Brent Reilly

[Stiffy_18]

A 181 cm midfielder who had a distinguished career at the U18 level. While he has managed to play 1 senior game in 2002 (looked like a boy in a men's league) the Crows have a very high opinion of this bloke. Before I went on my holiday the word out of AFC is that this kid is having a great pre-season and is a very good chance to crack the senior side on a few occasions even possibly become a regular.

I have seen him play a few times for Sturt and while he didn't exactly set the world on fire he certainly knows how to get to a contest. He does appear a natural midfielder who can also comfortably play forward and kick goals.

Do you guys think that Reilly will be the one to step up in 2003 like John**** and Doughty did in 2002 to play all 25 games??????

 

[macca23]

Reilly was actually one of the feature interviews on 5AA tonight. He sounds really determined to make 2003 his year and be there right from the start.

He has been performing well in the internal scratch matches the Crows have been having as part of their training sessions and is exceptionally fit. His first goal is to make the the #1 Crows side in the matches against Centrals and Norwood and stay there by performing.

He said that last year was a tough year for him being uprooted from his home family and friends and even his footy playing mates, playing and training with totally new players and teams at both Sturt and Adelaide. He said that now that he has that year under his belt he won't have to go through any of that and is looking forward to this year.

He said that he has learnt an enormous amount about footy from being with All-Australians such as Ricciuto, Hart and McLeod both in playing and preparing yourself to play footy.

He also stated that while he has played up forward he had a strong preference for the mid-field as he thought that was where he played his best footy.

Although he was a little nervous he sounds a sensible young man who really does have goals and is prepared to bust his ass to achieve them.

After the interview finished, David Wildy and Chris McDermott confirmed that the Crows have a very big impression of this young lad and expect him to make a mark this year.

Reilly's progress was a bit stifled last year because at Sturt there was a lot of competition for midfield spots. They have lost a couple of those this year and if he isn't in the opening Crows side - and I don't think he will be - he should become a regular at Sturt, giving him the opportunity to get some real form under his belt. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised that if and when he gets his chance with the big boys, he will grab it with two hands and stay there.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Thanx for keeping us up to date macca23. Great post as always!!!!!!

 

[Damp Squarie]

Yep great update Macca; I get 5aa up here but its pretty patchy.
I think Ill tune into you in future... LOL

Sounds like Reilly has a good future.

All this talk lately of "young footballers" in our squad that could quite easily make thier mark is pretty refreshing to hear.
It also vindicates this years "trading" strategy of going for some "ready made players" rather than banking on new youth that will probably get homesick anyway.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by topjars
...new youth that will probably get homesick anyway.

I hope that the young guys from interstate that we have on our list don't get homesick. The likes of Massie, Reilly, Schuback, Smith & Stenglein!!!! This is a pretty good nucleus and then you can add the likes of Hentschel (NT) Rutten, Bock, Mattner and maybe Jericho and its pretty exciting time at the AFC

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
I hope that the young guys from interstate that we have on our list don't get homesick. The likes of Massie, Reilly, Schuback, Smith & Stenglein!!!! This is a pretty good nucleus and then you can add the likes of Hentschel (NT) Rutten, Bock, Mattner and maybe Jericho and its pretty exciting time at the AFC

Massie is here for good, and Schubak and Smith seem quite content. He's a tough little bugger that Schubak. Smith has family friends here because his dad played CHF in Westies 83 premiership win - he was chuffed to be picked up by the Crows as was Schubak.

Reilly went through a dose of home sickness last year (it has to be hard at 18), but he certainly sounds like he is over that now and just wants to play AFL footy.

Stenglein is not home-sick and has some real good mates at the Crows. The danger with him is that the two WA AFL clubs target him all the time. I thought that we might lose him at the end of last year, but now that he has stayed on, hopefully it's for good.

As you say Stiffy, throw in Hentschel, Rutten, Bock, Mattner and Jericho, and the future of the club looks very sound.

 

[noddy]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
I hope that the young guys from interstate that we have on our list don't get homesick. The likes of Massie, Reilly, Schuback, Smith & Stenglein!!!! This is a pretty good nucleus and then you can add the likes of Hentschel (NT) Rutten, Bock, Mattner and maybe Jericho and its pretty exciting time at the AFC

Going on what's been said over the last year Brent Reilly could be the one to get the homesickness bug if any, but if he gives us the same return that we had from Kane Johnson we couldn't complain to much,

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by noddy
Going on what's been said over the last year Brent Reilly could be the one to get the homesickness bug if any, but if he gives us the same return that we had from Kane Johnson we couldn't complain to much,

Couldn't agree with you more but the thing that bugs me about Reilly is that he is out of contract at the end of 2003. He is setting himself up or a big year and the word out of AFC is that he will be the one to watch in 2003. If he gets the number of Vic clubs interested then it will be hard to hang on to him if he wants to go. It will be sad to see a player taken in 1st round of the strongest draft in the last 10 years leave after not reaching his peak at AFC. Hope he is as happy in Adelaide as Mark Stevens.

 

[crowsfan]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Hope he is as happy in Adelaide as Mark Stevens.

How happy is Mark Stevens??

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by crowsfan
How happy is Mark Stevens??

Happy enough to reject new offers from Victoria at the end of 2001 and sign a 3 year deal with the Crows and will most likely finish his career here. That is a sign of happiness with his surroundings. Thats good enough for me

 

[noddy]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Happy enough to reject new offers from Victoria at the end of 2001 and sign a 3 year deal with the Crows and will most likely finish his career here. That is a sign of happiness with his surroundings. Thats good enough for me

Maybe we have kbcrowgirl to thank for that,

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by crowsfan
How happy is Mark Stevens??

cf, I think your getting confused with Mick or Nick.

 

[crowsfan]

Originally posted by noddy
Maybe we have kbcrowgirl to thank for that,

I knew it couldn't be just b/c he likes it here. Thanks Marksgirl!

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Happy enough to reject new offers from Victoria at the end of 2001 and sign a 3 year deal with the Crows and will most likely finish his career here. That is a sign of happiness with his surroundings. Thats good enough for me

I get what you mean now mate, just wasn't sure if there was an extra meaning with the wink in your last post

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
cf, I think your getting confused with Mick or Nick.

Probably