Ford Fairlane
18 Aug 2006, 08:53
Good article in The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/17/1155407955678.html) on Danyle Pearce by Ashley Porter .
Port's magic ingredient
Ashley Porter
August 18, 2006
DANYLE Pearce once had a dream of being a chef, and at the end of his first year of training he had work experience in a hotel kitchen preparing his favourite dish … spaghetti cooked in a smooth, white wine sauce.
Regretfully, not a strand was served to the patrons because he left to go to football training and was subsequently sacked. "You'll never make it," the head chef told Pearce, referring to his football career.
Soon after, Pearce was selected in South Australia's state under-18 basketball squad, but he missed a practice session to play football, so he was cut. "You'll never make it," the basketball coach said.
Today, we can reveal: the cook did it. Pearce, the young pride of Port Adelaide, did make it, and he's running hoops around the best the opposition can dish up. He is averaging 19 possessions a game and now the 20-year-old rookie, who achieved his goal of playing AFL football late last season, is being tagged.
Pearce has made it, all right, but while football has been the beneficiary, it, too, dismissed him — at the 2004 national draft. The credentials were there, and he impressed at the draft camp, but his performances at the national under-18 championship were average.
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With a beaming smile, politeness and the confidence of a player with everything before him, Pearce revealed how during the championship he could not see the ball. He discovered that week he was significantly short-sighted, and has since needed to wear contact lenses to play.
"At the time I didn't see my eyesight affecting me, but when I got the glasses and lenses I really noticed a definite improvement, especially with night training and night games," he said.
Now he is not looking back. The accolades have mounted, and Pearce is among the favourites to win this year's Rising Star award. "It would be nice," he said of the accolade, but in the next breath bemoaned Port's overall disappointing year and his need to strictly focus on helping the team finish on a respectable and strong note. The tone belies his youth and inexperience, but it confirms what we all know: this kid is special.
Yet, for all of his talents, amazing burst of speed, rapidly improving skills and football smarts, it was less than two years ago that Pearce told his mum, Connie, he was going to quit football and live with her in Queensland.
He reached the decision when he was not picked up in the 2004 national draft. Several clubs, and especially the media, told him he would be drafted. He was a stand-out at the draft camp, where he topped the 20-metre sprint, agility run and vertical jump tests. The media rushed him for pre-draft selection interviews, but it was merely 15 minutes of fame.
"I was devastated when I didn't get picked up," Pearce said. "I was happy with my draft camp, and really disappointed with the under-18 carnival, but I still thought I would sneak in there somewhere.
"My first thought was to quit footy. My mum was the first person I called. I said, 'Mum, I'm coming up to live with you … I want to get away from Adelaide, I want to get away from everything and start afresh'. My best mate insisted I join him on schoolies' week at Victor Harbor (on South Australia's south coast), where it was easy to forget about football.
"My dad was supporting me, too, and he was great. He told me to just stick around. I had no idea about the rookie draft until Dad told me, so I stayed around for that. I went to a few draft camps, including one with the Crows, and I had a meeting here with the Power and I was lucky enough to be picked up."
Late last season Port elevated Pearce to the senior list, and he has continued to improve. He likes to think he is a better player because he has been able to draw strength from the disappointing draft experience.
"I got caught up with the media stuff at draft time," Pearce said. "You're told you're going to be picked, and the interviews came. I started to look too far ahead and my mind was messed up. Now I look at things differently; I don't expect things to just happen. When I first came to the club I was relaxed more than I should have been.
"The real turning point was sitting down and having a chat with some of the players, and I was lucky enough to get a chance after that. I talked with Jacob Surjan at the start of this year, and Peter and Shaun Burgoyne have definitely helped me. Shaun is my mentor now and I have learnt so much from him.
"I think the coach (Mark Williams) took note of the fact I wanted to learn, and he gave me a chance. I am grateful for the support and guidance he has given me."
Pearce dreamt of playing in the AFL when he played his first game as a six-year-old with a local club, Fitzroy, and later country club Meningie, Edwardstown and Sturt. He recalled how his schooldays were tough because of racist taunts, and how he got through those ugly moments because of his strict upbringing and his deep devotion to former Essendon champion Michael Long.
