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Jake Weidemann – son of Crows cult figure Wayne Weidemann – wants to forge his own AFL career

JAKE Weidemann – the son of former Adelaide Crows cult figure Wayne Weidemann – hopes to create his own legacy if he lands on an AFL list.

Woodville-West Torrens AFL draft hopeful Jake Weidemann and his dad, former Crows cult figure Wayne Weidemann. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.
Woodville-West Torrens AFL draft hopeful Jake Weidemann and his dad, former Crows cult figure Wayne Weidemann. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.

HE DOES not plan on growing a long, blond mullet or smashing through packs with brutal force.

Instead, Jake Weidemann – the son of former Adelaide Crows cult figure Wayne Weidemann – hopes to create his own legacy if he lands on an AFL list.

Jake, a utility at Wayne’s former SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens, has emerged as a draft prospect this year after representing SA at the national under-18 championships and also playing six reserves and 10 under-18 games for the Eagles.

Wayne Weidemann during his playing days with the Crows in the 1990s.
Wayne Weidemann during his playing days with the Crows in the 1990s.

But Jake, 18, says he and his Dad are very different players.

“I won’t be growing a mullet anytime soon,” Jake, of Rosewater, says with a laugh.

“A bit of outside noise has said ‘you should be like your old man’.

“But I know we are completely different players, so I don’t put any real pressure on myself to be too much like him.

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“He was a lot harder at the body than I am and he was a bit more obvious when he did it.”

Wayne played 68 games for Adelaide 1991-96, becoming a favourite with the Crows crowd who called “Weed” when he was in possession of the ball.

But he did not begin his AFL career until he was 24 – something Jake planned to use as motivation if he was not selected in this Friday’s national draft or as a rookie next week.

Father and son Wayne and Jake Weidemann, pictured in 2005.
Father and son Wayne and Jake Weidemann, pictured in 2005.

If I don’t get picked up, I will definitely hang around footy and try to play as much league (with the Eagles) as I can and work my way back into the system,” he says.

Wayne is nervous for Jake but excited that he may follow in his footsteps.

“He’s a completely different player to me and he’ll make his own way,” Wayne, now 51, says.

“He’s probably not as reckless as I was and he is a bit smarter, and much more skilful.

“If he was able to play at the same club that I did, I think that would be fantastic.

“But he’d be happy to go anywhere in any state and at any footy club.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/west-beaches/sport/jake-weidemann-son-of-crows-cult-figure-wayne-weidemann-wants-to-forge-his-own-afl-career/news-story/9eb7a6b7ca949dafc08121a21f3df484