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Re: Harbrow and Williams in
That is a bit cruel of Rocket isn't it?
Eade has Harbrow delirious
BEFORE receiving the good news, Jarrod Harbrow also learned that Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has a cruel sense of humour.
Harbrow, 18, will be one of four first-gamers in tonight's match between the Western Bulldogs and Richmond at the MCG. Also making their debuts for the Bulldogs are defender Tom Williams, 20, midfielder Shane Edwards, 18, and backman Jake King, 23.
Harbrow was told yesterday he would come off the rookie list for veteran Chris Grant, who has a long-term groin injury. But Eade did not break the news gently.
"I was just up in the players' meeting room, having a sleep and I got a phone call," Harbrow said.
"I came down - and he played a joke on me ... he said 'I heard you got in trouble with another player' and I was freaking out, 'what have I done?'
"Then he puts his hand out, shakes my hand and said, 'you're in this week' and that was in front of all the other coaching staff - I'm just absolutely rapt."
While Harbrow has come up through the rookie list, Williams has taken an even tougher path to his senior debut.
The No.6 selection in the 2004 national draft has needed three operations to repair a broken bone in his foot, necessitating at least three months' recuperation each time.
The injury is similar to the one that nearly ended the career of Essendon star James Hird in 1999.
Hird's former team-mate Sean Wellman, now an assistant coach at the Bulldogs, arranged for Williams to have lunch with Hird.
"He was really good, he pretty much told me how to deal with it and some advice on how to handle the pressure to get out on the track," Williams said.
"My surgeon said it's not going to break now, it's got half a hardware store in there. I'm very confident it's 100 per cent."
Collingwood last week gave three youngsters their first games.
Eade said the potential impact of the debutants should not be underestimated.
"What that did prove last week is that you can throw players in the deep end and expect a bit from them," Eade said.
"If you lower expectations of players, they will actually play to that level."
"It's exciting to play a couple of new boys," Tigers assistant coach Brian Royal said after training at the MCG yesterday.
That is a bit cruel of Rocket isn't it?
Eade has Harbrow delirious
BEFORE receiving the good news, Jarrod Harbrow also learned that Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has a cruel sense of humour.
Harbrow, 18, will be one of four first-gamers in tonight's match between the Western Bulldogs and Richmond at the MCG. Also making their debuts for the Bulldogs are defender Tom Williams, 20, midfielder Shane Edwards, 18, and backman Jake King, 23.
Harbrow was told yesterday he would come off the rookie list for veteran Chris Grant, who has a long-term groin injury. But Eade did not break the news gently.
"I was just up in the players' meeting room, having a sleep and I got a phone call," Harbrow said.
"I came down - and he played a joke on me ... he said 'I heard you got in trouble with another player' and I was freaking out, 'what have I done?'
"Then he puts his hand out, shakes my hand and said, 'you're in this week' and that was in front of all the other coaching staff - I'm just absolutely rapt."
While Harbrow has come up through the rookie list, Williams has taken an even tougher path to his senior debut.
The No.6 selection in the 2004 national draft has needed three operations to repair a broken bone in his foot, necessitating at least three months' recuperation each time.
The injury is similar to the one that nearly ended the career of Essendon star James Hird in 1999.
Hird's former team-mate Sean Wellman, now an assistant coach at the Bulldogs, arranged for Williams to have lunch with Hird.
"He was really good, he pretty much told me how to deal with it and some advice on how to handle the pressure to get out on the track," Williams said.
"My surgeon said it's not going to break now, it's got half a hardware store in there. I'm very confident it's 100 per cent."
Collingwood last week gave three youngsters their first games.
Eade said the potential impact of the debutants should not be underestimated.
"What that did prove last week is that you can throw players in the deep end and expect a bit from them," Eade said.
"If you lower expectations of players, they will actually play to that level."
"It's exciting to play a couple of new boys," Tigers assistant coach Brian Royal said after training at the MCG yesterday.
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