Giants secure local talent
The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have secured another homegrown talent, with Corowa born Tim Segrave committing to the club under the AFL’s assigned recruiting zones.
Segrave came through the AFL NSW/ACT talented player program representing the RAMS at both under 16 and under 18 levels. He also played for the Murray Bushranger at TAC Cup level.
A key defender with speed, Segrave impressed recruiters with his rebound out of defence and closing speed. Unfortunately he was only able to play limited games this year after being struck down with Glandular Fever.
Segrave has now relocated to Blacktown, where he joins a number of his teammates from both the RAMS and the Bushrangers.
“I’m just honoured to be here. It’s a big change moving into a full time programme, but it’s one that I’m looking forward to making,” said Segrave.
“I’m lucky because I already knew a few of the boys through the RAMS and Bushrangers, but to be honest everyone has just gelled so quickly. There are a lot of really good people here and it’s just an awesome environment to be around.”
Segrave said that he was proud to make the inaugural list as a local player from NSW and hoped this was the start of a new wave of local talent playing for the GIANTS.
“You’re always told NSW isn’t a footy state and there are a lot of setbacks compared with Victorian clubs, but now there is a genuine chance for NSW players to really make it in the AFL. There are just so many more opportunities for young players, and they will have so much more access to coaching and development.
“I never thought I had much of a chance to make it to this level until the GIANTS came and spoke to me earlier this year. Sadly I got sick with Glandular and I thought that was it, it was all finished, but they came back to me again in October and now I’m here. It’s been such a rollercoaster. I’m extremely lucky.”
Greater Western Sydney GIANTS High Performance Manager Alan McConnell said that Segrave was fitting in well and would soon benefit from the full time nature of an AFL club.
“We feel that Tim is a great find. Given the difficulties he has faced over the past 12 months, he wasn’t able to play a lot of football, he joins us as a zone rookie but we certainly see that he could have been a draftable player without those setbacks.
“He’s a tall defender, with excellent leg speed. Typical of a lot of country footballers he is used to travelling a long way for training. Historically these footballers experience significant improvement when you remove the strain of travel and they can access coaching and training on a daily basis.”
