Errin’s out to impress
EMERGING former Alice Springs- based footballer Errin Wasley-Black wants to use last week’s AFL draft heartbreak as motivation to take his game to new heights in 2014.
The highly-rated youngster could consider himself unlucky to miss out in the NAB AFL National Draft, as well as the rookie and pre-season drafts, but he’s not going to think about what could have been, rather what he can do to change his fortunes.
‘‘I’ve got a fair bit of support from my family and friends, they’ve all told me not to give up the dream,’’ he said.
‘‘ These days heaps of people are getting picked up as mature-aged recruits and that doesn’t stop until you’re in your late-20s, so there’s still plenty of time to get there.
‘‘From the moment my name didn’t get called out at the draft, it really just spurred me on that little bit more to work that much harder next year.
‘‘I’ve been speaking with a lot of people that have played in the AFL and they said that I’ve got a good attitude, having their support helps me a lot as well.’’
Wasley-Black is contracted at the NT Thunder for another season.
The 18-year-old said the appointment of former St Kilda and Brisbane Lions footballer Xavier Clarke as Thunder head coach was a good one, and he was excited to learn off the 106-game AFL player.
‘‘It’s going to do wonders for the support side of things and I’m looking forward to learning off someone new who I grew up watching,’’ he said.