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neafl article
By Natasha Lorenz
KRUGER MARCHING
TOWARDS FINALS
First year Sydney
Swans Reserves
player Eugene Kruger
has certainly
made his mark on the
Reserves side including
best on ground
performances over
the course of the
new NEAFL competition.
Since playing top up games
for the Reserves last year
he was selected to train
during the pre season with the
Swans where he was picked
as a Swans rookie. Kruger has
seen an improvement in his
game and the twenty year old
has the development coaches
to thank.
“Seeing Stuart Maxfield
and Henry Playfair every
week just trying to work on
something different and
making sure I get it right and
trying to implement it into my
game. Everything is finally
starting to come together
towards the main part of the
season,” Kruger said.
Kruger knows that he is still
in his development stages of
his career and both coaches
are role models that not only
Kruger can look up to but the
younger players.
“Maxfield, all he wants is for
the younger boys to improve
every week and give their
best, that is all he asks for. He
devotes his time every week,
he does not care if we knock
on his door and we ask if we
can have an extra kick or an
extra handballing session,
he is always willing to do
that. That goes the same for
Playfair,” Kruger said.
Kruger has been working
hard and has to change his
intensity of play to
take in all the guidance that
Maxfield and Playfair are
giving him.
“I have relly started
to show some signs
of improvement that
I have really put
in over the years. I
have taken it step by
step, whereas at the
start of the year I
wanted to try and
do everything all at
once,” Kruger said.
Kruger admits that the Swans
Reserves have not talked
too much about winning the
competition they are just
trying to play at a consistent
AFL standard.
“They challenge us every
week because they want us
to be ready for AFL standard
level so every week we go in
thinking it does not matter
who the opposition is as long
as we give a four quarter
effort of AFL standard footy,”
Kruger said.
The Reserves will remain on
top of the Eastern Conference
ladder, regardless of the
result against Ainslie this
weekend.
To the NEAFL Eastern Conference and AFL Canberra Division 2,
Under 18’s, Division 3, Division 4 and Women’s Competitions
Gala Presentation Evening
Wednesday 7th September, 2011 6.30pm for 6.45pm Hellenic Club,
Matilda St, Woden, Suit & tie for the gentlemen and cocktail dress for the ladies,
$90 per head or $850 per table of 10, Includeas 3-course meal and beverage
package, RSVP Wednesday 31st August, 2011 to
Shaun.Ebert@aflnswact.com.au
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