3300KM FOR A FOOTY DREAM
JordanJo Reid has gone to great lengths to help kickstartki his AFL dream. The 18-year-old has tradedt his hometown of Mt Barker in WA for Torquay to try out for the Geelong Falcons.
JUST how far would you go to realise your dream of playing AFL?
In terms of distance travelled, Jordan Reid has settled on 3331km as his starting point, and where that takes him from there he will wait and see.
The 18-year-old has made the imposing trip from Mt Barker, 50km north of Albany and four hours south of Perth, to Torquay to try out for the Geelong Falcons.
It is a decision that Reid hopes will dramatically increase his prospects of being drafted at the end of the year, with the West Australian saying a family connection to the area prompted him to make the move interstate instead of to Perth to try his hand with a WAFL colts side.
“I’m aspiring to make the AFL and there is just not much of a chance back home, so I’ve come to play in the TAC Cup and want to give myself the best chance,” Reid said.
“Most of Dad’s family is from around this area, Mum’s is in WA but no one lives in Perth.
“When I was in Year 11 at school I came and tried out with the Falcons but I got injured two weeks before (preseason) and I went back and finished Year 12 and I’ve been invited back. Even if I don’t get drafted, I just want to be the best player I can be.”
Standing 194cm, Reid has already got a sizeable frame for someone who has not been in an elite system before.
He has played senior football for Mt Barker in WA’s Great Southern Football League, but is relatively raw in footballing terms when it comes to how the modern game is played.
Reid says his eyes have been opened to a brand new world under the tutelage of Falcons coach Daniel O’Keefe and his coaching staff.
“Last year we had a new coach for our league side (at Mt Barker) and that was the first time I’d been introduced to a zone,” he said.
“I’m new to it and learning game plans and the different styles of footy, as opposed to the classic man-on-man footy.
“I’m still finding myself as a footballer because I’ve been played in various positions through juniors because I’m a tall kid. I’ve played in the ruck and in the forward line, and in the seniors (at Mt Barker) I played centre half back and full back.”
Torquay Football Club has also benefited from Reid’s move to the region, with the youngster set to don the black and gold if and when he is not playing with the Falcons.
“(The goal) first of all it’s to make the squad of 50, then it’s to make the top 22 and then hopefully make the Vic Country team,” he said.