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From afc.com.au
Johncock primed for a belter
4:41:36 PM Mon 15 March, 2004
Alan Shiell
Sportal
If pre-season fitness and form count for anything, Adelaide utility Graham Johncock is in for a belter of a year as one of the AFL’s young excitement machines.
Swift, elusive and fearless, Johncock, 21, has already made a big impression in 48 of a possible 49 AFL matches over the past two seasons.
His versatility has enabled him to shine in defence and attack – in the pockets and on the flanks – and occasionally in the midfield.
He was the Crows’ leading goalkicker last season, albeit with the modest tally of 30, and, with 106 votes, finished a creditable fifth in the club champion award – behind Mark Ricciuto (159), Tyson Edwards (137), Andrew McLeod (117) and Mark Bickley (116).
Now Johncock wants to spend more game time as a midfielder. He has worked on his fitness to the extent that he has trimmed his five-kilometre time-trial best from 18min. 38sec. early last year to 17min. 52 sec. early this year.
“I want to step my game up another notch,” he said before an indoor training session – weights and swimming – at AAMI Stadium on Monday. “Being a young bloke, I’m still trying to get things right – doing the things I can control.”
Asked about trying to claim a more regular role in the midfield, he said: “Definitely. Craigy (midfield coach and fitness guru Neil Craig) has played me there a couple of times in the pre-season and it’s going pretty good. Hopefully I’ll get a run there in the regular season and show them what I can do.
“I’m just getting used to it. I’ve been changing a lot (in the midfield and up forward) with Goody (Simon Goodwin) and Roo (Ricciuto) over the last couple of weeks, so it will be good if that can continue. Yeah, maybe (playing) 40 per cent (in the midfield), that’d be good.
“I’m very happy with my fitness. I put in a big one during the pre-season and took almost a minute of my personal best in the five-kilometre run, which Craigy wanted me to do, so everything’s going well.
“I was brought up playing in defence (with Port Lincoln’s Mallee Park club) so I like to play down back, but wherever Gary (Ayres) puts me to play, I’ve just got to go out there and do the job. I’m just grateful to be out there playing.”
Johncock has a simple explanation for Adelaide winning its past two pre-season matches after losing the first two.
“In our first couple of games we weren’t doing things right – the tackling, the chasing, the smothering,” he said. “We did that the last couple of weeks and won, so it was good.”
The Crows play only five of their first 12 matches at AAMI Stadium but have seven of their remaining 10 at home.
Reminded of this, Johncock said: “The first half of the season’s going to be challenging but I’m sure the boys are going to be looking forward to it.”
Here's hoping he has a great year in 2004!
Johncock primed for a belter
4:41:36 PM Mon 15 March, 2004
Alan Shiell
Sportal
If pre-season fitness and form count for anything, Adelaide utility Graham Johncock is in for a belter of a year as one of the AFL’s young excitement machines.
Swift, elusive and fearless, Johncock, 21, has already made a big impression in 48 of a possible 49 AFL matches over the past two seasons.
His versatility has enabled him to shine in defence and attack – in the pockets and on the flanks – and occasionally in the midfield.
He was the Crows’ leading goalkicker last season, albeit with the modest tally of 30, and, with 106 votes, finished a creditable fifth in the club champion award – behind Mark Ricciuto (159), Tyson Edwards (137), Andrew McLeod (117) and Mark Bickley (116).
Now Johncock wants to spend more game time as a midfielder. He has worked on his fitness to the extent that he has trimmed his five-kilometre time-trial best from 18min. 38sec. early last year to 17min. 52 sec. early this year.
“I want to step my game up another notch,” he said before an indoor training session – weights and swimming – at AAMI Stadium on Monday. “Being a young bloke, I’m still trying to get things right – doing the things I can control.”
Asked about trying to claim a more regular role in the midfield, he said: “Definitely. Craigy (midfield coach and fitness guru Neil Craig) has played me there a couple of times in the pre-season and it’s going pretty good. Hopefully I’ll get a run there in the regular season and show them what I can do.
“I’m just getting used to it. I’ve been changing a lot (in the midfield and up forward) with Goody (Simon Goodwin) and Roo (Ricciuto) over the last couple of weeks, so it will be good if that can continue. Yeah, maybe (playing) 40 per cent (in the midfield), that’d be good.
“I’m very happy with my fitness. I put in a big one during the pre-season and took almost a minute of my personal best in the five-kilometre run, which Craigy wanted me to do, so everything’s going well.
“I was brought up playing in defence (with Port Lincoln’s Mallee Park club) so I like to play down back, but wherever Gary (Ayres) puts me to play, I’ve just got to go out there and do the job. I’m just grateful to be out there playing.”
Johncock has a simple explanation for Adelaide winning its past two pre-season matches after losing the first two.
“In our first couple of games we weren’t doing things right – the tackling, the chasing, the smothering,” he said. “We did that the last couple of weeks and won, so it was good.”
The Crows play only five of their first 12 matches at AAMI Stadium but have seven of their remaining 10 at home.
Reminded of this, Johncock said: “The first half of the season’s going to be challenging but I’m sure the boys are going to be looking forward to it.”
Here's hoping he has a great year in 2004!
