Actually why dont i just post it on here???!?!?!?!
here u go:
Crows' old guard finds rookie Reilly a perfect fit
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
19mar03
FOR the first time in seven AFL seasons, Adelaide is almost certain to start the premiership campaign – against Fremantle on Sunday week – without a first-game player.
Such is the maturity of the rebuilt Crows and the bonus of an injury list which next week is expected to have just one first-choice player unavailable – forward Scott Welsh.
Adelaide coach Gary Ayres must cut two players from the 24-man squad that beat Collingwood for the Crows' first pre-season Cup last weekend – and, given the impressive form they showed at the Telstra Dome, not many would expect to be dropped.
The youngest and least-experienced player in the Cup-winning 24 is 19-year-old Brent Reilly.
In this case it will not be last in, first out at selection next Wednesday night.
Reilly's pre-season form in the Adelaide midfield was so impressive and solid that he can expect to be in Adelaide's first 22 of the new season.
This is a massive rise for the Victorian draftee who seemed stuck in the Sturt reserves last year.
And it is a tribute to his work ethic – and the encouragement of Adelaide assistant coach Neil Craig, director of the Crows' midfield.
A sign of Reilly's sound character – which has given the Crows confidence to keep his name on the whiteboard for selection next week – is how he reflected on last year's slow-moving season in the SANFL Bs.
"I wouldn't say it was frustrating," said Reilly, drafted by the Crows as their top pick (No.12) in the 2001 national draft. "It was a good developing year. I worked on my goals and worked hard on the track . . . and I'm here today. My main goal was to work hard in the pre-season and play in the Wizard Cup.
"I played all the (four Cup) games and we won the premiership, which was good, and hopefully I can follow up and play in round one.
"I'm pretty excited, but I don't want to get overawed about it. It's a long season."
Sadly, in some ways, Reilly does not join the exclusive club – which includes Ben Hart, Simon Goodwin and Brett Burton – of players to play their first AFL game with the Crows in a premiership-season opener.
Reilly was called into the Adelaide 22 as a late replacement – for Kane Johnson – in round 15 last year against St Kilda, playing 10 minutes for one handpass.
He could still join that other exclusive club of scoring a goal with his first kick in AFL.
The Reilly who kicked the dew off the park with Sturt last season is just a shadow of the current well-balanced midfielder.
"Neil Craig was a big influence on me and he really wanted me to get fit and bigger and stronger and get the intensity up for AFL," said Reilly, who has added 3kg to his frame and is not brushed away from packs. The Wizard Cup campaign, in particular the grand final in which Reilly quickly returned to his feet after being bowled over by Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant at a marking contest, has been an ideal preparation for Reilly's "debut" next weekend.
"I've learnt the intensity of AFL football," the former Kangaroos supporter said. "I've learnt that you've got to work hard to get the ball and be in the right spots and just sort of be strong in the mind and strong in the body to stand up to them all."
here u go:
Crows' old guard finds rookie Reilly a perfect fit
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
19mar03
FOR the first time in seven AFL seasons, Adelaide is almost certain to start the premiership campaign – against Fremantle on Sunday week – without a first-game player.
Such is the maturity of the rebuilt Crows and the bonus of an injury list which next week is expected to have just one first-choice player unavailable – forward Scott Welsh.
Adelaide coach Gary Ayres must cut two players from the 24-man squad that beat Collingwood for the Crows' first pre-season Cup last weekend – and, given the impressive form they showed at the Telstra Dome, not many would expect to be dropped.
The youngest and least-experienced player in the Cup-winning 24 is 19-year-old Brent Reilly.
In this case it will not be last in, first out at selection next Wednesday night.
Reilly's pre-season form in the Adelaide midfield was so impressive and solid that he can expect to be in Adelaide's first 22 of the new season.
This is a massive rise for the Victorian draftee who seemed stuck in the Sturt reserves last year.
And it is a tribute to his work ethic – and the encouragement of Adelaide assistant coach Neil Craig, director of the Crows' midfield.
A sign of Reilly's sound character – which has given the Crows confidence to keep his name on the whiteboard for selection next week – is how he reflected on last year's slow-moving season in the SANFL Bs.
"I wouldn't say it was frustrating," said Reilly, drafted by the Crows as their top pick (No.12) in the 2001 national draft. "It was a good developing year. I worked on my goals and worked hard on the track . . . and I'm here today. My main goal was to work hard in the pre-season and play in the Wizard Cup.
"I played all the (four Cup) games and we won the premiership, which was good, and hopefully I can follow up and play in round one.
"I'm pretty excited, but I don't want to get overawed about it. It's a long season."
Sadly, in some ways, Reilly does not join the exclusive club – which includes Ben Hart, Simon Goodwin and Brett Burton – of players to play their first AFL game with the Crows in a premiership-season opener.
Reilly was called into the Adelaide 22 as a late replacement – for Kane Johnson – in round 15 last year against St Kilda, playing 10 minutes for one handpass.
He could still join that other exclusive club of scoring a goal with his first kick in AFL.
The Reilly who kicked the dew off the park with Sturt last season is just a shadow of the current well-balanced midfielder.
"Neil Craig was a big influence on me and he really wanted me to get fit and bigger and stronger and get the intensity up for AFL," said Reilly, who has added 3kg to his frame and is not brushed away from packs. The Wizard Cup campaign, in particular the grand final in which Reilly quickly returned to his feet after being bowled over by Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant at a marking contest, has been an ideal preparation for Reilly's "debut" next weekend.
"I've learnt the intensity of AFL football," the former Kangaroos supporter said. "I've learnt that you've got to work hard to get the ball and be in the right spots and just sort of be strong in the mind and strong in the body to stand up to them all."
, and I have a friend who's a Swans fan), so I don't need to worry. If the booking fee is outrageous I'd just buy at the gate.
