Wall wants third crack

By Paul Pickering
JAMES Wall prefers not to think about his chances of a third crack at AFL level.
Twice rookie-listed, twice delisted, the easy-going Casey Scorpion knows there’s no point getting his hopes up.
But as the 23-year-old utility continues to build his reputation as one of the VFL’s premier players, he also knows that the window of opportunity is ajar.
Wall has watched VFL contemporaries Michael Barlow, James Podsiadly and Alex Silvagni – a former team-mate at Casey Fields – hit the ground running at AFL level this year.
So as big league recruiters prepare to skim the VFL talent pool further at season’s end, 2010 shapes as perhaps the most important of Wall’s young career.
And it’s off to a near-perfect start, with Wall already earning selection in the VFL state team and, having assumed the captaincy in Kyle Matthews’ absence, leading the Scorpions to 6-1 record.
“The fire is in the belly,” he said last week.
“And if the opportunity came along, I’m quite confident that I’m well equipped to perform at (AFL) level. It’s something that’s out of my control, so I can’t get too focused on it, but it’s good to see that (recruiters) are looking outside that window now.”
Wall was first rookie-listed by Sydney in 2006, before getting another chance with St Kilda in 2007. Both clubs seemed determined to mould him into a key defender, but he was unable to add enough bulk to his rangy 198cm frame to hold down a key post.
So he returned to the Scorpions, having enjoyed his time at Casey Fields during the club’s brief alignment with the Saints.
Two seasons and two best-and-fairest awards later, Wall has established himself as one of the most versatile players in the competition.
Playing mainly on a wing for Casey this year, his supreme fitness and ability to read the play made him a standout in the Vics’ emphatic win over Western Australia a fortnight ago, pushing forward from half-back in between stints in the ruck.
And Casey coach Brad Gotch believes that Wall’s versatility would make him a clear candidate for a call-up to the AFL ranks.
“He has a lot of strings to his bow,” Gotch said.“He’s 198cm and he can run as well, so why wouldn’t you think that he could be that chop-out ruckman for 20 to 30 per cent of the game, as well as the other attributes that he has as far as playing on a wing, key back of forward?”
For now though, Wall is firmly focused on his role – on and off the field – with the emerging Scorpions. He says Matthews, who continues his rehabilitation after being assaulted outside an Auburn pub in March, has been a major inspiration for Casey’s early-season form.
“The terrible thing that happened to Kyle really sent a bit of a shock through the club, because he’s more than just a captain – he’s the heart and soul of the club,” Wall said. “Everyone’s come closer together because of what’s happened, so to see that happen just shows the strength and resolve of the group.”
It also says a bit about the character of the stand-in skipper, whose footy resume is becoming difficult for AFL recruiters to ignore.