Shunned Atkins vows to repay Crows

Adelaide Crows draftees Sam Siggins, Brad Crouch and Rory Atkins. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

DRAFT steal Rory Atkins says he has grown up and vowed to repay Adelaide for its faith in him.

The teenager, who was once kicked out of the AIS-AFL Academy because of poor work ethic, said he was grateful to the Crows for taking a punt on him when other clubs didn't. And he said he wouldn't let them down.

Tipped as a top-35 selection, Atkins - a left-footed ball magnet who oozes class - shockingly slid all the way through to Adelaide at No.81 at last Thursday's national draft.

That said more about his attitude than his talent, with Crows recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie saying he moves so well and is so skilful he "dances with the ball".

"This is a great opportunity," Atkins said after his first training session with the Crows yesterday.

"Nearly every kid in Australia grows up wishing they were on an AFL list. Adelaide's taken a chance on me and I'm hoping to pay them back and show them something.

"For a while there at the draft I was on the edge of my seat thinking it wasn't going to happen for one reason or another and as soon as my name got called out it was grouse, I loved it."

Atkins excused himself of any major wrongdoings for being dumped from the AFL's elite junior program, saying: "I think I just got kicked out because I was young and didn't know what I had to do or what the process was to stay in that kind of elite level.

"But I took it on board and I think I matured as a person and a player, so it worked out for the best," he said.

The 18-year-old took his 2011 dumping in his stride, rebounding to win TAC Cup side Calder Cannons' best and fairest award this year while also representing Vic Metro at the national under-18 championships.

He paid tribute to his Calder teammates for helping to turn him around and "understanding how to act".

Atkins said he would sit "under the wing" of some of his new Crows teammates to learn exactly what is required to make it at the elite level.

After one day at training he already has identified captain Nathan van Berlo and excitement machine Patrick Dangerfield as two whose work ethic he will look to emulate.

"I could just see from Nathan how hard he works and that's why he's captain," Atkins said.

"And Patty Dangerfield also, that's why he's so good. As I get older, I'm realising the important aspects of the game and what I have to do to be successful. I reckon it will really help being in an AFL environment."
 

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