southerncross
07-04-2007, 08:12 AM
Griffen baulks at idol chatter (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21516287%255E20322,00.html)
WESTERN Bulldogs young gun Ryan Griffen has always had a soft spot for a certain Crow - but not any more.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5441396,00.jpg Supreme test: Bulldogs young gun Ryan Griffen idolised Andrew McLeod as a kid, but is looking forward to playing on the Crows star at the MCG tomorrow.
"I used to barrack for the Crows and I used to like Andrew McLeod," Griffen, 20, said. "I thought he was an awesome player when I was a kid. He's always good to watch and good to play on."
But his only match-up on the dual Norm Smith medallist -- in just his second AFL game -- was so short-lived that it left Griffen hungry for more.
And he sees tomorrow's twilight clash with Adelaide at the MCG as the perfect opportunity to test himself against the man he once idolised.
"It would be good," Griffen said. "I've only played on him once, my first game against the Crows, but it was only for a little bit, about five minutes I think."
After enjoying McLeod's Grand Final heroics as a fresh-faced teenager, Griffen could understandably be nervous and overawed should he be chosen to shake the Crow great's hand before the bounce.
But the emerging star knows better than to let his emotions take over when he crosses the white line.
"I can't really think about it like that, I have to think he's just another opponent and I have to do my job," Griffen said.
"When you're out there you don't really think that way, you want to get the ball and that's got to be your sole focus."
As it will be for a Dogs' team eager to repeat the form it showed in its Round 1 thrashing of Geelong and establish itself as a genuine top-four contender.
"That's what we want to do, we want to try and beat top four sides like Adelaide," Griffen said.
The punters have the Bulldogs $1.38 favourites, with the Crows $2.85 outsiders.
And McLeod, for one, is keen to see how expectation affects the Bulldogs.
"The Bulldogs had a pretty good win and they've (media) pretty much written us off, which is a good thing," McLeod, who is overcoming a corked arm, said yesterday.
"So there's a bit of pressure on us to turn it around and there's pressure on them (Bulldogs) to keep it going.
"Hopefully we can go over there (Melbourne) and ambush them."
WESTERN Bulldogs young gun Ryan Griffen has always had a soft spot for a certain Crow - but not any more.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5441396,00.jpg Supreme test: Bulldogs young gun Ryan Griffen idolised Andrew McLeod as a kid, but is looking forward to playing on the Crows star at the MCG tomorrow.
"I used to barrack for the Crows and I used to like Andrew McLeod," Griffen, 20, said. "I thought he was an awesome player when I was a kid. He's always good to watch and good to play on."
But his only match-up on the dual Norm Smith medallist -- in just his second AFL game -- was so short-lived that it left Griffen hungry for more.
And he sees tomorrow's twilight clash with Adelaide at the MCG as the perfect opportunity to test himself against the man he once idolised.
"It would be good," Griffen said. "I've only played on him once, my first game against the Crows, but it was only for a little bit, about five minutes I think."
After enjoying McLeod's Grand Final heroics as a fresh-faced teenager, Griffen could understandably be nervous and overawed should he be chosen to shake the Crow great's hand before the bounce.
But the emerging star knows better than to let his emotions take over when he crosses the white line.
"I can't really think about it like that, I have to think he's just another opponent and I have to do my job," Griffen said.
"When you're out there you don't really think that way, you want to get the ball and that's got to be your sole focus."
As it will be for a Dogs' team eager to repeat the form it showed in its Round 1 thrashing of Geelong and establish itself as a genuine top-four contender.
"That's what we want to do, we want to try and beat top four sides like Adelaide," Griffen said.
The punters have the Bulldogs $1.38 favourites, with the Crows $2.85 outsiders.
And McLeod, for one, is keen to see how expectation affects the Bulldogs.
"The Bulldogs had a pretty good win and they've (media) pretty much written us off, which is a good thing," McLeod, who is overcoming a corked arm, said yesterday.
"So there's a bit of pressure on us to turn it around and there's pressure on them (Bulldogs) to keep it going.
"Hopefully we can go over there (Melbourne) and ambush them."