I’m ready this time
In many ways it summed up Kreuger’s under-18 season. He just didn’t have that consistency in his performances that AFL clubs were looking for.
“I was in (the game) and then being quiet,” Kreuger admitted. “I really worked hard on being consistent throughout the year (in 2018), hitting the scoreboard, winning the one-on-ones.
“It (consistency) plays a huge part in (getting drafted).”
After a solid pre-season with South Adelaide, Kreuger finally managed to crack into the senior team for his first game in Round 6.
From that moment he never looked back, playing 13 games and kicking 22 goals.
He was nominated for the SANFL’s version of the rising star award following his threegoal performance in Round 16 against Port Adelaide.
“I got my opportunity and I did enough to keep my spot and it just went from there,” Kreuger said.
“I had a point to prove that I could play at a high level and it was basically go out there and have a good crack. It sorted itself out pretty quickly.
“The draft wasn’t really on my mind.”
Interest in the indigenous footballer rose throughout the season and a number of clubs, many of which were interested last year, sat down to chat with him.
That growing interest sparked the Cats to act, working a deal with the Blues to get Kreuger in before other clubs snapped him up in the national draft.
So quick did the deal come together, however, that Kreuger only learnt about it on Friday night. By Sunday he was in Geelong going through some final checks before the trade was made official yesterday afternoon.
“It’s an unreal feeling. It’s a dream come true, really,” Kreuger said. “It’s the best moment of my life so far.
“I was at work and I had finished up for the day. I got home and saw I had a missed call from one of the recruiters (at Geelong) and I rang him back and he broke the news to me. “I was absolutely thrilled.” Kreuger was forced to keep his lips sealed about the deal until yesterday, not even able to quit his job at Telstra just in case things went pear-shaped.
“I’m a Telstra contractor. I’m the bloke you yell at when your internet starts to get crappy,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’ve got to go in, tell the boss I’m a Geelong Cat now, I can’t come into work.”
Kreuger is pretty honest when it comes to analysing the weaknesses in his own game.
The key forward, who can also go back, understands he is far from a polished diamond, but is hopeful his time in an AFL program can take him to the next level.
“I’m athletic, cover the ground reasonably well. I’ve been trying to build my endur- ance to stay in the game longer and have an impact on what’s going on around me,” Kreuger said.
“I think I can play a couple of different positions, I’m a pretty versatile player, but I felt comfortable this year playing one position, having a role and doing my part for the team.”
With a move to Catland now complete, Kreuger said he wanted to make a positive impact early on Geelong’s playing group.
“I just want to earn the respect of my teammates and coaches first. I think that’s a huge, huge thing as a player,” he said. “If you earn the respect then things can fall in pretty quickly.
“You rise to the occasion when it comes to the high level. I think I’ll be pretty well suited (to meeting the training standards required play AFL) because I adjusted to SANFL footy pretty quickly.”
He’s also optimistic the next time he runs out onto GMHBA Stadium will be a bit more of a positive experience than the last time during the under-18 carnival.
“Hopefully Dangerfield or Selwood don’t knock me out in my first session,” he laughed.