Interview with Nick Gill of the Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Crows had a clear strategy for the AFL National Draft, get as many tall forwards as they could. They were very lucky to have Sellar drop to them at pick 14, they drafted another big forward prospect at pick 32 with Kurt Tippett. These players have a lot of potential but could need several seasons to develop. The Adelaide Crows are built to win now, and they used pick 64 on Nick Gill who will provide immediate help in their forward line. Nick Gill talked to aflinsider.net about his time with the Melbourne Demons, how he improved his game with North Adelaide of the SANFL and his expectations now he is an Adelaide Crow.
"I could imagine that anyone from my tenure with Melbourne would be surprised to see me back in the game. Back then I was as heavy as a paperweight and had the football confidence of a small child on a ghost train", Gill said. Nick Gill was on Melbourne's list in 2001, and next season he will have the chance to play against some of his former teammates like White, Green and Brown. Scott Thompson was also playing for Melbourne in 2001, and Gill will now be playing alongside him with the Crows.
One former teammate at the Demons who Gill won't get the chance to go against is the retired David Schwarz, but Nick Gill will use some of the things that the big Melbourne forward taught him. "He actually taught me some great things that I still use extensively today. For example he was a great teacher of the 'block' in the forward line, which I assume is from basketball experience he has. It's something that has come in very handy at times and something I have passed on to some other youngsters along the way", Gill said.
Gill would play in the VFL, and was also on the Kangaroos' list, but it was with North Adelaide that he got the opportunity to show he could star. Gill said, "I've now been playing in what has been described as a 'man's league' and as a result have developed personally both physically and mentally. This has been pushed along well by all the boys at North and the amazing culture they have managed to create down at North and of course the coaches, Andrew and Darren Jarman in particular who have believed in and developed me."
Gill kicked 47 goals last season and the Crows are going to need him to continue to kick goals as they will be without Trent Hentschel. The Crows play a very versatile forward line with three or four tall options, as well as Ricciuto, Bode and Burton. Gill will likely be played around the half forward area. Nick Gill said, "I think that my role for the Crows, were I to play, would be as a third, or back-up, tall forward, perhaps assisting the likes of Perrie and Welsh".
But the Crows might change things from last season so Gill at full forward might be something they try. If he and Burton were both played in the goalsquare the marking contests would be very exciting for Crows' fans. The Crows have all summer to work on the structure of their forward line so fans will have to wait for the preseason games to find out where Nick Gill plays. Nick Gill said, "Having only been there for a few days, I'm still earning a lot of the processes and roles that the Crows have in place".
While Nick Gill should entertain on the field next season, and is a chance for a mark of the round, he may also be entertaining off the field. Gill previously wrote about his time with North Adelaide and this was published on their internet site. Gill said, "Writing is something I really enjoy and would like to continue to do it in some capacity". So you might see Nick Gill's reports on afc.com.au next season, if the Crows want to add something extra to their internet site.
One thing that is on the Crows official site is a poll for their top goal-scorer next season. Welsh, Ricciuto and Burton are just ahead of Gill, with Bock and McGregor behind him for the poll results.
Gill will be wearing number one for the Crows next season. That was the number that Greg Anderson, and his big hair, made memorable in the early years of the Crows. The Crows of the early 1990s, and the Crows of today, couldn't make it to the last day in September. But the Crows have added help to their forward line, and in 2007 Nick Gill could be playing on the MCG with Ricciuto and the Crows for the AFL Premiership.
"I could imagine that anyone from my tenure with Melbourne would be surprised to see me back in the game. Back then I was as heavy as a paperweight and had the football confidence of a small child on a ghost train", Gill said. Nick Gill was on Melbourne's list in 2001, and next season he will have the chance to play against some of his former teammates like White, Green and Brown. Scott Thompson was also playing for Melbourne in 2001, and Gill will now be playing alongside him with the Crows.
One former teammate at the Demons who Gill won't get the chance to go against is the retired David Schwarz, but Nick Gill will use some of the things that the big Melbourne forward taught him. "He actually taught me some great things that I still use extensively today. For example he was a great teacher of the 'block' in the forward line, which I assume is from basketball experience he has. It's something that has come in very handy at times and something I have passed on to some other youngsters along the way", Gill said.
Gill would play in the VFL, and was also on the Kangaroos' list, but it was with North Adelaide that he got the opportunity to show he could star. Gill said, "I've now been playing in what has been described as a 'man's league' and as a result have developed personally both physically and mentally. This has been pushed along well by all the boys at North and the amazing culture they have managed to create down at North and of course the coaches, Andrew and Darren Jarman in particular who have believed in and developed me."
Gill kicked 47 goals last season and the Crows are going to need him to continue to kick goals as they will be without Trent Hentschel. The Crows play a very versatile forward line with three or four tall options, as well as Ricciuto, Bode and Burton. Gill will likely be played around the half forward area. Nick Gill said, "I think that my role for the Crows, were I to play, would be as a third, or back-up, tall forward, perhaps assisting the likes of Perrie and Welsh".
But the Crows might change things from last season so Gill at full forward might be something they try. If he and Burton were both played in the goalsquare the marking contests would be very exciting for Crows' fans. The Crows have all summer to work on the structure of their forward line so fans will have to wait for the preseason games to find out where Nick Gill plays. Nick Gill said, "Having only been there for a few days, I'm still earning a lot of the processes and roles that the Crows have in place".
While Nick Gill should entertain on the field next season, and is a chance for a mark of the round, he may also be entertaining off the field. Gill previously wrote about his time with North Adelaide and this was published on their internet site. Gill said, "Writing is something I really enjoy and would like to continue to do it in some capacity". So you might see Nick Gill's reports on afc.com.au next season, if the Crows want to add something extra to their internet site.
One thing that is on the Crows official site is a poll for their top goal-scorer next season. Welsh, Ricciuto and Burton are just ahead of Gill, with Bock and McGregor behind him for the poll results.
Gill will be wearing number one for the Crows next season. That was the number that Greg Anderson, and his big hair, made memorable in the early years of the Crows. The Crows of the early 1990s, and the Crows of today, couldn't make it to the last day in September. But the Crows have added help to their forward line, and in 2007 Nick Gill could be playing on the MCG with Ricciuto and the Crows for the AFL Premiership.
