Delisted Adam Donohue (2009-2010)

YOUNG Geelong half-back Adam Donohue believes playing against an experienced Collingwood reserves side last weekend, which had "nearly 1000 games of AFL experience", was an outstanding opportunity to test his first-year progress.

Donohue, who played for Geelong's VFL side, came up against a Collingwood team which contained roughly a dozen senior players. The Cats were thrashed in the process, as they had just six (four senior and two rookie) AFL listed players in their line-up.

The reason Collingwood did this was to hold back many of its senior players, rather than sending them to Albany. In turn, the likes of Donohue got a taste of what it was like to play against some of the best.

"When the [Collingwood] list came in, the first thought was: 'What the heck is going on?'," Donohue said.

"[Tarkyn] Lockyer, [Josh] Fraser, a No.1 draft pick and [Alan] Didak, a best-and-fairest winner, were all playing and at first it was a bit of a shock to see them playing, but after a few minutes, [I realised] it was a great opportunity to play against these blokes.

"I went up to [coach] Leigh Tudor the day before the match and asked if I could play on Alan Didak when he was up forward, and then to be actually playing against these players was tremendous - just to see how hard they worked."

Donohue was particularly pleased with his efforts on Copeland Trophy winner Didak.

"When I was on Didak I thought I went alright. The first seven or eight minutes on him I had five possessions and he had about two when he was on me," Donohue said.

"I didn't play on him for parts of the game, but I thought I did pretty well considering it's my first year and I've only just turned 18 and he's in his mid 20s and he's a top AFL player.

"Blokes like [Shane] O'Bree and Lockyer got away from me a bit, but I was pretty happy with how I went on Didak, so I was happy with that."

Donohue, who was claimed as a father/son selection in last year's NAB AFL Draft, said it had been "an amazing journey" so far.

"I've only been here three months and the amount of stuff I've learned … I reckon I've learned more in this time than I have in the past two or three years playing junior football at the [Geelong] Falcons," Donohue said.

"[Geelong Falcons coach] Garry Hocking was awesome, but the experience of having premiership players and coaches around here has been great.

"I love this club and they all welcome you and look after you. I reckon it's been better than what I expected.

"You wouldn't imagine every bloke was so nice and honest … nearly every club has some out there and arrogant blokes, but all of the blokes are really good and they give you feedback."

The only downer at this point for Donohue is a niggling achilles problem.

"It's not too bad, but there is a bit of thickness in the achilles compared to the other one, but I played the last two practice matches with it.

"It came across in the last quarter of the first practice match and I nursed it through after a quiet week and then I played the first three quarters [against Collingwood] and then it got sore again.

"I'll probably have a week off this week and try and get back the week after, just to get it up and going for round one."

As for his what the club has planned for him this year, Donohue said it was likely to be honing his craft via the VFL.

"They [coaches] have hinted that I'll be in the VFL this year, because the quality of the squad means it'll take a bit of doing to get in the side, unless there are some heavy injuries," Donohue said.

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winchrulz242 said:

g day everyone

yeah adam ' buck' donohue did come from the good old town of Winchelsea and then he went to grovey to get noticed, but he is still a winch boy.
he was prob the best person i have ever played with and always be.

oi can anyone tell me y he doesnt have his dads number? hu cares about gary ablett he is not as good as buck

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