JARROD Korewha won’t let his dreams of playing AFL one day fall by the wayside.
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The Koroit product’s ambitions suffered a setback when he was overlooked in the 2016 AFL Draft, but he is determined to keep his name in front of selectors’ eyes.
“Hopefully the goal is not too far away,” Korewha said.
“It’s not the end of the world – if that (getting drafted) happens this season, or whenever, it’s still my goal to get there.”
Korewha has been among a host of TAC Cup club North Ballarat Rebels graduates training with the club’s VFL affiliate, the Roosters, this preseason.
The 18-year-old has been part of the rehabilitation group as he manages patella tendinopathy, or inflamation of the patella tendon, in both knees, which has plagued him for the past 12 months.
“This time of year just managing loads so it’s not too irritated (is key),” Korewha said.
“I’ve been to see a few physios and we’re pretty much all on track.
“It’s something that’s probably going to irritate me for the next couple of years, but hopefully, fingers crossed, I can get over it as soon as I can.
“But I’ve had it for 12 months now and it’s just about managing it so I can get out on the park and play.”
Korewha will continue on with the Saints in the Hampden league, but is hoping to make an impact in the VFL if he can secure a spot on the Roosters’ 44-player list.
He will draw on his knowledge from his years on the Rebels’ list, as well as with the AFL Academy, as he looks to “hopefully challenge myself in the elite system at VFL level”.
Last summer, he had the opportunity to train with the Sydney Swans through the academy’s program.
When the Rebels’ season was over, Korewha returned to Koroit, where he played in the Saints’ winning preliminary and grand finals, earning a spot in the best in the latter.
The post-season disappointment with the draft prompted Korewha to do some soul-searching for what his next step should be.
“I took a while to decide what I was going to do this year, but I think Ballarat is the go,” he said.
“(Coach) Chris McLaren from Koroit, he really helped get me through the process after last season.
“By my goal, as it’s always been, is still to get onto an AFL list and I know if I dwell too much on not getting picked up last year … it’ll distract me from what I need to do this year and going forward.”
McLaren said Korewha has “a lot of upside” and could take his game to another level in 2017.
“He realises there’s still a lot of hard work ahead if he wants to play at the highest level he can,” the Saints coach said.
“(He needs to) just make sure he enjoys himself. He needs to get stronger, definitely – he’s still quite lean, but he’s young.
“He’s been with us (at Koroit) a lot and he goes up to Ballarat once a week. He’s started to build a little bit the last few weeks.
“I reckon he’s in for a big year.”