An article on young Ayce... I love this kid's name hehe
Draft is easy part for Western Bulldog Ayce Cordy
Rebecca Williams | November 28, 2008 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24717638-19775,00.html
NEW Western Bulldog Ayce Cordy is less than a week into his first AFL pre-season, but is already feeling the pinch. "I am sore from head to toe at the moment," the lanky 202cm draftee said as he stretched out a tight hamstring at training yesterday.
"It's been tough. I have tried to do as much as I can.
"They have taken it pretty easy on me and eased me into things, but it's definitely been a pretty big step up from what I am used to."
The initiation won't get any easier for the teenager when he leaves today for a week-long training camp in Arizona with the Bulldogs.
"I have timed it pretty nicely to come to the club just as they are heading off to America," Cordy said.
"I am looking forward to it, it should be good fun."
While his body is adjusting to the rigours of AFL training, one thing he won't have to worry about is dealing with nerves on national draft day tomorrow.
The Bulldogs have already committed to taking Cordy with their first pick (No. 14) under the father-son rule.
His father Brian played 124 games for the Dogs in the 1980s.
The 18-year-old ruckman-forward, who has been bunking with teammate Shaun Higgins this week, said he was relieved he didn't face a nervous wait tomorrow.
"It's good to know where you are and where you're going," Cordy said.
"I've obviously had a week head start on all the other boys that are going to get drafted.
"By the feel of things, I need to get as much of a head start as I possibly can."
Bulldogs assistant coach Leon Cameron said Cordy still had a lot of development ahead and the club would not rush him to play senior football next season.
"He is a big boy, obviously he has got to put on a bit of weight because he is pretty thin, but we are really looking forward to him having a long career at our footy club," Cameron said.
"Like every young kid in the draft, you have got to see where they're at.
"Some are more advanced than others and he has got a fair way to go. He's coming off a shoulder operation and he has got to put on a fair bit of weight.
"He'll be playing down at our aligned side down at Williamstown and who knows what happens throughout the year. But there is no pressure for him to play senior footy."
After Cordy's selection, the Bulldogs don't have a pick until the second round (31 and 32) in tomorrow's draft, but Cameron said he was excited about the depth of tall talent on offer.
"It is fantastic depth. There is a lot of talls and a lot of ruckman and key forwards and key backs, which suits us because we are trying to develop some key tall forwards," Cameron said.
"We've got a couple here at the moment in Jarrad Grant and Jarrad Boumann and we want to add to that so we can develop them in the next couple of years."