Review...

It’s been a tough few years for the Adelaide Crows Football club being so close to success yet so far. It is a known fact that recruiting youngsters and  getting the team working and playing together to a standard that wins games takes time and dedication however a great bond and quick learning recruits gave the Crows an edge to win. Although all was going to plan and working well the Crows just didn’t seem to be able to get the scores on the board to win a game no matter how well the team was playing and how quick and successfully the ball came down to the forward line. The Crows were missing a goal kicker. A player that could give them the edge and seal the deal.

Crows had a successful season this year and what made them step up this time is there forward line. Like no one else in the league we had the mullet. The mullet’s real name is Taylor walker or you can also call him “TEX”. 2012 was the season of the mullet, the 22-year-old enjoyed the most prolific goal-kicking season of his career scoring 63 goals. He has finally found his confidence and his defense side of the game. The crows have needed a forward-line superhero to worship since the great Tony Modra. With his big frame, flowing mullet and ability to dominate opposition defenses, Walker is that hero.

Details
Number	13
Height	194cm
Weight	98kg
Date Of Birth	25-04-1990
Games/2012	Goals/2012
19	63
Career: 64	Career: 153

My 5 year plan

In 5 years I want to be playing for the gold coast suns in the AFL. I want to be the best, most respected, skilled player in the whole AFL.  From a little boy I have always wanted to be on the ground in front of that amazing crowd listening to the cheer. I have always wanted to know how it would feel being on live television around Australia. I want to be drafted at the age of 18 and be one of the youngest and most brilliant players in the game. The steps I have to take to reach this level of football is to make it to the top league of SANFL or play really well in under 16’s, 17’s and 18’s state team. But I’m grateful to have a football family because I have many contacts in the AFL such as my 2^nd cousin who played for the crows and my grandpa’s brother who was the head of the SANFL and now he works within the AFL.  My role model is Ben Cousins; I know he doesn’t sound like the best role model, however he was one of the most skilled, fittest, dedicated, brilliant players in his time. Ben and I have a similar playing style.  His determination is amazing and he would go on that field and give his all. He was a machine. He would never stop running and he pushed his body and mental state so hard that he would throw up after most games. I have done the same thing in my team. I play in the center just like Ben. When I go on the field I run and never stop. I don’t give up, I chase. If I get hit I get back up. I never give up. In the years to come I’m not going to give up on the dream that I have. I am going to fight and dig deep to reach my dream and when I do I will be the best. 

How To Kick a Drop Punt

The drop punt is commonly used in football (AFL). It’s where a player drops the ball while guiding it with your hand to your foot without it hitting the ground. It is used for moving the ball around in Australian Rules football and is also used tactically in American and Canadian football, rugby league and rugby union. 

Steps to kick a Drop Punt

1. You hold the ball still and have your hands on either side of it.

2. Then guide the football down onto your foot with your hand.

3. The ball is dropped onto the tongue (flap above your laces) area of your boot.

4. Point your toe in the direction of where you want the ball to go.

5. You follow through with your foot and your leg should finish up about shoulder height.

Extra tips

Ø  Walking as you kick brings momentum and makes the kick go further.

Ø  If you want a harder and lower kick you use the same steps besides you don’t follow through with the ball, this kick is called a jab pass. Two reasons why you should do a jab pass is if it is a windy day and another is if you want to keep it low and away from the opposition.  

§  If you correctly kick the ball in should result in the ball spinning backwards end over end.

Holidays.....

During the holidays my family and friends went to the watermark in Tanjung Benoa. I woke up feeling tired because I had a late one the night before but anyway we drove to Logans house and caught this benga bus that my mum and Logans mum hired. On the bus was my family including my uncle and aunty from Queensland and Logans family. Logan and I were hiding in the bus the whole way there because we looked like the biggest idiots in this bus. Once we arrived we waited a bit then Mitch Mackenzie arrived, we messed around down the beach, played soccer and beach volleyball. We then got to go on the banana boat, on the banana boat there was Logan, Mitch, Liam and myself. IT WAS SO FUN!!!! We tipped over a few times and we were in the air a lot because it was choppy but it was a pretty sick time. We did this 2 times then we ate and lazed around. Once we finished we noticed it was 11:30pm, we once again caught the benga bus but this time Logan and I were being idiots. We were dancing to the music and talking to the locals around us. When we arrived home I was exhausted but overall the day was really fun. 

