- Jan 30, 2006
- 960
- 287
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
Pavlich hints at SA return
FREMANTLE captain Pavlich has kept the door open for a South Australia homecoming with one of the state's AFL teams beyond this year.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21167724-23211,00.html
Pavlich, who will skipper Fremantle this season, said the Dockers captaincy would not necessarily anchor him in Perth.
The Woodville-West Torrens export accepted Fremantle's top leadership role on a season-to-season basis.
Surprisingly, the agreement delivered no extension to his current contract, which expires at the end of this year.
Adelaide-born Pavlich, 25, declined to confirm whether he was considering a return but refused to rule out a future move from Perth.
"I've never said never, whether that's during my career or after my career," Pavlich said. "My immediate family and some of my good friends still remain there and I've always said I would love to live in Adelaide at some stage.
"And I barracked for the Crows when I was younger so it's hard to say what will happen. For the next 12 months, at least, I'm the captain of the Fremantle Football Club.
"I took the captaincy saying, 'We'll see after 12 months - how I feel in the captain's role, how the players perceive me and how the club goes'. We'll wait and see."
Pavlich went to Fremantle as the Dockers' second selection - and the fourth pick overall - at the 1999 national draft. He debuted in round five of the 2000 season as an 18 year old and played in each of the remaining 18 matches that year.
In his 153 matches, the four-time all-Australian and three-time Dockers best-and-fairest has since become a superstar.
Pavlich was Fremantle's stand-out choice to succeed Peter Bell, who stood down as captain last year after five seasons at the post and having led the Dockers to their first preliminary final.
Competition to lure Pavlich when his contract expires this season is sure to be fierce.
But the 191cm, 99kg key-position player denied Fremantle had used its captaincy as bait to keep its match-winner in WA.
"They made it very clear this had nothing to do with me staying," said Pavlich, who last year tied with former Crows forward Tony Modra as the club's season-leading goalkicker with 71 majors.
"People can read into it what they will but hopefully they can see that my form has been good enough to warrant this decision. Whatever people say, they will say. I just have to keep focusing on playing good football and hopefully that will happen."
He said being considered or overlooked as skipper would have no influence on his decision to stay in the west.
"It wouldn't have changed," he said.
"All the talk about my contract will keep coming up but all I keep saying is I love playing at Fremantle and love living in Perth."
Even if he does not return to SA, fans could see Pavlich in an SA guernsey if the AFL reprises its mothballed State-of-Origin series.
Pavlich backed the state-versus-state concept and yearned to wear SA colours against Victoria.
"I'd love to play," Pavlich said. "I grew up watching some amazing games between us and the Vics.
"It's extremely hard to find exactly when we could (play). The pre-season idea is good because teams would be more likely to let their players go, as opposed to the end of the season or halfway through the season.
"They play the Aboriginal all-Star game in that time and clubs aren't necessarily playing all their players in the pre-season games. I don't know how it's going to work but if someone could come up with a concept it would be good to see."
Sunday Mail (SA)
FREMANTLE captain Pavlich has kept the door open for a South Australia homecoming with one of the state's AFL teams beyond this year.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21167724-23211,00.html
Pavlich, who will skipper Fremantle this season, said the Dockers captaincy would not necessarily anchor him in Perth.
The Woodville-West Torrens export accepted Fremantle's top leadership role on a season-to-season basis.
Surprisingly, the agreement delivered no extension to his current contract, which expires at the end of this year.
Adelaide-born Pavlich, 25, declined to confirm whether he was considering a return but refused to rule out a future move from Perth.
"I've never said never, whether that's during my career or after my career," Pavlich said. "My immediate family and some of my good friends still remain there and I've always said I would love to live in Adelaide at some stage.
"And I barracked for the Crows when I was younger so it's hard to say what will happen. For the next 12 months, at least, I'm the captain of the Fremantle Football Club.
"I took the captaincy saying, 'We'll see after 12 months - how I feel in the captain's role, how the players perceive me and how the club goes'. We'll wait and see."
Pavlich went to Fremantle as the Dockers' second selection - and the fourth pick overall - at the 1999 national draft. He debuted in round five of the 2000 season as an 18 year old and played in each of the remaining 18 matches that year.
In his 153 matches, the four-time all-Australian and three-time Dockers best-and-fairest has since become a superstar.
Pavlich was Fremantle's stand-out choice to succeed Peter Bell, who stood down as captain last year after five seasons at the post and having led the Dockers to their first preliminary final.
Competition to lure Pavlich when his contract expires this season is sure to be fierce.
But the 191cm, 99kg key-position player denied Fremantle had used its captaincy as bait to keep its match-winner in WA.
"They made it very clear this had nothing to do with me staying," said Pavlich, who last year tied with former Crows forward Tony Modra as the club's season-leading goalkicker with 71 majors.
"People can read into it what they will but hopefully they can see that my form has been good enough to warrant this decision. Whatever people say, they will say. I just have to keep focusing on playing good football and hopefully that will happen."
He said being considered or overlooked as skipper would have no influence on his decision to stay in the west.
"It wouldn't have changed," he said.
"All the talk about my contract will keep coming up but all I keep saying is I love playing at Fremantle and love living in Perth."
Even if he does not return to SA, fans could see Pavlich in an SA guernsey if the AFL reprises its mothballed State-of-Origin series.
Pavlich backed the state-versus-state concept and yearned to wear SA colours against Victoria.
"I'd love to play," Pavlich said. "I grew up watching some amazing games between us and the Vics.
"It's extremely hard to find exactly when we could (play). The pre-season idea is good because teams would be more likely to let their players go, as opposed to the end of the season or halfway through the season.
"They play the Aboriginal all-Star game in that time and clubs aren't necessarily playing all their players in the pre-season games. I don't know how it's going to work but if someone could come up with a concept it would be good to see."
Sunday Mail (SA)
