southerncross
25-06-2007, 05:52 AM
Grant ready for recall (http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/grant-ready-for-recall/2007/06/24/1182623739673.html)
WHILE the Western Bulldogs look certain to welcome back veteran Chris Grant for the match against the Kangaroos on Sunday, the AFL's youngest player, Ben Reid, could make his debut for Collingwood should Anthony Rocca be suspended for high contact on Sydney's Sean Dempster on Saturday night.
The pair were opponents for a time at Chirnside Park yesterday as Grant played his third game in a row for Werribee on the comeback from an operation in April to remove a bone spur and fragments from the pubic bone.
Reid, a skinny 196-centimetre forward, had the better of the duel, using his pace to get free of Grant on several occasions and kick a couple of goals to keep Williamstown ahead.
Grant, however, had been dragged deep into defence by Williamstown after starting further up the ground and playing like a man possessed. By time-on in the first quarter he had picked up nine kicks and, when he pushed forward in the third quarter, attacked the ball strongly and had an impact on the game.
He finished with 14 kicks, four handballs and nine marks, while Reid, who is quick on the lead and has strong hands overhead, proved outstanding with four goals, helping Williamstown to a seven-point win.
"I feel really good — no issue at all and groin-wise, it's the best I've felt for, it'd have to be three years I'd reckon," Grant said after the match.
"The plan has always been to at least get two games minimum, and we got three in, which has worked out pretty well and I'll be going into a team that is actually playing all right at the moment.
"The last three weeks have been important for me to be able to get out there in some capacity and start reading the play again. It's amazing how when you're out for 10 or 12 weeks how much different it is when you get out there, no matter what level you're playing at."
Grant was watched by Bulldogs' assistant coach Chris Bond, who said the veteran would definitely be in line for selection to play the Kangaroos at the MCG.
"We're really happy with it. Malcolm Lynch played his second game and for him to play well and get a bit of the ball we were pretty pleased," Bond said. "Granty's third game back was good and Andrejs Everitt just keeps improving.
"I thought as the game went on Granty moved better, which was a really good sign. He'll be in consideration for next week's game, no doubt. We'll just have a look at how he pulls up. We just think he's going to be value-added to us, he's certainly going to play a role in our team at some stage, whether it's this week or the week after."
Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse was also at the game and was clearly impressed with Reid's efforts, speaking to the teenager at the three-quarter-time huddle and then again in the rooms after the match.
"You could see Mick beeline to Ben at three-quarter-time and then to him and a few others in the rooms, he was pretty excited about him," Williamstown coach Brad Gotch said."He's a bit concerned about whether maybe there's a few injuries or whether Rocca goes out."
"(Paul) Medhurst put his hand up pretty well. He played a blinder of a game, 4.2 and 23 touches. He did a lot of stuff out of the centre today, which he is not known for."
WHILE the Western Bulldogs look certain to welcome back veteran Chris Grant for the match against the Kangaroos on Sunday, the AFL's youngest player, Ben Reid, could make his debut for Collingwood should Anthony Rocca be suspended for high contact on Sydney's Sean Dempster on Saturday night.
The pair were opponents for a time at Chirnside Park yesterday as Grant played his third game in a row for Werribee on the comeback from an operation in April to remove a bone spur and fragments from the pubic bone.
Reid, a skinny 196-centimetre forward, had the better of the duel, using his pace to get free of Grant on several occasions and kick a couple of goals to keep Williamstown ahead.
Grant, however, had been dragged deep into defence by Williamstown after starting further up the ground and playing like a man possessed. By time-on in the first quarter he had picked up nine kicks and, when he pushed forward in the third quarter, attacked the ball strongly and had an impact on the game.
He finished with 14 kicks, four handballs and nine marks, while Reid, who is quick on the lead and has strong hands overhead, proved outstanding with four goals, helping Williamstown to a seven-point win.
"I feel really good — no issue at all and groin-wise, it's the best I've felt for, it'd have to be three years I'd reckon," Grant said after the match.
"The plan has always been to at least get two games minimum, and we got three in, which has worked out pretty well and I'll be going into a team that is actually playing all right at the moment.
"The last three weeks have been important for me to be able to get out there in some capacity and start reading the play again. It's amazing how when you're out for 10 or 12 weeks how much different it is when you get out there, no matter what level you're playing at."
Grant was watched by Bulldogs' assistant coach Chris Bond, who said the veteran would definitely be in line for selection to play the Kangaroos at the MCG.
"We're really happy with it. Malcolm Lynch played his second game and for him to play well and get a bit of the ball we were pretty pleased," Bond said. "Granty's third game back was good and Andrejs Everitt just keeps improving.
"I thought as the game went on Granty moved better, which was a really good sign. He'll be in consideration for next week's game, no doubt. We'll just have a look at how he pulls up. We just think he's going to be value-added to us, he's certainly going to play a role in our team at some stage, whether it's this week or the week after."
Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse was also at the game and was clearly impressed with Reid's efforts, speaking to the teenager at the three-quarter-time huddle and then again in the rooms after the match.
"You could see Mick beeline to Ben at three-quarter-time and then to him and a few others in the rooms, he was pretty excited about him," Williamstown coach Brad Gotch said."He's a bit concerned about whether maybe there's a few injuries or whether Rocca goes out."
"(Paul) Medhurst put his hand up pretty well. He played a blinder of a game, 4.2 and 23 touches. He did a lot of stuff out of the centre today, which he is not known for."