Adelaide's X-factor

[No 1 Draft Pick]

You would have to think he is a decent chance for the odd game or two this year. Probably behind VB and Knights in the pecking order but playing in a less competitive position for the Crows (FP, HFF) will help his chances


Crows nurture another McLeod
By ANDREW CAPEL
10feb06

HE is Adelaide's X-factor.

And, just three months into pre-season training with the Crows, Bernie Vince is reminding some Adelaide insiders of Andrew McLeod.
"He doesn't have McLeod's pace but he does have his touch," one Crows official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. "He has that 'wow' factor and has turned heads with some of the things he's done at training."

If there is one attribute that makes Vince, Adelaide's third selection (No. 32 overall) at the national draft, special it is the Stansbury boy's ability to make the difficult look easy.

"He has that unique ability to be able to grab the ball cleanly while running flat out, sidestep an opponent and hit a moving target in virtually the one movement," the Crows official said. "You don't see that from a young player very often."

Adelaide recruiting manager James Fantasia, the man chiefly responsible for drafting Vince from Woodville-West Torrens, agreed the 20-year-old on-baller had that "something special about him".

Given such raps it is amazing to think that this time last year, Vince was content playing country football and, in fact, was more concerned with his cricket. It took a lot of convincing from Eagles coach Ron Fuller, who was intrigued by his talent, to get Vince to Adelaide after he was raised on the Yorke Peninsula and spent a year playing for Border Districts in Naracoorte.

"I was playing A grade (cricket) for Woodville (he drove down on weekends) and was pretty heavily into cricket," Vince said this week during a school visit to Tatachilla Lutheran College, McLaren Vale, as part of the Crows community camp. "I was comfortable in the country, I had the travelling issue to worry about and never really thought about it (playing in the SANFL)."

But Fuller wouldn't take no for an answer. A heart to heart over the phone eventually twisted Bernie's arm.

He joined the Eagles last year and after a slow start - "I missed the pre-season because I was more concerned with my cricket" - he debuted against Glenelg in round 20, kicking a late, match-deciding goal in the three-point win and then starring in three finals games for the Eagles and attracting the interest of seven AFL clubs.

"His finals series was a real feather in his cap," Fantasia noted.

Vince, who has been working hard on improving his pace with the Crows, has modest expectations for his first season of AFL - "I want to start in the Eagles league side and hopefully get an AFL game in my first year" - but Crows captain Mark Ricciuto predicts bigger things from the rookie.

"To come from the country and step straight into SANFL finals footy was a big effort for him last year," Ricciuto said. "He could be one of those players who just continues to take the steps and step straight into AFL this year, he could be a good player for us this year."

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Maybe most of us are wrong. Maybe this kid could be the first of the crushers to see regular AFL action.

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

Maybe most of us are wrong. Maybe this kid could be the first of the crushers to see regular AFL action.

Well he is relatively 'mature' I spose Springy. have you any idea about his pace and athleticism? A

 

[Markthirtytwo]

We're heading down this path again?

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Well he is relatively 'mature' I spose Springy. have you any idea about his pace and athleticism? A

Haven't really seen much of him. Watched a few of the finals and while for the most of the game he didn't jump out and grab me, he did do a few freakish things that really suprised. He isn't afraid to put his head over the ball which is always a good start.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

We're heading down this path again?

What path?

 

[Cap]

What path?

the path of putting massive expectations on a lad only to cut him down when the inflated expectations aren’t met – look at Perrie, Trent, Johncock, Rielly, any number of players

 

[macca23]

Well he is relatively 'mature' I spose Springy. have you any idea about his pace and athleticism? A

I remember when someone asked me after my training report, how did Vince go, my reply was something along the lines of that he looked totally as if he belonged at that level, which was surprising seeing he'd only played 4 or so SANFL games, even given that they were very good ones.

He really caught my eye in those finals last year as a potential match-winner as he flashed in and out of the game in an eye-catching manner, and I thought he was an excellent gamble when we drafted him.

When you read his background he may be an even better gamble than I thought.

I like him close to goal as he either gets one or makes something happen, but he could be another on-ball candidate once he has some real fitness under his belt.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

the path of putting massive expectations on a lad only to cut him down when the inflated expectations aren’t met – look at Perrie, Trent, Johncock, Rielly, any number of players

After the suprising year that Shirley, Bock, Mattner, Rutten had last year, Jericho aside, its hard to write off a youngster until he's played 30-40 games.

 

[Cap]

After the suprising year that Shirley, Bock, Mattner, Rutten had last year, Jericho aside, its hard to write off a youngster until he's played 30-40 games.

I had a discussion about Jericho - who on this board has pretty much been written off, but if you look at his stats for his first 20 games compared to Welsh first 20 they are almost identical (can't find the thread I posted this on)

I think most fans expect every player to be Brett Delidio - So I tend to agree with you

 

[Nacho]

I would just like to stress the fact that this kid is only a gamble. Having known him through football at school, I just feel that he is a hit and miss type player in the draft, more so than any of the others we drafted.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

What path?

Someone who looks the goods early, a press article is written about them, all here believe he will become the new "best thing in years" path.

 

[Vader]

It's just the standard "puff piece" which they write to fill the sports pages at this time of year when there's no real footy to write about.

Almost all of Adelaide's youngsters have had one written about them this season and it happens every year.

Let's see how he performs ON THE FIELD before we start building him up as the next Macca.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Someone who looks the goods early, a press article is written about them, all here believe he will become the new "best thing in years" path.

As vader said it's just the std "puff" piece. I think most supporters, or the ones that can read between the lines, take these reports with a punch of salt.

 

[Crow-mo]

After the suprising year that Shirley, Bock, Mattner, Rutten had last year, Jericho aside, its hard to write off a youngster until he's played 30-40 games.

I think you're right, but you have to balance that with whether the kid will make 30 games to start with.