SOUTH Bendigo’s Kieran Strachan had been waiting patiently for an opportunity in Essendon’s VFL team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last Sunday he got it and grasped it with both hands.
The ruckman in his first year on Essendon’s VFL list had been regularly named an emergency this season before earning a call-up to the Bombers’ team to play North Ballarat.
The 21-year-old admitted he had pre-game nerves about not getting a kick in his debut game, but a couple of hours later he walked off Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium as one of Essendon’s best players in a 54-point win.
The Bombers named Strachan fourth best for a performance in which he finished with 16 disposals, eight marks – five contested – and four tackles playing the majority of the game in the forward line with some pinch-hitting in the ruck.
“It was a really good experience… the boys certainly helped make the transition from the Bendigo league to the VFL,” said Strachan, a co-captain this year with his aligned club, South Bendigo.
“I had been an emergency about five times this year waiting for an opportunity and it was good to get it at the weekend.
“It was good to get a kick and take a few marks… my biggest fear was turning up and not getting a stat, so to get a few and have a win, I was really happy with it.
“I got some good feedback after the game from the coaches, but with only four or five VFL spots available outside of the AFL-listed players, I’ll just have to wait and see about this week.”