Mature-age Crows draftee James Rowe gets his first genuine chance to audition for a Round One spot when he plays in Adelaide’s internal trial game this weekend.
The 21-year-old was drafted with Pick No.38 last year after winning a SANFL premiership and the Ken Farmer Medal with Woodville-West Torrens.
The dynamic small forward said he had enjoyed his first AFL pre-season and was excited about putting that into practice on the field this Saturday.
“I guess it takes a little bit of time to settle into the schedule but I feel like it’s gone well and I’m excited getting into match play now,” Rowe said.
“The Eagles have been very good for my development and I feel I had a good fitness base behind me when I came into the Crows.
“With the intra club (game) this week everyone will want to put their best foot forward and then we have a few more games leading up to Round 1 so hopefully I get a crack and can get my way into the Round 1 team, but if not I’ve just got to keep playing my role.
“I’m not much of a goal-setter personally, but if I can make my way into the team somewhat early on and hold my spot that’s what I’ll be trying to do but just getting better as a person and a footballer is my main aim.”
Rowe has already had the chance to show what he’s capable of during match simulation training and has been getting an education along the way from his teammates.
“It’s exciting going up against others at this level, I’ve had a few good hit-outs against Browny (Luke Brown) and learnt a lot, he’s one of the best small defenders in the comp,” Rowe said.
“Playing against him and Andy Mac (Andrew McPherson) you just learn as much as you can and if you can get a kick against them then it holds you in good stead for if you get a crack at AFL level.
“I’ve been working pretty closely with Rahls (James Rahilly) our forward line coach, then getting little bits off all of them like Marco (Bello) and NIcksy (Matthew Nicks), we have a lot of good coaches around so we are very lucky.”
As for any advice he’s been getting at home from dad Stephen who played 29 games for the Crows between 1991-1995, Rowe said he’d taken and interest but wasn’t over the top.
“He’s kept his nose out of it, he still asks how I’m going, he’s my dad so naturally he wants to know what’s going on, but since the first week it’s all got pretty normal just like I was at the Eagles really.”
