, trying to enjoy my footy.
"I had my mates around me.
"I still need to develop my inside game and put a bit of weight on.
"All the boys made me feel really welcome and it is an exciting group to be a part of.
"All I can do now is work on my deficiencies and keep improving as a player so I can fill the team's needs.
"It's just an added bonus, staying home and playing football as a job and playing for a team I've supported for my whole life."
Of the Port players, Colquhoun has been impressed by the senior players, not just for how they play but because of the intensity they bring to their training.
As good as the Bulldogs are, the step-up over the past few weeks had been sharp.
"You definitely notice the way guys like Travis Boak and Kane Cornes train," Colquhoun said. "It'd be great if I could turn out to be a player like that."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Sam Colquhoun joins his dream team
Dengan url
http://astagaberita.blogspot.com/2012/12/sam-colquhoun-joins-his-dream-team.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Sam Colquhoun joins his dream team
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Sam Colquhoun joins his dream team
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar