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Ford Fairlane
8 Jan 2006, 11:37
I don't think this has been posted. He even won the 3.5k time trial (well, he finished 2nd behind Rischbieth, but that guy obviously belongs in some category by himself). From the tiser.

Even Stevens
By ZAC MILBANK
05jan06

AFTER three years of frustration, Steven Salopek is itching to finally make his imprint on the big league.

Fed up with being looked upon as the promising youngster who will eventually blossom, the No.6 draft pick knows he is long overdue.

"I'm ready to start playing and start making a name for myself in the AFL," Salopek, 20, said yesterday. "I've been looked at like a young kid (with people saying) he'll get his chance but three years down the track and that chance is here.

"I feel that I'm mature enough to take on another role at the moment, I feel great and when the season starts I'll be ready to go."

Regularly one to impress during summer, Salopek again shone by finishing second in Port's 3.5km time-trial at North Adelaide yesterday.

Despite his continual performance in the off-season, the talent-laden midfielder revealed he hadn't been strict enough away from the club.

"I've done everything well, where as probably in previous years I hadn't done everything up to the tee," Salopek admitted.

"Over the break I did everything I could with my individualised program and followed that to the tee."

Due to shoulder and knee injuries and a bout of glandular fever, Salopek has managed just 26 games since his debut in 2003.

Taking short cuts could be contributing to the cause, hence his desire to eradicate any more time in the grandstands.

"Definitely playing 22 games is my ultimate goal (this season)," Salopek, who decided to stay at Alberton last year after signing a new contract, said.

"It's been a part of my game that hasn't been good because I've been injured all of the time.

"All in all, if I do get injured it's probably going to be something that's not that serious."

But for Salopek, transferring his ominous form on the training track into game-time is the first step toward achieving his aim in 2006.

And playing a part in the Power's engine room when they clash with Adelaide in next month's NAB Cup opener is the perfect stepping stone.

"It's massively important, I just want to play as much as I can before the season starts," he said.

"Just to get a feel for the game again, I only played four or five games last year so getting the tempo and the pace of the game again is what I need."

Power21
8 Jan 2006, 13:01
Great to hear, but really its all talk untill trial games etc.

I forget how long his contract is but will be interesting to see if he pulls a stevens when he is about 23 and goes home for the money, although he had the chance last year and stayed loyal so hopefully he rewards the club and himself by playing as well as we know he can.

spice18
8 Jan 2006, 19:32
Great to hear, but really its all talk untill trial games etc.

I forget how long his contract is but will be interesting to see if he pulls a stevens when he is about 23 and goes home for the money, although he had the chance last year and stayed loyal so hopefully he rewards the club and himself by playing as well as we know he can.

His current contract is 2 years till end of 2007. He's a very level headed fellow with a very supportive dad and as far as I know, if the club does fine by him (which is what Port has always done to him thus far), he ain't going anywhere and considers Adelaide his adopted home. I have no doubt if his body holds up this season he will deliver and earn himself a more lucrative new contract at the appropriate time.

Total Power
9 Jan 2006, 03:35
This sounds encouraging

Macca19
9 Jan 2006, 11:25
The fact that it eludes he was taking many shortcuts is very dissapointing. If taht continues he wont ever be anything

portentous
9 Jan 2006, 12:16
groundhog day

*PAF
9 Jan 2006, 14:36
The fact that it eludes he was taking many shortcuts is very dissapointing. If taht continues he wont ever be anything
Yeah, didn't like the sounds of that.
If someone with his ability and opportunity has trouble getting motivated then perhaps he should rethink his career choices.
Unfortunately history shows that many talented players wasted their opportunities because things came too easily too early.

Hopefully what he meant to say was not the way it came across.

Sandola
9 Jan 2006, 14:57
Yeah, didn't like the sounds of that.
If someone with his ability and opportunity has trouble getting motivated then perhaps he should rethink his career choices.
Unfortunately history shows that many talented players wasted their opportunities because things came too easily too early.

Hopefully what he meant to say was not the way it came across.
Yeah, it could be an awkward way of expressing his perfectionism.
We can only hope.

Ford Fairlane
9 Jan 2006, 15:28
The promising thing is he publicly acknowledges he took shortcuts and is now going full on with his program. Looking at the performances across the board last year, you'd have to say he was no orphan when it came to shortcuts, even more disappointingly from players (and probably officials) who should know better. Reports from out of the club sound more encouraging this time this year than last. Still as we know ... proof. pudding. eating ... and all that.

Porthos
9 Jan 2006, 15:31
Have we all forgotten the stories from when he got drafted in which he gave up Choco-esque quotes in most of them? - `I've always been a very coveted player' I believe was one of them.

No big deal, you don't need to be a media superstar to play football.

Port01
9 Jan 2006, 15:58
The promising thing is he publicly acknowledges he took shortcuts and is now going full on with his program.

I said the same thing about uni every year. didn't work that well! its a wait and see thing.