Incoming posted this over on Bomberblitz. from the Sunshine Coast newspaper:
Pomona teen picked by Essendon
12:00a.m. 10th August 2008
By Peter Gardiner
While all the focus is on Beijing as many young athletes take to the biggest stage of their lives, over at Subiaco Oval today young Rhys Magin will be feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders as he makes his AFL debut for Essendon.
Essendon coach Matthew Knights pulled the rookie aside after training yesterday morning to give him the news that will have the midfielder’s home town of Pomona breaking out in cheers.
“I was an emergency and he said I was in the side against the West Coast Eagles for Jarrod Atkinson (a forced late withdrawal),” Magin said. “He shook my hand and said that he’d tell me what he wanted for the game tomorrow.
“Debuting in AFL is pretty big, so I’ll be really nervous tomorrow.”
The Bombers must win today to keep their final eight hopes alive, intensifying the pressure on Magin.
Travelling to Western Australia is one of Australian sport’s toughest “road trips” and Magin expects West Coast to be hard to crack on its home ground.
But Magin, who is of course anxious to grab his chance and keep his name in the selection mix, at least knows that his side has rediscovered its appetite for winning – with six victories from its past seven matches.
The news of Magin’s debut will probably be bigger up in the Noosa hinterland than Australia’s first Games gold medal, and certainly for Magin’s proud dad Bill, a former player, the Olympics is just an aside now.
“He was really excited,” Rhys said. “He was trying to fly over here for the game, but I’m not sure how he’s gone.”
Magin, who is 19 years and five months old, has been on the selection fringe as the Bombers tackle a growing injury list by blooding young talent.
According to the AFL Queensland, he is the fifth Queenslander to debut this season in AFL.
Magin yesterday rated his lengthy stint in the VFL with Bendigo as a good toughening-up process.
“That was a big step but this is a whole lot bigger,” he said.
hope the kid has a good start to his AFL career.
Pomona teen picked by Essendon
12:00a.m. 10th August 2008
By Peter Gardiner
While all the focus is on Beijing as many young athletes take to the biggest stage of their lives, over at Subiaco Oval today young Rhys Magin will be feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders as he makes his AFL debut for Essendon.
Essendon coach Matthew Knights pulled the rookie aside after training yesterday morning to give him the news that will have the midfielder’s home town of Pomona breaking out in cheers.
“I was an emergency and he said I was in the side against the West Coast Eagles for Jarrod Atkinson (a forced late withdrawal),” Magin said. “He shook my hand and said that he’d tell me what he wanted for the game tomorrow.
“Debuting in AFL is pretty big, so I’ll be really nervous tomorrow.”
The Bombers must win today to keep their final eight hopes alive, intensifying the pressure on Magin.
Travelling to Western Australia is one of Australian sport’s toughest “road trips” and Magin expects West Coast to be hard to crack on its home ground.
But Magin, who is of course anxious to grab his chance and keep his name in the selection mix, at least knows that his side has rediscovered its appetite for winning – with six victories from its past seven matches.
The news of Magin’s debut will probably be bigger up in the Noosa hinterland than Australia’s first Games gold medal, and certainly for Magin’s proud dad Bill, a former player, the Olympics is just an aside now.
“He was really excited,” Rhys said. “He was trying to fly over here for the game, but I’m not sure how he’s gone.”
Magin, who is 19 years and five months old, has been on the selection fringe as the Bombers tackle a growing injury list by blooding young talent.
According to the AFL Queensland, he is the fifth Queenslander to debut this season in AFL.
Magin yesterday rated his lengthy stint in the VFL with Bendigo as a good toughening-up process.
“That was a big step but this is a whole lot bigger,” he said.
hope the kid has a good start to his AFL career.
