bulldogtragic
26-11-2009, 08:53 PM
AFL clubs want Thorne in their side
GREY MORRIS
November 25th, 2009
Shane Thorne. Picture: BRAD FLEET
SHANE Thorne was on the verge of quitting football when AFL clubs began knocking on his door in the leadup to tomorrow's national draft.
The Wanderers utility turns 23 today but he wants his biggest birthday present to be delivered to him 24 hours later.
Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs are leading the pursuit of the man they call "Mr Magic" before the AFL Draft is held in Melbourne.
The prospect of a life-changing AFL career was a long way from Thorne's thoughts two seasons ago when he nearly walked away from the game.
"It was coming down to a choice of family man or footballer when my daughter was born and it looked like the first choice would win out," he said.
``Obviously things have changed a bit with Wanderers going well, Thunder getting started and now AFL clubs landing on my doorstep.
``It's been a big shock really, I never thought at age 23 I'd be targeted by AFL clubs.
``When Murray Davis was the high performance coach at Thunder he sent me a text a couple of weeks after the season finished telling me to stay fit in the off season. He didn't say why at the time but after a few AFL clubs rang me I knew the reason.''
The Western Bulldogs reaffirmed their interest a month ago when they took Thorne and his family outto dinner.
But it was Collingwood that convinced Thorne the constant phone calls and long chats about footy were all ``fair dinkum''.
``The Bulldogs sent a couple of recruiting staff up to speak to me after training last month,'' he said.
``We talked about a lot of things about footy and life for a couple of hours at dinner,'' he said. ``Then Collingwood sent some people up a couple of weeks ago and they got right into it.
``They asked me where I could see myself playing at AFL level and I said running off half-back and hitting up the forwards as they led towards me.
``That was exactly what they had in mind for me, so it may be a pointer, who knows?''
Bulldogs look at Thorne
GREY MORRIS
November 11th, 2009
Shane Thorne
WESTERN Bulldogs operations manager James Fantasia can see a lot of positives in having Wanderers magician Shane Thorne in a red, white and blue jumper next season.
Thorne is the Territory's wildcard in this month's AFL Draft.
Several pundits are predicting his selection in the 30s and 40s while others say the NTFL Eagles' own "Mr Magic" is a certainty to go in the pre-season or rookie drafts on December 15.
"Our recruiting people have spoken to Shane, along with hundreds of others, it must be said," Fantasia conceded.
"We've seen the qualities he has to offer our club and it would be good to have him in our side when we play in Darwin next year."
The Bulldogs will meet traditional Top End rivals Port Adelaide in a Round 16 premiership match in mid-July at TIO Stadium next year.
It will be the fifth time in seven years the two clubs have locked horns at TIO Stadium for premiership points. That scenario could change when Richmond come into the playing mix in 2011.
The Bulldogs or Melbourne will lose their "home" club status in favour of the Tigers. Fantasia said the trip north had a two-fold benefit for the Dogs.
"Darwin has been good for us in terms of getting away from Melbourne and developing a new fan base and we have a big advantage in that we've played up here more than any other AFL club," he said. "We're up to speed in terms of pre-match and matchday preparation in Darwin and reckon we do it a bit better than the other clubs."
GREY MORRIS
November 25th, 2009
Shane Thorne. Picture: BRAD FLEET
SHANE Thorne was on the verge of quitting football when AFL clubs began knocking on his door in the leadup to tomorrow's national draft.
The Wanderers utility turns 23 today but he wants his biggest birthday present to be delivered to him 24 hours later.
Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs are leading the pursuit of the man they call "Mr Magic" before the AFL Draft is held in Melbourne.
The prospect of a life-changing AFL career was a long way from Thorne's thoughts two seasons ago when he nearly walked away from the game.
"It was coming down to a choice of family man or footballer when my daughter was born and it looked like the first choice would win out," he said.
``Obviously things have changed a bit with Wanderers going well, Thunder getting started and now AFL clubs landing on my doorstep.
``It's been a big shock really, I never thought at age 23 I'd be targeted by AFL clubs.
``When Murray Davis was the high performance coach at Thunder he sent me a text a couple of weeks after the season finished telling me to stay fit in the off season. He didn't say why at the time but after a few AFL clubs rang me I knew the reason.''
The Western Bulldogs reaffirmed their interest a month ago when they took Thorne and his family outto dinner.
But it was Collingwood that convinced Thorne the constant phone calls and long chats about footy were all ``fair dinkum''.
``The Bulldogs sent a couple of recruiting staff up to speak to me after training last month,'' he said.
``We talked about a lot of things about footy and life for a couple of hours at dinner,'' he said. ``Then Collingwood sent some people up a couple of weeks ago and they got right into it.
``They asked me where I could see myself playing at AFL level and I said running off half-back and hitting up the forwards as they led towards me.
``That was exactly what they had in mind for me, so it may be a pointer, who knows?''
Bulldogs look at Thorne
GREY MORRIS
November 11th, 2009
Shane Thorne
WESTERN Bulldogs operations manager James Fantasia can see a lot of positives in having Wanderers magician Shane Thorne in a red, white and blue jumper next season.
Thorne is the Territory's wildcard in this month's AFL Draft.
Several pundits are predicting his selection in the 30s and 40s while others say the NTFL Eagles' own "Mr Magic" is a certainty to go in the pre-season or rookie drafts on December 15.
"Our recruiting people have spoken to Shane, along with hundreds of others, it must be said," Fantasia conceded.
"We've seen the qualities he has to offer our club and it would be good to have him in our side when we play in Darwin next year."
The Bulldogs will meet traditional Top End rivals Port Adelaide in a Round 16 premiership match in mid-July at TIO Stadium next year.
It will be the fifth time in seven years the two clubs have locked horns at TIO Stadium for premiership points. That scenario could change when Richmond come into the playing mix in 2011.
The Bulldogs or Melbourne will lose their "home" club status in favour of the Tigers. Fantasia said the trip north had a two-fold benefit for the Dogs.
"Darwin has been good for us in terms of getting away from Melbourne and developing a new fan base and we have a big advantage in that we've played up here more than any other AFL club," he said. "We're up to speed in terms of pre-match and matchday preparation in Darwin and reckon we do it a bit better than the other clubs."