BulldogBelle
02-04-2009, 11:24 PM
Liam Picken.....
Ready to make the jump (http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/72291)
The Hume Star
Tim Doutré
2nd April 2009
IT IS only about 10km from Whitten Oval to Burbank Oval in Williamstown, but for former Williamstown player and now Western Bulldogs rookie Liam Picken they are worlds apart.
The 22-year-old was picked up as a mature-age rookie in the draft, giving him his first real shot at the AFL dream.
Last month he took to the field against Essendon at the Telstra Dome stepping out in front of a packed stadium.
“I haven’t got the stats or anything for it but I got most of the game,” he said.
“I played a more defensive role. It was a good eyes-open experience, obviously at the Telstra Dome there was a good crowd there.”
With AFL round one wrapped up and the Bulldogs gaining a comfortable win against Fremantle, Picken is unsure about when he will make his debut.
There was no indication from Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade as to when Picken or the other rookies would get their first AFL game.
“There won’t be any debutants this week,” he said before the Bulldogs clash with Fremantle on the weekend. We virtually have a full list to pick from.”
Picken, who is living in Thornbury with his brother Marcus, a former Brisbane Lions player, said continuous improvement would be the key for him if he was to get the chance on the big stage.
“There is no indication of when (I will debut), obviously I have got to keep training hard, perform down at Willi to throw my name up. I just have got to keep working on my deficiencies,” he says.
“I am excited, just looking forward, got to keep training hard and trying to work yourself to get upgraded if the chance comes.
“I have been speaking to line coaches and working on little things, as well as obviously keep improving skills, fitness and weights.”
Life is pretty good for Picken though, having played at VFL affiliate Williamstown previously he will slot straight back into the Seagulls line-up with his old mates while he waits for his AFL debut. The only negative, according to Picken, is the ribbing he gets from his mates in the gold and blue. “They stir you up a bit more down at Willi but apart from that it’s no different,” he says.
“You go back and you don’t feel out of place or anything, you just cop a bit more abuse.
“I go back to Willi, all my mates were there I have been there the past four years, it’s great to go back there and catch up with my mates and play footy.”
Picken is looking notably fitter and stronger as a result of a solid AFL preseason – the most intense the Bulldogs have done in recent memory according to Eade.
“It’s volume and certainly intensity, it’s been the most difficult preseason,” he said.
Picken has noted the change from VFL to AFL.
“Preseason has been good so far to date, obviously my fitness has improved and I am doing weights everyday, which has helped with my strength.”
The Bulldogs play North Melbourne on Sunday, while the VFL season starts this weekend with Williamstown kicking off in round two.
Ready to make the jump (http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/72291)
The Hume Star
Tim Doutré
2nd April 2009
IT IS only about 10km from Whitten Oval to Burbank Oval in Williamstown, but for former Williamstown player and now Western Bulldogs rookie Liam Picken they are worlds apart.
The 22-year-old was picked up as a mature-age rookie in the draft, giving him his first real shot at the AFL dream.
Last month he took to the field against Essendon at the Telstra Dome stepping out in front of a packed stadium.
“I haven’t got the stats or anything for it but I got most of the game,” he said.
“I played a more defensive role. It was a good eyes-open experience, obviously at the Telstra Dome there was a good crowd there.”
With AFL round one wrapped up and the Bulldogs gaining a comfortable win against Fremantle, Picken is unsure about when he will make his debut.
There was no indication from Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade as to when Picken or the other rookies would get their first AFL game.
“There won’t be any debutants this week,” he said before the Bulldogs clash with Fremantle on the weekend. We virtually have a full list to pick from.”
Picken, who is living in Thornbury with his brother Marcus, a former Brisbane Lions player, said continuous improvement would be the key for him if he was to get the chance on the big stage.
“There is no indication of when (I will debut), obviously I have got to keep training hard, perform down at Willi to throw my name up. I just have got to keep working on my deficiencies,” he says.
“I am excited, just looking forward, got to keep training hard and trying to work yourself to get upgraded if the chance comes.
“I have been speaking to line coaches and working on little things, as well as obviously keep improving skills, fitness and weights.”
Life is pretty good for Picken though, having played at VFL affiliate Williamstown previously he will slot straight back into the Seagulls line-up with his old mates while he waits for his AFL debut. The only negative, according to Picken, is the ribbing he gets from his mates in the gold and blue. “They stir you up a bit more down at Willi but apart from that it’s no different,” he says.
“You go back and you don’t feel out of place or anything, you just cop a bit more abuse.
“I go back to Willi, all my mates were there I have been there the past four years, it’s great to go back there and catch up with my mates and play footy.”
Picken is looking notably fitter and stronger as a result of a solid AFL preseason – the most intense the Bulldogs have done in recent memory according to Eade.
“It’s volume and certainly intensity, it’s been the most difficult preseason,” he said.
Picken has noted the change from VFL to AFL.
“Preseason has been good so far to date, obviously my fitness has improved and I am doing weights everyday, which has helped with my strength.”
The Bulldogs play North Melbourne on Sunday, while the VFL season starts this weekend with Williamstown kicking off in round two.