Addison arrives at GIANTS
This article first appeared on foxsports.com.au
By Neil Cordy
The AFL landscape in Sydney is barely recognisable to the one former St Gregory’s College student Dylan Addison left eight years ago.
Not only is the school famous for it’s production of NRL stars offering Aussie Rules as one of it’s sports, he’s about to play for an AFL team (the GIANTS) nobody had even dreamt of when he was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in 2005.
“When I went to St Gregory’s there was only my two brothers, myself and one other kid who played Aussie Rules,” Addison said.
“I go back there for sports dinners once a year and to see them with an AFL team is fantastic.”
After 88 games in eight seasons at the Bulldogs Addison will become the fifth experienced GIANTS recruit alongside Shane Mumford and Jed Lamb (Sydney Swans), Heath Shaw (Collingwood) and Josh Hunt (Geelong).
The 26 year-old wants to show the extraordinary group of young talented players at GWS about just how every detail of being a professional footballer counts.
“I’d like to think I can lead by example and bring those attributes I’ve possessed which are my competitiveness and commitment,” Addison said.
“I want to teach the players that it’s all those little contests that make a game so important.
“It’s not all about kicking goals, it’s the process to get the goal which is so important.”
Few players understand the tightrope a professional footballer walks better than Addison who spent his last five years at the Bulldogs on one year contracts and has signed another single year deal with the Giants.
“It keeps you motivated,” Addison said.
“You play every game like it’s your last.
“I’ve been doing it for quite a while now so I’ve become accustomed to it. It’s just part of my routine now not knowing what I’m doing next year.”
Addison has his sights on the round one clash against the Swans on March 15 at GIANTS Stadium (formerly Skoda Stadium) and can’t wait to play in front of a packed house in his home town.