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Knocking on Heavens Door
(The Melbourne Tribute Weekend Edition) 12.7.08
This week we interview young Tiger Andy Collins about his first grade aspirations, what it’s like to be coming through with such a talented young group and the highs and lows of being a professional footballer on the cusp of greatness
Andy was good enough to give us this phone interview just minutes after finding out he’d just missed 1st Grade selection again and wouldn’t be on the plane to Perth with his team mates to face off against the Eagles in what will be the Tigers most important clashes of the year as they hang by a thread to try and play finals football this year.
Firstly Andy lets go back to the start. How did you come on to the Richmond recruiting staffs radar? In 2006 I was playing TAC Cup for the Bendigo Pioneers with Joel Selwood and Dan Connors. There were that many scouts watching our games because of those two guys every week and I suppose some of them saw me play often enough.
Exciting times I bet but both those players have experienced first grade football and Joel Selwood became a premiership player in his first year, how does that make you feel? Really happy for them. For Joel to win a flag and have so much influence on games in his first year was amazing. I thought Dan played some great games last year as well but unfortunately this years pre season was derailed for him because of an ankle injury.
Do they rib you because you haven’t debuted yet ? Definitely not, we are all good mates that came through together and are very supportive of each other. Some players come along quicker than others I’ve had to work really hard to get my body ready for the rigours of AFL footy, so have they.
You’ve been named in the team twice this year obviously this week and earlier on for the Hawthorne game and come up short. Is it frustrating? Well it is but it isn’t. On a personal note I wish I was sitting on 40 games right now but you have to be realistic and remember that Football is a team sport and in this day and age players are more versatile and can play in many positions which makes it harder. I’m happy to be playing well for Coburg and putting my name up for selection. I was a whisker off playing against the Hawks but Kingy had a niggle that came good by game day, that’s footy. I’ve still got to keep working hard and performing well for Coburg. No one at this club is just going to hand you first grade games we have a lot of blokes coming on.
How bad do you want it? It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to play AFL Footy and funnily enough for the Richmond Football Club I’ve supported them all my life so yeah “really bad”
Do you feel it’s far away? Hopefully not. I still have a lot of improvement left in me and a lot of work to do in the Gym but the coaches let us all know where we are at. I knew that even though I was named in this weeks side there was a chance I would not be going to Perth. I just hope the boys win and win well. Our percentage needs improvement and If we are to get a run on towards the finals we all know that the games we win need to be convincing wins for that reason.
What’s the feeling around the club right now ? Top Notch. I honestly don’t think the feelings changed since around this time last year. I think the spirit and feeling around the club was built around some disappointing performances in the first half of last year but the group stuck together and we put some great performances in and really knocked some good teams off their perch. Those wins late in the season really put us on track for a good solid pre season and a good start to the year. It’s round 15 and we are still in finals contention obviously there has been a turn around for us.
How important are finals to a young team like the Tigers? Very important. Just like I am striving to play first grade we have plenty of blokes that are and really want to experience finals football. Anything can happen in finals football. Our whole year has been set up on playing finals football.
Will the Richmond Football Club have failed if they don’t make the 8 this year? That’s a heavy question for a junior player. No , we have improved in all area’s across the club. People seem to forget how much of a young group we are. If you took Richo , Joel , Browny and Simmo out of our team our senior players would be 26 and only a handful. There is still so much improvement left in this group and it’s happening all the time. I there was a time machine that instantly gave all us young blokes 60 – 100 games experience things would be different.
On those senior players how much do you learn off them and what is it like having blokes like Richo and Browny around the club? Those blokes are such different personalities but so professional about football. Obviously when your at a level where I am you listen to what all the senior blokes have to say and take things on board about footy because they have experience. I just try and learn as much as I can off Coaches and Team mates because that is going to get me to where I want to be faster and that’s playing consistent First Grade footy in a winning side week in and week out for years to come.
There is a little bit of a rumble that you have a bit of a cult following amongst Richmond supporters especially the Big Footy fraternity and you haven’t even played a game yet. What’s your thoughts on that? What would the people think if young Andy Collins debuted at the G and there were more Andy Collins signs in the outer than Richo signs. Do you think that is strange? Well I am sort of aware that people talk me up a bit which is unwarranted because I haven’t achieved yet but it’s good people know who I am I think’. I don’t think that scenario you mentioned would happen in a million years though.
And what about the constant ramblings you receive on Big Footy does that play with your head? No not at all I never read the website just hear a few things off mates but I do wish TigerTroy was on the selection panel by the sounds of things.
