by Grimmett » Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:40 pm
Article from Bendigo Advertiser. Possible Sturt recruit.
Star forward to leave Bendigo for SANFL Kain's bombshell
Luke West
Thursday, 15 December 2005
KAIN Robins looks set to turn his back on the Bendigo Bank Bombers next year.
Instead, he is likely to choose to continue his blossoming football career in the SANFL.
Robins was overlooked in Tuesday's AFL rookie draft after spending the previous eight weeks training with Hawthorn, but if he chooses to have another crack at making an AFL list, it's likely he will do so with SANFL club Sturt.
The 21-year-old, who was the Bombers' leading goalkicker this year with 30, will travel to Adelaide tomorrow, where he will train with Sturt and meet with coach Brenton Phillips.
Robins says that by joining a SANFL club, he won't be fighting for a position in the senior team with AFL players, as is the case with aligned-VFL clubs, such as the Bendigo Bombers.
With no jostling for spots on the team with AFL players, Robins believes he will have more chances to show his wares in the SANFL, and ultimately, more opportunities to impress AFL scouts.The former Bendigo Pioneer has also attracted interest from Box Hill - Hawthorn's aligned VFL club - and fellow SANFL club Central Districts.
However, if Robins decides an AFL career is beyond him, he hinted at a move back to All Seasons Bendigo Football League club Eaglehawk.
He expects to make his decision late next week.
Bombers' general manager Matthew Allan said yesterday Robins was a required player at the club next year.
"Kain was our leading goalkicker this year, so he was obviously a good player for us and is much required," Allan said.
"We won't be letting him go easily, but if he wants to, we will.
"We would like to keep him in our program because after training with an AFL club pre-Christmas, we think he is ready to have another big year."If Robins joins a SANFL club, it will have to pay the Bombers a transfer fee. Robins said his eight weeks of training at Glenferrie Oval had been the best experience of his footballing career.
"It's something I've always wanted to do, so it has been good to have been able to have a crack at it," he said.
"I sort of thought I was a good chance, so I was pretty shattered (not to be drafted), but they (Hawthorn) rang up and said I would be crazy to go back to country footy."Robins will still be eligible for an AFL rookie list in the 2007 season.
Eaglehawk coach Derrick Filo said the Hawks would love to have Robins back if he chose to return to Canterbury Park.
"Anyone who can play key-position, on the wing or ruck-rover is pretty handy," Filo said.
"We'd love to have him back, but we'll just leave him alone for a while because I imagine he would be pretty disappointed.
"But we think he will make his mind up fairly quickly."
Beer is so much more than just a good breakfast drink.