Tippett’s helping hand to Crossley
BRAYDEN Crossley says a chance encounter with retired AFL player Kurt Tippett three years ago set the wheels in motion that have led to his own shot at the top level.
Crossley, who will make his AFL debut for the Suns against the Bulldogs in Ballarat today, was a 15-year-old looking to transform from a lumbering 198cm ruckman into an elite athlete that could make a career out of Australian rules when he met Tippett.
The now 18-year-old was training at Ultimate Sports Performance under respected coach Joey Hayes when he witnessed former Adelaide and Sydney ruckman/forward Tippett – back home on the Gold Coast after playing in the AFL grand final in 2014 - pushing his body like no one he had seen before.
Crossley said it was a turning point in his career.
“It was preseason and Kurt was away from Sydney,” Crossley said.
“I watched him for about 20 minutes and he was grinding through every rep. Every set he was struggling because he was pushing so hard. He was an absolute beast throwing weights around. It was an eye opening experience.
“He was probably in the prime of his career and Joey told me that was the standard I needed to get to.”
Crossley made it is mission to train just as hard as the man who he shared the same position on the ground with.
A knee injury to key forward Tom Lynch opened the door for Crossley’s senior selection
and the son of Southport Sharks Hall of Famer Troy Crossley believes he is ready after spending the bulk of his time training as a forward after being taken with pick 52 of last year’s draft.
“I had a lot of forward craft in the preseason and then in the early NEAFL practice matches and games I got to play predominantly forward,” Crossley said.
“I’m comfortable with my forward craft, confident I can do my role as a forward at AFL level.”
Lynch leads from the front for the Suns with his work rate and ability to bring the ball to ground even in the toughest of situations, something Crossley believes he can replicate.
“I’m not a traditional key forward,” Crossley said.
“I like getting my hands dirty, down on the ground.”