On Sunday, the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS will take on the West Coast Eagles in the first ever game to be played at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Incredibly, in a side with over a dozen players under 20 years old, only one of these talented youngsters will be playing his first ever AFL match; 19-year-old Adam Treloar.
Hailed as one of the most exciting young players in his AIS AFL Academy intake, Treloar impressed throughout the 2010 Under 18 National Championships and was taken as a 17-year-old priority selection for the GIANTS.
Treloar was sidelined with a foot injury throughout the preseason and in two days; the talented former Dandenong Stingray will burst on to the AFL stage.
“Right now I’m just really excited and can’t wait for Sunday.
“I think that once Sunday comes around I’ll probably be pretty nervous.
“About four weeks before the first round of the NAB Cup I was injured.
“Two weeks ago I had my first run in the reserves and that was really tough. I had forgotten how tough it was to be match fit and just how much running you had to do.
“Last week I felt great and now I’m looking forward to running out there.”
Rewind twelve months and Treloar was a far cry from the confident and excited player that sits before me on the eve of his AFL debut.
Packing his bags and preparing to move to Western Sydney, the shy, honest midfielder was struggling with a fear of homesickness and the reality of living away from his family and friends.
“I was pretty scared when I moved up here. I was very close to my family and my girlfriend Kelsey.
“I wasn’t sitting there thinking that this was a great opportunity or the best thing that was probably ever going to happen to me, I was really negative.”
What Treloar found when he arrived in Western Sydney was a fostered home environment and a workplace that would challenge him to grow and develop his football skills under veteran coaches Mark Williams and Kevin Sheedy.
He also found out a lot about himself.
“If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to just give it a go.
“Craig Lambert, his wife Melissa and their kids create an incredible home environment for us.
“If I had stayed in Melbourne, I don’t think I’d be as independent as I am now.
“I’d be relying on all the people around me to help me grow as a person and even though I’ve had a lot of support around me, I’ve done a lot of growing up on my own.
“I had to learn to be an independent person; learn to cook, clean and do my own washing.
“I could still do a bit more washing; I put my towels in with my clothes when I should be putting towels in by themselves.
“I wouldn’t change this for anything. I’d rather play for GWS than anyone else.”
GIANTS Welfare Manager Craig Lambert said that Treloar’s personal development was a credit to him and the club.
“Adam is a lot more confident now than when he arrived, not just in his football but in his life skills and coping strategies.
“His ability to manage stress and injury has improved out of sight.
“It’s a credit to everyone that Adam is so comfortable here and he is going to be a great player for this football club.”
The reality of professional football is a demanding one and Treloar is under no illusions when it comes to the challenges that lie ahead. It would be easy to take his modesty for self doubt but when asked if he’s ready for the AFL, the young gun doesn’t hesitate.
“I’ve still got things to learn at home and on the field but I’m looking forward to continuing to grow here.
“This is my home now and I’m ready to play.”
By Rebecca Mills
2012 TOYOTA AFL Premiership Season ROUND 3
GWS GIANTS v West Coast Eagles
Sunday April 15, 1.10pm
BLACKTOWN INTERNATIONAL SPORTSPARK
Tickets from: www.ticketmaster.com.au
Purchase your ticket to the game and you’ll go into the draw to win a signed, framed GIANTS Guernsey!
