Age: 20
Club: Port Melbourne
Games: 11
Goals: 24
IT’S amazing what a difference a year can make.
This time last year Callum Sinclair’s season was over, finished before it virtually began.
Listed as a Collingwood VFL player, Sinclair didn’t gain the chance to play a game for the VFL Magpies. A stress fracture to a foot, saw to that.
Foreseeing that opportunities on Collingwood’s VFL list would be limited, Sinclair decided to make his way to Port Melbourne, where his father Allan, a former Fitzroy and St Kilda player, played in 1979-80.
“Last year was a pretty bad year. I had a pretty bad injury, it was frustrating,” Sinclair said.
“I’m just happy to be playing football. I wanted to play consistent VFL football and really to give it a go.
“Because I missed so much football, I really didn’t have that many expectations. I just wanted to get out there and contribute to the team in any way I could.”
The 200 cm Sinclair has certainly done that. He’s provided the Borough with another focal point in attack along with Dean Galea and Adrian Bonaddio.
Sinclair has averaged two goals a game with a season high four goals against Sandringham. Only twice – against Bendigo Bombers and Frankston – has Sinclair not kicked a goal.
In fact, Sinclair has been a multiple goal kicker in the other nine games.
Many believe that the emerging Sinclair will attract interest from AFL clubs in either the AFL National Draft or Rookie Draft at the end of the season.
While Sinclair would relish such an opportunity, he’s not getting too far ahead of himself.
He realises there is much to play out this season.
The university student looks back favourably on how his fortunes have fluctuated in the past 12 months.
“This year has gone pretty quick while last year it seemed to go forever,” Sinclair said.
“Now, I’m feeling really fit and healthy. Time goes pretty quickly when you are having fun.”
For the fourth successive season, the third under coach Gary Ayres, Port Melbourne appears set to play a meaningful role in the finals.
It’s a target the playing group identified pre-season and one they haven’t lost sight of as the season has unfolded.
“Gary said to us pre-season that we should aim to be a top four team and that’s pretty much the aim of the team,” Sinclair said.
The history and the culture of Port Melbourne is not lost on Sinclair who had inside knowledge from his father about the tradition and success that goes hand in hand with club.
It didn’t take Sinclair long to gain a greater understanding of why Port Melbourne is such a fiercely proud club and why it continues to stand alone.
“As a club we want to prove that the Port Melbourne Football Club is capable of winning a premiership without the influence of AFL Listed players,” Sinclair said.
Last Modified on 06/08/2010 10:13