Last Bance to impress before Draft
Above: Charlie Bance of NSW/ACT in action during the 2015 AFL Under 18 match between NSW/ACT and Queensland at Simonds Stadium, Geelong, Australia on July 2, 2015. (Photo by Sean Garnsworthy/AFL Media)
Wagga Tigers draft hopeful Charlie Bance is planning to use the knowledge gained from a turbulent year to spur him on at the upcoming NSW State Combine.
Bance’s season got off to a flying start, spending a week at GIANTS preseason training, before injuries hampered his consistency.
“It’s been a bit frustrating for me this season,” Bance said.
“I’ve had a niggly groin injury. I’ve missed a lot of games because of it and have been playing through it in others.”
The 17-year-old midfielder will be attending the NSW State Draft Combine next month.
“I’m hoping I can impress at the Combine because I don’t think I did that at the National Championships. I’m just trying to prepare myself as best as possible. I’ve got to make sure I’m as fit as possible.”
At the National Championships Bance did manage a 23 possession game against Tasmania, which included this silky snap on goal, and he hopes to underline his wares as a contested ball-winner in front of recruiters.
“I try to model my game on players who are good in close, the likes of Josh Kennedy [Swans] and Ollie Wines.”
In January, Bance and three PM Capital GIANTS Academy teammates, Matthew Flynn, Matthew Kennedy and Jock Cornell, spent a week training and living with GIANTS players.
“It was a really great week. It was good to see how they go about it at the elite level. The professionalism, the attitude and the intensity were all really impressive.”
The 185cm Bance said that Callan Ward and particularly Heath Shaw were instrumental in welcoming the quartet.
“He (Shaw) took us under his wing. He gave us advice and made us feel like we belonged.”
Personally, Bance took away valuable lessons from his time in the elite AFL environment.
“I came away knowing that I need to keep a high work-rate and level of professionalism. Also that I can’t take anything for granted.”
Bance will no doubt wish to put this into practice ahead of the NSW Combine.
