Print this page
Ty Allen has turned around his SANFL career, after pondering giving it all away two years ago.
THREE years ago Glenelg midfielder Ty Allen was ready to walk out the door at Brighton Road.
Languishing in the Reserves and struggling with injury, Allen said ``it was all getting too hard’’.
The combination of a broken leg at training, a sore shoulder, crook ankle and osteitis pubis tested the Beachport product physically and mentally.
``I’d had too many injuries and I contemplated that this was it,’’ he said.
``When I did play I was coming on and off the bench and couldn’t show what I could do.
``But a couple of guys got in my ear and said `stick at it’.’’
The turning point was the arrival of Mark Mickan as senior coach in 2006, and he had one message for the struggling Allen.
``Mark said `get fit’,’’ Allen said.
``So I did a fair bit of running by myself in pre season.
``Mark had belief in me. He played me in positions I wanted to play and left me on the ground for a while.’’
The result speaks for itself.
At 24, Allen is one of the first picked at Glenelg selection every week and according to online betting agency, Sportsbet, is ninth favourite ($21) for this year’s Magarey Medal.
But he’s happy to play that down.
``There are far better players in the competition than me,’’ Allen said.
``I don’t pay too much attention to that sort of stuff.’’
Given Allen’s form this season, it would surprise some supporters to learn he was dumped from Glenelg’s leadership group in 2008.
The leadership group at Challenge Recruitment Oval was cut from eight to five players over summer and included Crows recruit Matthew Bode.
``I was a little disappointed,’’ Allen said.
``But guys like (Matthew) Bode come back and you learn from him.
``I’ve hit him up a few times about advice. Mainly about his goal kicking ...I’d like to kick a few more this season.’’
Glenelg football operations manager Ken Applegarth described Allen, who works as a paver, as a ``wonderful lad who waited for his opportunity and grabbed it’’.
``He has shown a great deal of perseverance,’’ Applegarth said.
``And he’s now an integral part of our set up.
``We hope he has many years left in him. He’ll be a 200 game player Ty.’’
Courtesy of Messenger Newspapers
Story by Reece Homfray