Williamstown premiership coach Andrew Collins says Andrew Gallucci is the quickest player he’s ever coached.
It’s high praise – after all, that’s a large pool of players to choose from for a man who’s also spent time at the helm of Sandringham, the Box Hill Hawks and Coburg in the Peter Jackson VFL, and West Adelaide in the SANFL.
21-year-old Gallucci burst onto the football scene for the Seagulls in 2015, graduating from two seasons spent in the Development League to wreak havoc on opposition back lines with his electrifying pace, relentless pressure and nose for goal.
The former Calder Cannon starred in Williamstown’s 54-point Grand Final triumph over the Box Hill Hawks, making the most of his opportunities to finish with three goals from nine dangerous disposals.
The stage of Etihad Stadium was certainly a step up from 2013 and 2014 when he played in consecutive Development League premierships for the Seagulls.
Collins said a new outlook on life and being able to complete a full pre-season were big factors in Gallucci’s rise to consistent senior football this year.
“I think that’s behind the significant rise of him as a player this year – that he’s had a more mature approach to football,” Collins said at the recent State NAB AFL Draft Combine, where Gallucci tested in front of recruiters.
“That’s probably coincided with him starting work for the first time, so life has probably brought him to the forefront of football as well.
“I don’t think he’d ever had the professional preparation that he had this year and that might have been for a range of reasons, but this pre-season was uninterrupted.
“His endurance improved tenfold and you can see that through his repeat sprint efforts on the footy field – I think he was the number-one small forward tackler in the competition and I think he’s in the top 10 tacklers in the competition overall.
“He’s not a high-possession small forward but he’s definitely an electrifying value-for-possession small forward.”
Gallucci himself said the faith shown in him by Collins from early in the season had the snowball effect of building his confidence with each passing match.
The Strathmore junior played only one senior game in his first two years at Williamstown, instead appearing in 36 Development League matches and booting 51 goals.
In 2015, he played 19 senior games for 29 goals – missing out on booting majors in just three matches.
“I played in two Development League grand finals two years in a row and couldn’t break into the ones, but I got in this year and it’s gone quick,” Gallucci said at the State Combine.
“Getting the opportunity helps... Collo’s really put faith in me all year.
“We had a couple of pre-season games and I kicked a few goals, played alright, played my role, and it sort of gave me confidence through the year, and I just built on that every game.”
Collins said Gallucci had the tools to walk into an AFL club at November’s national or rookie drafts and make an instant impact at the elite level.
Gallucci showed some of his traits at the State Combine, recording the fifth-best time in the 20m sprint test (2.98s) and a top-10 time in the agility test (8.28s).
“He’s got the speed, agility, skill and repeated pressure efforts to walk in and make an impact at AFL level,” Collins said.
“(Former Port Melbourne player Robin) Nahas did it (at Richmond) and I think Gallucci is equal to, if not maybe a better prospect.
“I think all clubs need small pressure forwards – you can see that with (Hawthorn’s) Paul Puopolo and Cyril Rioli at the top end, and I think there are a few clubs that are missing those types of players.”
Gallucci talked fondly of his bond with fellow Seagulls small forwards such as Anthony Anastasio and how effectively they worked together to dismantle the Box Hill machine in this year’s decider.
It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine him buzzing around in tandem with the best small forwards in the country at the elite level, but Gallucci said he had no expectations about where he’d be in 2016.
“You’ve just got to do what you’ve been asked, and if it comes, it comes,” he said.
“If it doesn’t, I’m already at a great club with great mates.”
Last Modified on 21/10/2015 17:18