Thanks for your time Andy , I’m sure I speak for a lot of Richmond people wishing you all the best and that a debut happens as soon as possible any last words? Yeah just for the record for those on BigFooty “ Its 8 towels boys”
(The Melbourne Tribute Weekend Edition) 12.7.08
This week we interview young Tiger Andy Collins about his first grade aspirations, what it’s like to be coming through with such a talented young group and the highs and lows of being a professional footballer on the cusp of greatness
Andy was good enough to give us this phone interview just minutes after finding out he’d just missed 1st Grade selection again and wouldn’t be on the plane to Perth with his team mates to face off against the Eagles in what will be the Tigers most important clashes of the year as they hang by a thread to try and play finals football this year.
Firstly Andy lets go back to the start. How did you come on to the Richmond recruiting staffs radar? In 2006 I was playing TAC Cup for the Bendigo Pioneers with Joel Selwood and Dan Connors. There were that many scouts watching our games because of those two guys every week and I suppose some of them saw me play often enough.
Exciting times I bet but both those players have experienced first grade football and Joel Selwood became a premiership player in his first year, how does that make you feel? Really happy for them. For Joel to win a flag and have so much influence on games in his first year was amazing. I thought Dan played some great games last year as well but unfortunately this years pre season was derailed for him because of an ankle injury.
Do they rib you because you haven’t debuted yet ? Definitely not, we are all good mates that came through together and are very supportive of each other. Some players come along quicker than others I’ve had to work really hard to get my body ready for the rigours of AFL footy, so have they.
You’ve been named in the team twice this year obviously this week and earlier on for the Hawthorne game and come up short. Is it frustrating? Well it is but it isn’t. On a personal note I wish I was sitting on 40 games right now but you have to be realistic and remember that Football is a team sport and in this day and age players are more versatile and can play in many positions which makes it harder. I’m happy to be playing well for Coburg and putting my name up for selection. I was a whisker off playing against the Hawks but Kingy had a niggle that came good by game day, that’s footy. I’ve still got to keep working hard and performing well for Coburg. No one at this club is just going to hand you first grade games we have a lot of blokes coming on.
How bad do you want it? It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to play AFL Footy and funnily enough for the Richmond Football Club I’ve supported them all my life so yeah “really bad”
Do you feel it’s far away? Hopefully not. I still have a lot of improvement left in me and a lot of work to do in the Gym but the coaches let us all know where we are at. I knew that even though I was named in this weeks side there was a chance I would not be going to Perth. I just hope the boys win and win well. Our percentage needs improvement and If we are to get a run on towards the finals we all know that the games we win need to be convincing wins for that reason.
What’s the feeling around the club right now ? Top Notch. I honestly don’t think the feelings changed since around this time last year. I think the spirit and feeling around the club was built around some disappointing performances in the first half of last year but the group stuck together and we put some great performances in and really knocked some good teams off their perch. Those wins late in the season really put us on track for a good solid pre season and a good start to the year. It’s round 15 and we are still in finals contention obviously there has been a turn around for us.
How important are finals to a young team like the Tigers? Very important. Just like I am striving to play first grade we have plenty of blokes that are and really want to experience finals football. Anything can happen in finals football. Our whole year has been set up on playing finals football.
Will the Richmond Football Club have failed if they don’t make the 8 this year? That’s a heavy question for a junior player. No , we have improved in all area’s across the club. People seem to forget how much of a young group we are. If you took Richo , Joel , Browny and Simmo out of our team our senior players would be 26 and only a handful. There is still so much improvement left in this group and it’s happening all the time. I there was a time machine that instantly gave all us young blokes 60 – 100 games experience things would be different.
On those senior players how much do you learn off them and what is it like having blokes like Richo and Browny around the club? Those blokes are such different personalities but so professional about football. Obviously when your at a level where I am you listen to what all the senior blokes have to say and take things on board about footy because they have experience. I just try and learn as much as I can off Coaches and Team mates because that is going to get me to where I want to be faster and that’s playing consistent First Grade footy in a winning side week in and week out for years to come.
There is a little bit of a rumble that you have a bit of a cult following amongst Richmond supporters especially the Big Footy fraternity and you haven’t even played a game yet. What’s your thoughts on that? What would the people think if young Andy Collins debuted at the G and there were more Andy Collins signs in the outer than Richo signs. Do you think that is strange? Well I am sort of aware that people talk me up a bit which is unwarranted because I haven’t achieved yet but it’s good people know who I am I think’. I don’t think that scenario you mentioned would happen in a million years though.
And what about the constant ramblings you receive on Big Footy does that play with your head? No not at all I never read the website just hear a few things off mates but I do wish TigerTroy was on the selection panel by the sounds of things.
Thanks for your time Andy , I’m sure I speak for a lot of Richmond people wishing you all the best and that a debut happens as soon as possible any last words? Yeah just for the record for those on BigFooty “ Its 8 towels boys”
