blackdiamond
25 May 2003, 03:01
courtesy of www.portadelaidefc.com.au
This could be the year: Wakelin
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/094222ae.jpg
Underrated Port Adelaide defender Darryl Wakelin believes the Power’s 2003 playing list has the greatest opportunity of going all the way in September.
The 28-year-old, who is now in his third season with Port Adelaide after playing 115 games with St Kilda from 1995 until 2000, said the depth of the club was the best the club had since joining the AFL in 1997.
“We’ve definitely got a lot more depth than we had last year,” Wakelin told afl.com.au.
“That’s going to help us and that’ll take us a long way come finals (time) if we do have a couple of injuries here and there.”
“But fingers’ crossed we’ve got all the injuries out of the way this year.”
Wakelin, who has become an integral part of Port Adelaide’s defence, said the playing group was strong due to the pressure from the listed players at SANFL level.
“Even our guys in the local league, they’re putting in some very good performances for all positions over the ground,” Wakelin said.
“We’ve got guys who can fill roles and that’s very important for us and it keeps the competition throughout the team (going).”
“It keeps guys working hard on the training track and that’s very important for the whole club.”
Wakelin was once again a quiet achiever, as Port Adelaide dished out a 50-point victory over Essendon on Friday night, but ironically it was a former Bomber that he credited for much of his strong form in Power assistant coach Dean Bailey.
“I’m definitely working on my game a lot more and I probably owe a lot to our backline coach Dean Bailey – he’s got a very good football mind,” Wakelin said.
“He’s worked with me and the rest of the backline and he’s instilled a lot of confidence in the way we go about our preparation, so a lot comes down to that.”
“As you mature a little bit, you do think a lot more about your footy.”
Wakelin, who has notched up 47 games with Port Adelaide since 2001, was unlucky not to gain All-Australian status last year, but he said he was more disappointed with sustaining a fractured cheekbone in round 20 last year and dropping out of the finals’ race.
“It was certainly more disappointing the way the season finished with the injury and the way we competed in the finals,” Wakelin said.
Wakelin said returning to South Australia had been a major factor in him playing the best football of his career.
“It’s definitely settled some of my life quite a bit,” Wakelin said.
“Football’s my No.1 priority and Adelaide’s a pretty well-balanced place to live and it’s a very easy place to live and it does suit me a lot.”
“It’s an ideal environment to be playing football, especially at Port Adelaide.”
He added that being separated from his twin brother Shane, who played 94 games with St Kilda from 1994-00 before moving to Collingwood, had also benefited their football.
“It’s the best move we’ve made going our separate ways and we think about our football ourselves. Obviously we get ideas off each other, but we go about our football and plan for our football the way we think is best for each other, so it certainly has helped,” Wakelin said.
This could be the year: Wakelin
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/094222ae.jpg
Underrated Port Adelaide defender Darryl Wakelin believes the Power’s 2003 playing list has the greatest opportunity of going all the way in September.
The 28-year-old, who is now in his third season with Port Adelaide after playing 115 games with St Kilda from 1995 until 2000, said the depth of the club was the best the club had since joining the AFL in 1997.
“We’ve definitely got a lot more depth than we had last year,” Wakelin told afl.com.au.
“That’s going to help us and that’ll take us a long way come finals (time) if we do have a couple of injuries here and there.”
“But fingers’ crossed we’ve got all the injuries out of the way this year.”
Wakelin, who has become an integral part of Port Adelaide’s defence, said the playing group was strong due to the pressure from the listed players at SANFL level.
“Even our guys in the local league, they’re putting in some very good performances for all positions over the ground,” Wakelin said.
“We’ve got guys who can fill roles and that’s very important for us and it keeps the competition throughout the team (going).”
“It keeps guys working hard on the training track and that’s very important for the whole club.”
Wakelin was once again a quiet achiever, as Port Adelaide dished out a 50-point victory over Essendon on Friday night, but ironically it was a former Bomber that he credited for much of his strong form in Power assistant coach Dean Bailey.
“I’m definitely working on my game a lot more and I probably owe a lot to our backline coach Dean Bailey – he’s got a very good football mind,” Wakelin said.
“He’s worked with me and the rest of the backline and he’s instilled a lot of confidence in the way we go about our preparation, so a lot comes down to that.”
“As you mature a little bit, you do think a lot more about your footy.”
Wakelin, who has notched up 47 games with Port Adelaide since 2001, was unlucky not to gain All-Australian status last year, but he said he was more disappointed with sustaining a fractured cheekbone in round 20 last year and dropping out of the finals’ race.
“It was certainly more disappointing the way the season finished with the injury and the way we competed in the finals,” Wakelin said.
Wakelin said returning to South Australia had been a major factor in him playing the best football of his career.
“It’s definitely settled some of my life quite a bit,” Wakelin said.
“Football’s my No.1 priority and Adelaide’s a pretty well-balanced place to live and it’s a very easy place to live and it does suit me a lot.”
“It’s an ideal environment to be playing football, especially at Port Adelaide.”
He added that being separated from his twin brother Shane, who played 94 games with St Kilda from 1994-00 before moving to Collingwood, had also benefited their football.
“It’s the best move we’ve made going our separate ways and we think about our football ourselves. Obviously we get ideas off each other, but we go about our football and plan for our football the way we think is best for each other, so it certainly has helped,” Wakelin said.