ARTICLE COURTESY OF THE CAMPBELLTOWN-MACARTHUR ADVERTISER
By Ben Chenoweth
CAMPBELLTOWN’S Taren Etto hopes establishing the AFL’s second Sydney based club will be a giant step in the right direction towards a professional football career.
Before the Greater Western Sydney Giants first season last year the club set up an academy at Blacktown to provide a pathway for talented Sydney teenagers.
Previously the only other NSW based team was the Sydney Swans, meaning aspirants unwanted by the Swans were forced to move interstate to develop and pursue a professional career.
A member of the academy for the last three years, the 18-year-old has made the most of his time with the Giants.
‘‘You get the feeling you’re part of an AFL club,’’ he said. ‘‘It gives you experience, development and you train like an AFL player — not everything is just run your guts out.
‘‘It’s really important because it helps young footballers who wouldn’t get the same opportunity as those players in Melbourne.’’
A rugby league convert, the John Therry Catholic High School student’s strengths lie in his defence and speed.
But the Campbelltown Blues product also possesses something that can’t be taught — courage.
‘‘I get my head over the ball and I get the rewards for that,’’ he said. ‘‘In AFL you want to get as many possessions as you can so you can have an influence on how the game is played.
‘‘I don’t rely on being fed the ball.
‘‘There’s nothing more courageous than throwing your head over the ball and I know if the ball was 100 metres down the other end my teammates would do the same.’’
Etto paid tribute to his friends, local club, teachers and family for their support and contribution to his development as an AFL footballer.
But he said special mention had to go to his dad.
‘‘When I was a rugby league player I just wasn’t getting a lot of support so dad said we’ll go and watch an AFL game. I saw how hard they worked and I wanted to be part of that environment — I thought ‘I could be playing that game’. ‘‘My dad was the main one who made me change sports.’’
The year 12 student remains hopeful of being selected in the AFL draft but he concedes that if that doesn’t happen the rookie list is also an option.
Last Modified on 09/08/2013 10:44
