Athlete’s Commonwealth Games to AFL journey
Not everything went to plan for Jake Stein when he first made the switch from athletics to AFL. But he’s loving his new life as a GWS Giants player.
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It is not the usual path for an AFL player to make the big time — via a completely different sport and a Commonwealth Games.
GWS Giant Jake Stein is proving hard work and determination can pave the way for a new career as a cross coder.
But the Penrith player admits changing sport was not always easy as he learned new moves, new skills and new body movements.
“At the start if I’d tried to hand ball left handed I would have punched myself in the face,” said Stein, who grew up a Penrith Panthers fan.
“I may have done it once or twice to be honest.”
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But perseverance has paid off in spades for former world youth octathlon champion Stein who made his debut for the Giants against North Melbourne in Tasmania mid year as Giant No 94.
“I remember after my debut I was cooked,‘’ Stein said.
“Sore, bruised and I just sat there and took it all in.
“But I knew I just want more. There is a real hunger to keep going on.”
I am still learning to be honest
Stein, who finished ninth at the 2004 Commonwealth Games after a “bit of a stinker” where he false started, required shoulder surgery afterwards and failed in his quest to make the cut for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“I realised athletics was out. I moved back (from Perth) to be with my family,” he said.
“I changed to my old running coach John Quinn and wanted to play park footy with my mates at the Penrith Ram’s.”
Quinn was the inaugural high performance manager for the Giants and invited Stein to their old Rooty Hill base to train, eventually joining as a category B rookie.
“He set me up at the Giants and they got me in doing a bit of work — a few sessions with some coaches — and they agreed to rookie draft me at end of 2016,” Stein said.
“It took a while. I am still learning to be honest.
“Learning the different way the game goes and unfolds and all the things that can happen, took a little while.”
Stein has impressed at the Giants — in Melbourne preparing for the grand final this week — and is seen as being an important member of the club in the years to come.
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