"I always loved watching Michael Long play football, not just because he was an Aborigine, but he was good," Pearce said. "I liked the way he moved. I was only a kid then, but I also respected him for standing up to racism and everything he has done for the game.
"As a kid, the racism was there, but a lot changed for the better before I left school. At first if I heard it, I would start fighting, but I learnt to ignore it, and looking back I know I made the right choice in life. That's what Michael Long, my mum and dad, and now Port Adelaide have taught me … it's about making the right choices in life.
"I don't shy away from being Aboriginal. It is something to embrace, and I take it my stride. When you meet other Aboriginal players, you feel the bond. There is respect, and I welcome that. I was more emotional than most when Gavin Wanganeen announced his retirement because he is someone every young Aboriginal player respects."
Pearce has obviously earned the respect of his opponents; he has been tagged every week since mid-season. He says it is something that he genuinely looks forward to because it represents a chance to challenge him. "Last year I was running around doing my own thing getting the ball," Pearce said. "When I was tagged the first time I was shocked. I told the other guy, why follow me mate … go and get a kick.
"Now I know I'm going to have a man on me, and to play well I know I have to beat him one-on-one. It's a mini-challenge."
When Pearce is mentioned as a possible Rising Star winner, he reminds himself of the 2004 draft experience and the need not to get ahead of himself. "I enjoy people saying it only because they are suggesting I am doing a good job, but I don't think too much about it."
The biggest thrill, Pearce said, would be attending the Rising Star announcement with his father. "My dad was a wiry half-back, and he was known as the brute of the Broadview Football Club," he said.
"He was a real in-and-under-the-pack player. People are polite when they say he was assertive.
"Dad couldn't kick, but he could handball. I remember as a 13-year-old kid he could always handball further than I could kick, and I was so angry about that.
"He would be on his knees and beating me. He thinks he can still beat be, but one day we'll see."
The question is raised: why did his mum and dad spell his name Danyle, rather than the conventional Daniel? He is unsure, but suspects his dad wanted Pearce to be like him and spend his whole life spelling his name to people. His father's name is Joffre.
Port's magic ingredient
Ashley Porter
August 18, 2006
DANYLE Pearce once had a dream of being a chef, and at the end of his first year of training he had work experience in a hotel kitchen preparing his favourite dish … spaghetti cooked in a smooth, white wine sauce.
Regretfully, not a strand was served to the patrons because he left to go to football training and was subsequently sacked. "You'll never make it," the head chef told Pearce, referring to his football career.
Soon after, Pearce was selected in South Australia's state under-18 basketball squad, but he missed a practice session to play football, so he was cut. "You'll never make it," the basketball coach said.
Today, we can reveal: the cook did it. Pearce, the young pride of Port Adelaide, did make it, and he's running hoops around the best the opposition can dish up. He is averaging 19 possessions a game and now the 20-year-old rookie, who achieved his goal of playing AFL football late last season, is being tagged.
Pearce has made it, all right, but while football has been the beneficiary, it, too, dismissed him — at the 2004 national draft. The credentials were there, and he impressed at the draft camp, but his performances at the national under-18 championship were average.
advertisement
advertisement
With a beaming smile, politeness and the confidence of a player with everything before him, Pearce revealed how during the championship he could not see the ball. He discovered that week he was significantly short-sighted, and has since needed to wear contact lenses to play.
"At the time I didn't see my eyesight affecting me, but when I got the glasses and lenses I really noticed a definite improvement, especially with night training and night games," he said.
Now he is not looking back. The accolades have mounted, and Pearce is among the favourites to win this year's Rising Star award. "It would be nice," he said of the accolade, but in the next breath bemoaned Port's overall disappointing year and his need to strictly focus on helping the team finish on a respectable and strong note. The tone belies his youth and inexperience, but it confirms what we all know: this kid is special.
Yet, for all of his talents, amazing burst of speed, rapidly improving skills and football smarts, it was less than two years ago that Pearce told his mum, Connie, he was going to quit football and live with her in Queensland.
