Dons give Josh a Green light
He’s flying under the radar at Essendon, but after snapping three goals against the Giants last weekend, Tasmanian Josh Green’s career is about to take off.
INJURED, struggling and delisted by the Brisbane Lions last year, Tasmanian ace Josh Green was hoping to continue his AFL career at another club when Essendon came knocking.
Bombers coach John Worsfold needed some electricity on his forward line and Green has provided the spark.
Green kicked three goals and was Essendon’s leading goalkicker when they put the frighteners on ladder leader GWS at Spotless Stadium last weekend.
The former TSL player is glad to be a Bomber.
“John Worsfold has been great for me and my footy,” Green said.
“He just lets me go and play. He understands what kind of player I am. Rather than telling me to run here, run there, he just lets me go and play.
“My role is to apply pressure and kick goals. It’s simplified and I just try to do that each week for the team.”
Green, 24, was drafted by Brisbane at pick 32 in the 2010 AFL Draft.
He played 81 games for the Lions before the relationship frayed last year.
“I knocked back a contract earlier in the year just to focus on playing some footy and to assess my options and see how the club was going,” Green said.
“I had a pretty bad year with injury and form, and I didn’t enjoy it as much.
“I wondered if a fresh start would be good for me.
“We parted ways. Essendon was keen but a trade didn’t eventuate so I got picked up as a delisted free agent and I haven’t looked back.”
Green could not have known the controversy he would spark by ending his chase against Richmond defender Jayden Short, who was penalised for a deliberate rushed behind in the Dreamtime at the G match two weeks ago.
“People have had a go at me about it and saying it wasn’t in the rules,” he said.
“I just played it as I saw it. He didn’t really have any real pressure. I sort of pulled back, so he had time to pick the ball up and make a decision.
“The AFL is trying to do a great thing by trying to keep the ball in play and keep the game exciting. Maybe there’s a few ways you could do it better but I like the rule.”
Essendon is one game out of the top eight and Green hopes to get his first taste of September action.
“We’ve got five or six older blokes who are busting for some success before they finish up and for that’s also what it’s all about,” Green said. “We’re not that far away. “We’re one game out and with the bye coming up, we can freshen up and have a strong back half of the year – anything is possible.”