Highly-regarded GWS midfield bull Tom Green wants to add scoring punch to his already impressive skill set, as he gets set to perform in front of the biggest crowd of his burgeoning AFL career on Saturday.
The Canberra junior played 24 games in his first two seasons, impressing with his ball-winning ability and good decision-making in tight situations.
The 21-year-old has worked on his running ability and endurance, posting a personal best over two kilometres in the pre-season.
He has kicked eight goals at senior level and, in anticipation of spending time up forward this season, has continued working on his forward craft heading into the opening-round derby with Sydney at Accor Stadium.
“At my height, my size, I can be damaging as a forward,” Green told AAP.
“The best mids in the game these day are mids that are amazing around the contest, around the ball, and then go forward and hit the scoreboard as well, that’s the vein that I can go in.
“I took strides in doing that last year but I think I can take it to another level this year.
“Its just being able to hit the scoreboard regularly go forward, take marks and be a presence.”
The biggest crowd Green has played in front of so far is 33,541 for a derby against the Swans at the SCG last April.
He has yet to play at Accor Stadium, though he did attend a Wallabies-All Blacks rugby Test at the venue.
“The talk is we’re hoping to get something like 50 or 60,000 into the game which would be absolutely unbelievable,” Green said.
“I really hope that’s what happens because the first couple of COVID years there’s been crowd caps, crowds haven’t been allowed in.
“I haven’t been able to play in front of a massive crowd like that; that’s something that really excites me.”
While he doesn’t get starstruck, Green appreciates the qualities of opposing players and will likely feel a mixture of emotions if Sydney forward Lance Franklin kicks five goals on Saturday to reach the 1000 mark.
“If I’m 100 per cent honest it would be cool to be a part of Buddy kicking his 1000th, because it’s such a momentous moment for the sport and in modern football,” Green said.
“But if he kicks his 1000th it probably means that they are going pretty well and we probably lose the game.”
Click here to buy tickets for the match.
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
