danielcanberra
8 Jun 2007, 23:26
Slattery will get you somewhere
08 June 2007 Herald-Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21868883%255E20322,00.html)
Jon Anderson
IT WAS late in Round 8 match at Telstra Dome when Henry Slattery displayed the courage that makes him such a favourite with the Essendon coaching staff.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5516634,00.jpg
Slattery
Respect: Henry Slattery, who is studying Argriculture Science at Melbourne University, is blossoming at Windy Hill because of his courageous nature. Picture: Michael Klein
The game was done and dusted with the Bombers 10 goals up and there was no need for Slattery to enter dangerous territory.
But there he was, the 21-year-old from West Adelaide running back into a pack that contained Brisbane Lions powerhouse Jonathan Brown and his none-too skinny Bombers' teammate Mal Michael.
He not only survived the onslaught but managed to tap the ball over the line, before hitting the deck and getting up to look for the next contest.
Players who seek such danger are always going to be respected and while Slattery is far from Sam Mitchell in terms of prolific ball-winning, he does a job and he prides himself on that.
"I don't get many possessions but I like to get in and under. I've always liked that sort of stuff, taking on a bloke who's bigger than me. It's all in your head," said 186cm Slattery, who has picked up 62 possessions in eight games this year.
"I don't want to put myself down as a tagger, I'm just a normal player and would like to to end up on the ball, maybe wing."
This season he's been playing largely in defence, picking up goalkicking forwards such as Kayne Pettifer and Brett Burton, saying he does what the coach asks of him.
That coach, Kevin Sheedy, was a man Slattery knew little about when he first came to Melbourne after being drafted at 46 in the 2004 national draft.
"I had no idea what to expect from him when I arrived. He's someone with a lot of ideas and he won't leave any stone unturned," Slattery said. "It was hard for everyone last year but this year I think there is more passion about him. I like coaches with a lot of passion because they give their players confidence through that.
"He's stressed we have to learn how to become a winning side. It will take a lot more to become a good side, but we are on the right track and we beat Sydney at their own game.
"We've had good starts to every game this season, but don't really carry on with that lead. I don't know whether we take it easy or not, or play defensive. We can go back into our shells when we start chipping it around rather than being attacking. We let sides back in when we shouldn't."
If he sounds articulate, it's because he is. Slattery is halfway through a three-year degree in agriculture at Melbourne University. On completion he wants to add a law or commerce degree before heading bush and working in his area of expertise - the study of plants, trees and crops.
One of four boys and a product of Adelaide's Rostrevor College, Slattery has played 20 games in three injury-interrupted season.
A knee operation in 2005 was followed by hip problems last year, but Slattery is finally getting the chance to string some games together and cement a place in the side. Or has he?
"A big part of our improvement has come from all the new young players with their attitude and the pressure they are putting on everyone," he said.
"Alwyn Davey, Tom Hislop, Leroy Jetta, Bachar Houli, Kyle Reimers, they have a lot of talent and want to go somewhere with their footy.
"A realistic goal for me is to play 100 games because you have to look further than 50. And it's hard to play 100 these days.
"James Hird has been unbelievable. His wisdom and one-on-one chats before a game have helped me a lot. He's such an inspirational person."
08 June 2007 Herald-Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21868883%255E20322,00.html)
Jon Anderson
IT WAS late in Round 8 match at Telstra Dome when Henry Slattery displayed the courage that makes him such a favourite with the Essendon coaching staff.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5516634,00.jpg
Slattery
Respect: Henry Slattery, who is studying Argriculture Science at Melbourne University, is blossoming at Windy Hill because of his courageous nature. Picture: Michael Klein
The game was done and dusted with the Bombers 10 goals up and there was no need for Slattery to enter dangerous territory.
But there he was, the 21-year-old from West Adelaide running back into a pack that contained Brisbane Lions powerhouse Jonathan Brown and his none-too skinny Bombers' teammate Mal Michael.
He not only survived the onslaught but managed to tap the ball over the line, before hitting the deck and getting up to look for the next contest.
Players who seek such danger are always going to be respected and while Slattery is far from Sam Mitchell in terms of prolific ball-winning, he does a job and he prides himself on that.
"I don't get many possessions but I like to get in and under. I've always liked that sort of stuff, taking on a bloke who's bigger than me. It's all in your head," said 186cm Slattery, who has picked up 62 possessions in eight games this year.
"I don't want to put myself down as a tagger, I'm just a normal player and would like to to end up on the ball, maybe wing."
This season he's been playing largely in defence, picking up goalkicking forwards such as Kayne Pettifer and Brett Burton, saying he does what the coach asks of him.
That coach, Kevin Sheedy, was a man Slattery knew little about when he first came to Melbourne after being drafted at 46 in the 2004 national draft.
"I had no idea what to expect from him when I arrived. He's someone with a lot of ideas and he won't leave any stone unturned," Slattery said. "It was hard for everyone last year but this year I think there is more passion about him. I like coaches with a lot of passion because they give their players confidence through that.
"He's stressed we have to learn how to become a winning side. It will take a lot more to become a good side, but we are on the right track and we beat Sydney at their own game.
"We've had good starts to every game this season, but don't really carry on with that lead. I don't know whether we take it easy or not, or play defensive. We can go back into our shells when we start chipping it around rather than being attacking. We let sides back in when we shouldn't."
If he sounds articulate, it's because he is. Slattery is halfway through a three-year degree in agriculture at Melbourne University. On completion he wants to add a law or commerce degree before heading bush and working in his area of expertise - the study of plants, trees and crops.
One of four boys and a product of Adelaide's Rostrevor College, Slattery has played 20 games in three injury-interrupted season.
A knee operation in 2005 was followed by hip problems last year, but Slattery is finally getting the chance to string some games together and cement a place in the side. Or has he?
"A big part of our improvement has come from all the new young players with their attitude and the pressure they are putting on everyone," he said.
"Alwyn Davey, Tom Hislop, Leroy Jetta, Bachar Houli, Kyle Reimers, they have a lot of talent and want to go somewhere with their footy.
"A realistic goal for me is to play 100 games because you have to look further than 50. And it's hard to play 100 these days.
"James Hird has been unbelievable. His wisdom and one-on-one chats before a game have helped me a lot. He's such an inspirational person."