DURING pre-season Sam Crocker set about improving his fierceness at the contest.
Crocker borrowed a tackle bag from a friend and worked relentlessly on tackling and applying pressure.
“The pre-season helped. I worked on things I knew I needed to improve and I think I have gradually been getting better and that’s why my game has evolved,” Crocker said.
While Crocker was unsure just where 2010 would take him, he’s been pleasantly surprised. He made the Vic Metro squad and although he did not make the final squad his game has developed so much that he’s been invited to the AFL Draft Camp.
“I wasn’t really expecting given I played just the one game last season. At the start of the season, I wasn’t expecting to get into the (Oakleigh Chargers) squad,” Crocker said.
“Feedback from last year was ‘be more physical, be more damaging on the game’. I guess that’s what I’ve done.”
Chargers coach Steve Grace said that Crocker had developed from solely “an outside player” to the stage where he rated him “one of the best wingman in the competition.”
Grace nominated Crocker’s penetrating left foot kicking as a key component on the Year 12 Carey Grammar student’s game.
“He’s really improved his contested footy. He’s a sweeping wingman and he’s heavily involved off the lines so you need a fair bit of commitment in your hard ball gets to go well in the role required,” Grace said.
“He’s really played that role well. He set our game up against Bendigo with his game around the square. To his credit he’s really focused on the areas he’s needed to work on.”
Last year Crocker played just the solitary game for the Chargers, a mix of lack of maturity and not being able to force his way into a team bursting with talent-laden wingman.
Ben Sinclair, subsequently drafted by Collingwood, Andy Gaff and Jamie MacMillan consigned Crocker to play school football.
While school football falls a long way short of the TAC Cup in all areas, Crocker said the step down didn’t suit him.
“I find school football harder than TAC. I’m more of an outside player and struggle to win my ball there whereas at Oakleigh I’m more used to being on the end of a hand ball received,” he said
Crocker received 10 handballs against Bendigo Pioneers as he racked up 20 possessions and laid three tackles, a performance that saw him earn five votes in the TAC Cup Coaches Award.
“I’m averaging about 10 hand ball receives, but obviously I would like to average more,” Crocker said.
Crocker believes with the return of all the Associated Public School players it will strengthen Oakleigh’s drive for the premiership.
He said when all the APS players were available at the start of the season it resulted in the Chargers jumping away to a 6-0 start.
“I guess it shows by the number of players we have got going to (AFL) Draft Camp and State screenings,” Crocker said.
But, first Crocker and his Chargers teammates believe they have some unfinished business to attend.
Last Modified on 20/09/2010 10:47