Former Commonwealth Games decathlete Jake Stein to make debut for GWS Giants against North Melbourne
Five years after competing for Australia at the Commonwealth Games, Jake Stein will complete his sporting transformation when he plays his first game for GWS.
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Former Commonwealth Games decathlete Jake Stein will swap one track for another on Sunday as he makes his AFL debut for the Giants against North Melbourne.
The 25-year-old represented Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and collected gold at the 2011 World Youth Championships. But having opted for a change of sporting scene in 2016 he has spent the last three years steadily learning his new craft and Giants coach has decided the time is right to unleash him.
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“It’s a great story for our footy club, really,” Cameron said.
“He’s a western suburbs boy, from out Penrith way.
“John Quinn, our ex high performance guy found him in athletics (Quinn had been Stein’s running coach before becoming the Giants’ inaugural high performance manager) three years ago.
“The work that John did early and then our coaches has just been phenomenal and it just endorses the development program we have in place.
“To take a player from one sport into another, into AFL, and get him up to speed in three years to play his first game is just a wonderful story.
“He’s been in great form, his last six weeks at NEAFL has been really, really good and he’ll take up a key back position against some really good quality key forwards in the Kangaroos but we’re really confident that Jake’s going to come out and play his role.
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“Jake has got a really big motor, elite speed. The nuances of the game, he’s really worked hard on. Because he’s probably got that professional background already in his kitbag he’s been really driven to learn really quickly.
“We’re really proud of him, we’re rapt. I think there was a huge roar from our playing group when they heard he was going to play, which is great.”
The man from the individual sport, now very much a team player.
Stein comes in with Nick Haynes ruled out with an ankle injury.
Toby Greene, Jackson Hately, Dawson Simpson, Zac Langdon and Matt Buntine have come into the final squad.
Sunday’s clash pits the Rhyce Shaw-coached Roos up against brother Heath’s Giants.
“I think Heath summed it up when he said it would be a little bit weird and it’s probably right,” Cameron said. “Tactically he’s probably trying to put the Giants in a position that they can lose the game and looking at his brother and saying how can he get inside his head. But equally it’s a game of footy, the ball bounces, it’s 22 v 22 and it’s on.
“We need to make sure our contested ball is to a level that not only keeps you in the game but allows you to win the game.”
Originally published as Former Commonwealth Games decathlete Jake Stein to make debut for GWS Giants against North Melbourne
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