By JARROD POTTER
The lead-up to the AFL National Draft on Tuesday, and subsequently Friday’s AFL Rookie Draft, is almost over. There isn’t much left for the players to do but wait as this final, and most agonising, of football phases ticks along slowly. As we wait for the draft in seven days’ time, the DANDENONG JOURNAL will give insight about Dandenong Stingrays’ best prospects in this seven-story series, heading into the biggest day on the calendar for our TAC Cup hopefuls.
TOMMY GLEN
CLUB: DANDENONG/BEACONSFIELD/HALLAM SC
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 187CM/72KG
ACHIEVEMENTS: U18 NATIONAL CHAMPION, VIC COUNTRY, NATIONAL COMBINE
PREDICTION: PICK 50-ROOKIE LIST
HARD-WORKING. Diligent. Honest.
These are the traits best personified by Dandenong Stingrays defender Tommy Glen.
The Pakenham-based defender has been a quick study at the elite level, especially as he broke through to the TAC Cup in his under-17 year.
He missed the biggest part of the season – which was cruelly cut short by a broken finger – as Glen had to sit on the sidelines for the TAC Cup finals as well as missing a chance to play with Beaconsfield in its premiership success last year in the Casey Cardinia league.
Nothing went right for him to start 2015 either as a knee injury held him out of the opening four rounds … but that didn’t stop him, because truth be told the injuries seem to only steel himself further.
Returning to the field a little bigger, a little stronger, but still possessing the proper game smarts and football intuition, the link-up defender blitzed the previously unbeaten Eastern Ranges in round seven as he accrued 22 possessions – at 86 per cent efficiency – and snared eight marks.
That Ranges’ match caught the eye of Vic Country selectors, where he was brought in for the round two matches and held his spot thereafter.
His role in Vic Country’s success can’t be discounted. Glen was part of the Dandy six – alongside Bailey Rice, Kieran Collins, Daniel Capiron, Jacob Weitering and Brandon White – that nailed down Country’s defence to help set up the great unbeaten run.
With a six-and-zero record at the national level, Glen featured in five of those resounding victories that lead to him becoming a national champion and creating the perfect backdrop to end his TAC Cup career as the Stingrays season ended at the preliminary final.
Glen earned enough attention to take his place in the AFL National Combine – the elite testing day that brought together Australia’s best junior prospects ahead of the draft.
Unlike other Stingrays in this week’s series, Glen’s spot in the AFL is nowhere near as assured. That could prove a challenge as he won’t know what his destiny could become until the final names have been called, but number 11 knows how to handle pressure.
Everyone has seen him pierce the packs and beat his man week-in week-out at the elite level and handle whatever is thrown in his way.
While VCE can sometimes be too much on the plate for a TAC Cup footballer on the precipice of the draft, it proved a good distraction for Glen.
“I’ve been pretty good with exams taking my mind off it a little bit,” Glen said.
“It’s definitely exciting, but I guess the fear of the unknown is daunting as well. I think I’ve handled it pretty well.
“I’m pretty happy with how the year went; I had a few little setbacks with injuries and that, but apart from that it was all pretty good.”
There’s every chance he could return to Shepley Oval as a 19-year-old if his name isn’t called out on Tuesday or at Friday’s rookie draft as he will only get better.
With his strength and stature likely to still grow and his football smarts set to be honed further, another TAC Cup year could have us talking this time in 2016 about his draft chances once again.
Whether or not he gets back to the Stingrays, it’s a place he’ll never forget as everyone’s involvement – whether team-mates, staff or coaches – helped sculpt the footballer he is today.
“Probably all the friendships and that, all the bonds you create with some people,” Glen said about his time at Dandenong.
“Some people you have nothing to do with then become best mates with, so that’s something pretty special.
“The relationships with the senior members as well – the coaches and that – it’s pretty important.”
Dandenong Stingrays coach Craig Black said Glen’s game sense was top-notch and had been one of his prime performers across his two senior seasons.
“Tommy had a fantastic year as a 17 year old and he had that little niggle in the pre-season and missed a few games, but his ability to carry the play across half-back,” Black said. “He’s the type of player you want to get the ball into his hands.
“Hopefully he gets an opportunity as well as he definitely has the skill-level to make it at AFL level.”
RAY A DAY – SEVEN STINGRAYS STORIES
Tuesday 17 November – Tommy Glen (Beaconsfield/Hallam SC)
