W
ith the premiership now in
full flight, all 18 AFL clubs
are filled with the excitement,
hopes and dreams of winning
the flag on the last Saturday in September.
The zeal that permeates this period inspires
all players, from experienced veterans
to greenhorn rookies making their way
in professional footy. But for two men
who have taken the road less
travelled to embark on AFL
careers, they have good
reason to feel optimistic
about what’s ahead.
2018 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON continues LIVE from Sunday April 1 at 4pm on FOX FOOTY [504] available in the SPORTS packWORDS: GAVIN DENNETT. PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
Essendon’s Ben McNiece and Adelaide’s
Hugh Greenwood enjoyed breakthroughs in
2017 and are shining examples of what hard
work and perseverance achieves. At 26 years
of age, both are coming of seasons in which
they began as mature-age rookies and went
on to register their AFL debuts. Making their
journey more rewarding is the fact they
aren’t products of a system that shoehorns
young men into professional careers from
their teenage years.
McNiece, who first took to the field for the
Bombers against Collingwood in front of
a packed MCG on ANZAC Day last year,
is making the most of his current
status on the senior list after
taking time out from the game
to study in the States.
“My career path has been
a bit diferent to most players at
the elite level,” he says. “I spent
my early years toiling away in the
[second tier] VFL while working
a full-time job. To get a chance
at the top level was significant.
“When I came back from
America after not having football
in my life, I thought I’d throw
everything at it and have one last
crack. I put in a lot of hard work
to get where I am and it hasn’t
been an easy road, but I’ve
enjoyed every bit of it – even
the slog of preseason.”
Greenwood’s AFL adventure
began following his successful
career in professional basketball.
Two rising stars – who have taken unconventional routes to forge elite footy
careers – are poised for big campaigns in this year’s AFL competition
AFL
Having represented Australia at under-19
level and then embarking on a four-year
career in college hoops for the University
of New Mexico, he returned home to sign
a three-year deal with Perth Wildcats in
the NBL for 2015. However, just one month
into his contract he quit to pursue a career
in the AFL with Adelaide. Less than two years
later he was playing in the 2017 grand final.
“I never expected I’d be playing footy, let
alone doing it in a grand final,” Greenwood
says. “It’s all happened quickly and has been
challenging. I thought that having already
played at this level of sport the transition
would be somewhat easier, but it was dicult
and there were times I wondered what I got
myself into. But the Adelaide Crows have
shown great faith in me.”
He continues: “Coming from a non-contact
sport, I thought that the physical side of
things was going to take me some time but
my physicality is actually an area I thrive in.
I haven’t been through the rigours of getting
beaten up since I was an 18- or 19-year-old
so I feel quite refreshed.”
After experiencing the elation of making
a grand final in his initial year, Greenwood
also had to endure the disappointment of
losing it as Richmond thumped Adelaide by
48 points. “We addressed the grand final
right away in preseason but have now put
it behind us,” he says. “This is a completely
new season and we know our best footy is
more than capable of winning the flag. We
just have to remember what got us to the
grand final in the first place. We are in our
premiership window.”
PRIME
In their
Former basketballer
Hugh Greenwood is no
stranger to competing
at a professional level58 Foxtel APRIL