By JARROD POTTER
THE UPS and downs of TAC Cup football haven’t stopped Dandenong Stingrays defender Tommy Glen pushing his way into the Vic Country colours.
Glen, 18, who lives in Pakenham, has toiled already in his burgeoning football career as he battled through the hard yards playing for Beaconsfield before earning a Stingrays debut last year.
It was a less than ideal end to his inaugural TAC Cup campaign though, with Glen missing the Stingrays’ finals on account of a broken finger.
His start to 2015 was just as tedious as he was sidelined for a month with a troublesome knee, but he’s returned quickly and hit his straps just as fast in only four TAC Cup matches.
“This year has been going good so far,” Glen said.
“I missed the first four matches with the knee injury – but it’s all going pretty well.
“Week to week but it’s been pretty good lately – can’t complain at all.”
His best effort of the year against Eastern helped confirm his place in the Vic Country line-up, as he accrued 22 possessions – at 86 per cent efficiency – and snared eight marks to help Dandenong take a 21-point win over the previously unbeaten Ranges.
“Played a few solid games against Western and Eastern and was lucky enough to get a call up (to Vic Country),” Glenn said.
“I had a pretty solid year last year – and (AFL Victoria high performance manager) Leon (Harris) spoke to me and said get your knee right if you can, get ready.
“It would be really good to play a couple of more nationals’ games and hopefully finish top four with the Stingrays.
“Hopefully just play good solid footy on an individual basis and go all the way with the Stingrays as well.”
Glen was part of the Dandenong-Stingrays contingent to help Vic Country destroy a lacklustre West Australia in a 105-point shellacking last week.
He was shocked to see how quickly West Australia fell away on Sunday, especially with home field advantage against the travelling Victorians.
“It was really surprising – definitely expected a bit more from them,” Glen said. “The midfield got on top early and the forwards took their chances – big (Josh) Schache booted eight.”
Part of the swath of Stingrays – alongside Kurt Mutimer, Bailey Rice, Gach Nyuon, Jacob Weitering, Keiran Collins and Myles Poholke – Glen was pleased with his efforts roaming the defensive end before getting his chance on the wing in the second half.
“It was an awesome feeling for all us boys and a big honour to represent the state with my Dandy team-mates,” Glen said.
“They had me playing half back, back pocket in the first half before they put me out onto the wing.
“It was a massive ground so plenty of space and big opportunity to run – was good to show I’m not just a one dimensional player in the big game.”
He wanted to thank his parents, Dandenong Stingrays, Vic Country and Hallam Senior College for their support.
Glen will hopefully retain his place in the Vic Country line-up as the side heads to Geelong again on Sunday to face Vic Metro from noon.