He reached the decision when he was not picked up in the 2004 national draft. Several clubs, and especially the media, told him he would be drafted. He was a stand-out at the draft camp, where he topped the 20-metre sprint, agility run and vertical jump tests. The media rushed him for pre-draft selection interviews, but it was merely 15 minutes of fame.
"I was devastated when I didn't get picked up," Pearce said. "I was happy with my draft camp, and really disappointed with the under-18 carnival, but I still thought I would sneak in there somewhere.
"My first thought was to quit footy. My mum was the first person I called. I said, 'Mum, I'm coming up to live with you … I want to get away from Adelaide, I want to get away from everything and start afresh'. My best mate insisted I join him on schoolies' week at Victor Harbor (on South Australia's south coast), where it was easy to forget about football.
"My dad was supporting me, too, and he was great. He told me to just stick around. I had no idea about the rookie draft until Dad told me, so I stayed around for that. I went to a few draft camps, including one with the Crows, and I had a meeting here with the Power and I was lucky enough to be picked up."
Late last season Port elevated Pearce to the senior list, and he has continued to improve. He likes to think he is a better player because he has been able to draw strength from the disappointing draft experience.
"I got caught up with the media stuff at draft time," Pearce said. "You're told you're going to be picked, and the interviews came. I started to look too far ahead and my mind was messed up. Now I look at things differently; I don't expect things to just happen. When I first came to the club I was relaxed more than I should have been.
"The real turning point was sitting down and having a chat with some of the players, and I was lucky enough to get a chance after that. I talked with Jacob Surjan at the start of this year, and Peter and Shaun Burgoyne have definitely helped me. Shaun is my mentor now and I have learnt so much from him.
"I think the coach (Mark Williams) took note of the fact I wanted to learn, and he gave me a chance. I am grateful for the support and guidance he has given me."
Pearce dreamt of playing in the AFL when he played his first game as a six-year-old with a local club, Fitzroy, and later country club Meningie, Edwardstown and Sturt. He recalled how his schooldays were tough because of racist taunts, and how he got through those ugly moments because of his strict upbringing and his deep devotion to former Essendon champion Michael Long.
"I always loved watching Michael Long play football, not just because he was an Aborigine, but he was good," Pearce said. "I liked the way he moved. I was only a kid then, but I also respected him for standing up to racism and everything he has done for the game.
"As a kid, the racism was there, but a lot changed for the better before I left school. At first if I heard it, I would start fighting, but I learnt to ignore it, and looking back I know I made the right choice in life. That's what Michael Long, my mum and dad, and now Port Adelaide have taught me … it's about making the right choices in life.
"I don't shy away from being Aboriginal. It is something to embrace, and I take it my stride. When you meet other Aboriginal players, you feel the bond. There is respect, and I welcome that. I was more emotional than most when Gavin Wanganeen announced his retirement because he is someone every young Aboriginal player respects."
Pearce has obviously earned the respect of his opponents; he has been tagged every week since mid-season. He says it is something that he genuinely looks forward to because it represents a chance to challenge him. "Last year I was running around doing my own thing getting the ball," Pearce said. "When I was tagged the first time I was shocked. I told the other guy, why follow me mate … go and get a kick.
"Now I know I'm going to have a man on me, and to play well I know I have to beat him one-on-one. It's a mini-challenge."
When Pearce is mentioned as a possible Rising Star winner, he reminds himself of the 2004 draft experience and the need not to get ahead of himself. "I enjoy people saying it only because they are suggesting I am doing a good job, but I don't think too much about it."
The biggest thrill, Pearce said, would be attending the Rising Star announcement with his father. "My dad was a wiry half-back, and he was known as the brute of the Broadview Football Club," he said.
"He was a real in-and-under-the-pack player. People are polite when they say he was assertive.
"Dad couldn't kick, but he could handball. I remember as a 13-year-old kid he could always handball further than I could kick, and I was so angry about that.
"He would be on his knees and beating me. He thinks he can still beat be, but one day we'll see."
The question is raised: why did his mum and dad spell his name Danyle, rather than the conventional Daniel? He is unsure, but suspects his dad wanted Pearce to be like him and spend his whole life spelling his name to people. His father's name is Joffre.