My Inspiration

My dad would always tell me "what ever you do in life always make sure your the best at it". My dad was a great sportsman. His most favorite sport was Australian Rules Football and just like him i share his passion for the game. He played for South Adelaide football club and has many medals to prove his success. As his career with football was at a stage to progress at a high level he was also working full time in a company that offered him a promotion. My dads employer offered him a contract working overseas. What an amazing experience for him and all his hard work and deduction was about to pay off BUT what now happens to his up and coming football career?With a young family at the time my dad had to give up on a dream he had since being a little boy and follow the path of security with his job. He had a meeting with the football clubs coach and committeemen and with great sadness informed them of his decision to leave football and travel to America with work. The football club respected his decision but not before telling him that he will be sadly missed and was an inspiration to many players young and old due to his dedication to the club on and off the field. His coach told him that he was one of the Best at the game and had achieved so much because he was prepared to give it 100 percent. My dad has now succeeded in his job climbing the ladder and achieving every goal so far he has given himself. He is a strong believer that his success is due to his little motto. So every time i ever feel down or i never think i can do it i always think about that motto. 2 years ago i had a disease called osgood schlatters, my dad helped me recover and in 2011 i won best and fairest for my football club and won club champion. i now not only want to be a football but i want to be the BEST footballer. And if the time comes where i have to make a decision in my life where my career has to come before sport then i will be the BEST at my career what ever that may be.

My Top Five Footballers

James 'Jimmy' Bartel is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the AFL. He is one of the game’s greatest midfielders and a great role model. Bartel he won a few of the league's highest individual awards including a Brownlow Medalist, two times All Australian, and was part of the Cats AFL premiership winning teams in 2007, 2009 and 2011, being named the Norm Smith medalist in 2011.

I’m sure you have heard of this name before “Ben Cousins”, he has been in the headlines for a couple of years now for stupidity, shame and greatness. I reckon he was the best AFL player that anybody has ever seen. His determination to get the ball was like no other player, he would always seem to have the ball in his hands and when he does he performs magic. He was a captain at a young age and at the time he won several of the league's highest individual awards including a Brownlow Medal, Most Valuable Player and a premiership medallion, was selected six times in the All-Australian Team and represented Australia in the International Rules Series. But Ben Cousins is known for drugs, after his team west coast eagles won the grand finale his career as an AFL footballer went downhill from there. He was found taking all soughts of drugs. After the AFL suspended him for a year, he was drafted to Richmond and played 2 years until he resigned.

Mark Ricciuto was born on the 8^th of June,1975 he is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL. An eight time All Australian and an AFL Hall of Fame, he is recognized by many as the greatest player in the history of the Adelaide Football Club.

Bernie Vince was born on 2^nd of October, 1985 and is an Australian Rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Crows. Originally from the Yorke Peninsula (South Australia), he attended school at Minlaton District School until his senior years, which were spent in Adelaide at Prince Alfred College where he represented the school in the Open A Grade football. His position is midfield, his original club he played for was Woodville West Torrens (SANFL). In 2005 he was drafted to the Adelaide Crows. I am a great fan of Bernie because my best friend’s cousin is Bernie so in Australia I usually catch up with him or I see him in Bali. 

Buddy Franklin plays for hawthorn and his position is center-half-forward. He is the best goal kicker in the AFL today. In one game this year he kicked 13 goals which is really rare to do. I love how Buddy franklin kicks goals from impossible angles to kick from.

Work Experience: Day 5

After getting a sleep in I arrived at the changuu 3 v fitness venue for a change. I did parkour with the year 7 and 8’s from the AIS. After parkour I returned to the Kerboken gym. We I arrived back I was asked to design a poster promoting an event at 3v fitness enticing new members and boosting its popularity. My last task was gym supervision. I am feeling much more confident than my first day. I then said my farewells and goodbyes. What an awesome experience. Need to start saving for my own membership.