As a part of the development group in my first year, being around the senior players during the week has had a big impact on the way I have approached my training and games at Williamstown. The intensity that the AFL team train at is so high that I have no doubt it has helped bring out the best in my game as the season has progressed.
One area that I have really improved on since I’ve been here is being quicker and stronger in contests. I still have a lot of improvement left in me but already it has helped increase my skill level. It is little areas like this where we are always being challenged by the senior players to improve on. I think that is why we have been playing well at Williamstown.
In saying that we had our worst game of the season on Sunday when both the seniors and reserves were beaten by Coburg. As a member of the reserves side it was our first loss of the season, which I think in the long run could be a good result for us.
A loss can sometimes be more useful than winning by ten goals every week because it gives you a chance to reflect on where you’re at. It also highlights some bad habits that might be creeping into your game that you would get away with against weaker teams. Sunday’s result has done that and already we are working on improving so that it doesn’t happen again. I’m sure personally and team wise we will be better prepared next time.
It was great to have my Mum and Dad (Ali and Peter) visit me here in Melbourne recently to see how things are going. They were able to watch me play a game for Williamstown and also meet my host family who have been excellent in looking after me since I arrived here from Adelaide last summer.
There’s always a bit of doubt when you move away from home and into a house with new people. That’s what it was like for my parents and I when I moved here. I was really pleased they could meet my ‘adopted’ family and I could tell were thankful that I had been provided with good home to go to. I’m very lucky to say I now have two places I call home.
