Tweet
Young Swan at last earns his wings
By Richard Hinds
April 30, 2004
Aaron Rogers finally gets his chance with the big boys tomorrow.
Eleven months in Melbourne as a six-year-old was all it took to convert Sydney lad Aaron Rogers into a footballer and spark an AFL career that begins at the MCG tomorrow with the Swans.
But it has not all been plain sailing. October last year, Rogers says, was the worst month of his life. Cut from the Demons' list after two futile years, at just 19 his once-promising career was in jeopardy.
"Melbourne had made some noises about keeping me on their rookie list but nothing was happening and I sensed they were sort of easing me out," he said.
"It was a pretty bad time. I didn't know whether there was any way back into the AFL or I'd have to find another career option."
Yet, just six months later, Rogers will run on to the MCG before a huge crowd to play his first AFL game for Sydney against Essendon.
Rogers was born in Sydney and, apart from that brief stint in Melbourne when his father was transferred with the army, spent most of his childhood in NSW. With Nick Davis, Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Paul Bevan, he will be the fifth Sydney product to play for the Swans this season.
Roberts-Thomson and McVeigh were dropped from the team this week after having only limited game time in recent weeks. But, add Brett Kirk, Ben Mathews, Leo Barry and Adam Schneider, all from country NSW, and Craig Bolton from Canberra and the Swans retain a strong "local" flavour.
The presence of so many NSW-born players, and Sydneysiders in particular, in the Swans team is encouraging for the AFL, which is spending at least $6 million on development in NSW and the ACT each year.
It should also help counter the problem the club has had retaining homesick draftees from the traditional football states.
According to Rogers, there are also benefits for the Sydney-born players being recruited by their local club other than just knowing the quickest route to training. While he says he never felt settled in his two years at Melbourne, returning to Sydney to play alongside teammates from his junior days has improved his performance.
"From the moment I got here I felt a lot more settled, a lot more part of it," said Rogers, who had been a paid-up Swans member for 10 years. "I think that definitely helps with your football."
Chosen at No. 25 overall by the Demons in the 2001 national draft, as a junior Rogers had been considered an outstanding prospect. But he did not play a senior game with Melbourne and when he was delisted was told by coach Neale Daniher he needed to be more competitive and aggressive.
While reluctant to criticise Melbourne, Rogers says Swans coach Paul Roos has been more supportive and communicative.
Nominated as one of Sydney's two eligible rookies (non-listed players eligible for senior selection), he repaid the club's faith with some solid pre-season performances against talented opponents such as Carlton's Brendan Fevola and the Bombers' Scott Lucas.
After being told on Wednesday he would play his first game, Rogers' only slight regret was that he did not get a chance to prove the Demons wrong last week. Instead, 15 friends and family members will fly to Melbourne tomorrow to see him run out on the game's biggest stage
By Richard Hinds
April 30, 2004
Aaron Rogers finally gets his chance with the big boys tomorrow.
Eleven months in Melbourne as a six-year-old was all it took to convert Sydney lad Aaron Rogers into a footballer and spark an AFL career that begins at the MCG tomorrow with the Swans.
But it has not all been plain sailing. October last year, Rogers says, was the worst month of his life. Cut from the Demons' list after two futile years, at just 19 his once-promising career was in jeopardy.
"Melbourne had made some noises about keeping me on their rookie list but nothing was happening and I sensed they were sort of easing me out," he said.
"It was a pretty bad time. I didn't know whether there was any way back into the AFL or I'd have to find another career option."
Yet, just six months later, Rogers will run on to the MCG before a huge crowd to play his first AFL game for Sydney against Essendon.
Rogers was born in Sydney and, apart from that brief stint in Melbourne when his father was transferred with the army, spent most of his childhood in NSW. With Nick Davis, Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Paul Bevan, he will be the fifth Sydney product to play for the Swans this season.
Roberts-Thomson and McVeigh were dropped from the team this week after having only limited game time in recent weeks. But, add Brett Kirk, Ben Mathews, Leo Barry and Adam Schneider, all from country NSW, and Craig Bolton from Canberra and the Swans retain a strong "local" flavour.
The presence of so many NSW-born players, and Sydneysiders in particular, in the Swans team is encouraging for the AFL, which is spending at least $6 million on development in NSW and the ACT each year.
It should also help counter the problem the club has had retaining homesick draftees from the traditional football states.
According to Rogers, there are also benefits for the Sydney-born players being recruited by their local club other than just knowing the quickest route to training. While he says he never felt settled in his two years at Melbourne, returning to Sydney to play alongside teammates from his junior days has improved his performance.
"From the moment I got here I felt a lot more settled, a lot more part of it," said Rogers, who had been a paid-up Swans member for 10 years. "I think that definitely helps with your football."
Chosen at No. 25 overall by the Demons in the 2001 national draft, as a junior Rogers had been considered an outstanding prospect. But he did not play a senior game with Melbourne and when he was delisted was told by coach Neale Daniher he needed to be more competitive and aggressive.
While reluctant to criticise Melbourne, Rogers says Swans coach Paul Roos has been more supportive and communicative.
Nominated as one of Sydney's two eligible rookies (non-listed players eligible for senior selection), he repaid the club's faith with some solid pre-season performances against talented opponents such as Carlton's Brendan Fevola and the Bombers' Scott Lucas.
After being told on Wednesday he would play his first game, Rogers' only slight regret was that he did not get a chance to prove the Demons wrong last week. Instead, 15 friends and family members will fly to Melbourne tomorrow to see him run out on the game's biggest stage
