Fergus Greene had his challenges transitioning to AFL level according to Dogs’ development coach Jordan Russell, but his hard work pays off on Sunday in Ballarat when the 20-year-old will make his AFL debut.
Greene was drafted with the 70th overall selection in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft, but as Russell tells it, the Bendigo native took time to adjust.
“The biggest challenge when you come into a footy environment is feeling accepted and being comfortable in your environment,” Russell told Greene during his guernsey presentation on Friday.
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“Ferg, you were probably a bit uncertain, a bit unsure in regards to how you fit into it all. I think it played on your mind a little bit in the first twelve months but everyone can agree you’ve come out of your shell.”
“And it’s probably due to the fact that you’ve embraced who you are and your qualities.”
After seven goals in two weeks at VFL level, Greene had begun to look a likely candidate for late season debut, but it was the work he’d put in across the year, according to Russell, was what got him his opportunity.
“You’ve banged the door down on the development coaches rooms watching edits with Gracey (Steve Grace) and Bubba (Rohan Smith), and when you’re not with them you’re pestering Jamie (Maddocks) and I to do some extra skills in the afternoon.
“It’s a real credit to you, the work that you’ve done.”
Greene is the seventh player to debut for the Bulldogs over the 2017/18 seasons.
