WAGNER HITS THE BIG TIME
Thursday, September 18, 2014
By ZAC MILBANK | Twitter @zacmilbank
Port Lincoln’s Johann Wagner has completed the fairytale leap from country footballer to Port Adelaide rookie after winning reality TV show, The Recruit on Wednesday night.
Wagner, 23, was selected by the recruiting managers of each of the AFL’s clubs, with all clubs able to bid for the eventual winner to be listed as a ‘Category B’ rookie.
After putting on display his athletic qualities during the past 10 weeks on the Foxtel program, Wagner was sought by three AFL clubs – Port, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
The 190cm utility chose the Power as his preferred destination after listening to a live sales pitch from club president David Koch.
‘’It’s very surreal – I have to pinch myself a little bit,’’ said Wagner, who kicked eight goals for SA Country against WA Country last year.
‘’I wrote a letter to future self when I was in Year 7, saying that I would play for Port Adelaide. I put it in a little wine bottle and I was allowed to open it when I was 21.
‘’Dad kept hold of that letter the whole time and now the dream has come true.
‘’I’m over the moon and I’m really happy with where I have ended up.’’
Equally excited is Wagner’s original team, the Tasman Football Club, which competes in the Port Lincoln Football League.
Preparing to win their third premiership in succession on Saturday, Tasman was handed a $25,000 cash injection as reward for producing Wagner.
‘’It’s a tough environment out there in the business world so that money is a huge bonus for the footy club,’’ Tasman president Mark Milton said.
‘’We don’t pay players or anything so that money will be spent on upgrading our facilities, and assisting with our juniors to ensure we continue to head in the right direction.’’
Milton said he was elated for Wagner, particularly seeing he took the budding star on as an apprentice electrician.
‘’We are all really pleased for Yoey,’’ Milton said adding that Tasman had three teams in Saturday’s Port Lincoln FL Grand Final.
‘’There is no doubt he has got the potential and the ability. It will be a huge step up for him but I’m sure if he applies himself, he may well surprise a few people.
‘’He is such a great lad so we wish him all the best and hope his dreams will be realised.’’
Before Wagner was selected to participate on The Recruit, he signed with SANFL club Central District for season 2014.
However, due to his commitments on the program and a knee injury in the second half of the season, he only managed to make two league appearances with the Bulldogs.
‘’He’s a really bubbly bloke who has decided to give it a go,’’ Central chief executive Kris Grant said.
‘’He obviously wants to make it (at AFL level) so we wish him all the best of luck in getting there.’’
Last Modified on 23/09/2014 15:29