SA Footy

Originally posted by Grimmett on the IN/OUT thread - possible SANFL recruit....21 yo KPP from VFL.

Article from Bendigo Advertiser. Possible Sturt recruit.

Star forward to leave Bendigo for SANFL Kain's bombshell
Luke West
Thursday, 15 December 2005

KAIN Robins looks set to turn his back on the Bendigo Bank Bombers next year.
Instead, he is likely to choose to continue his blossoming football career in the SANFL.

Robins was overlooked in Tuesday's AFL rookie draft after spending the previous eight weeks training with Hawthorn, but if he chooses to have another crack at making an AFL list, it's likely he will do so with SANFL club Sturt.

The 21-year-old, who was the Bombers' leading goalkicker this year with 30, will travel to Adelaide tomorrow, where he will train with Sturt and meet with coach Brenton Phillips.

Robins says that by joining a SANFL club, he won't be fighting for a position in the senior team with AFL players, as is the case with aligned-VFL clubs, such as the Bendigo Bombers.

With no jostling for spots on the team with AFL players, Robins believes he will have more chances to show his wares in the SANFL, and ultimately, more opportunities to impress AFL scouts.The former Bendigo Pioneer has also attracted interest from Box Hill - Hawthorn's aligned VFL club - and fellow SANFL club Central Districts.

However, if Robins decides an AFL career is beyond him, he hinted at a move back to All Seasons Bendigo Football League club Eaglehawk.

He expects to make his decision late next week.

Bombers' general manager Matthew Allan said yesterday Robins was a required player at the club next year.

"Kain was our leading goalkicker this year, so he was obviously a good player for us and is much required," Allan said.

"We won't be letting him go easily, but if he wants to, we will.

"We would like to keep him in our program because after training with an AFL club pre-Christmas, we think he is ready to have another big year."If Robins joins a SANFL club, it will have to pay the Bombers a transfer fee. Robins said his eight weeks of training at Glenferrie Oval had been the best experience of his footballing career.

"It's something I've always wanted to do, so it has been good to have been able to have a crack at it," he said.

"I sort of thought I was a good chance, so I was pretty shattered (not to be drafted), but they (Hawthorn) rang up and said I would be crazy to go back to country footy."Robins will still be eligible for an AFL rookie list in the 2007 season.

Eaglehawk coach Derrick Filo said the Hawks would love to have Robins back if he chose to return to Canterbury Park.

"Anyone who can play key-position, on the wing or ruck-rover is pretty handy," Filo said.

"We'd love to have him back, but we'll just leave him alone for a while because I imagine he would be pretty disappointed.

"But we think he will make his mind up fairly quickly

Sorry Jimmy. Wasn't sure of the posting protocols here as to where that article should be placed.

Should end up at South,they have plenty of room to move in the salary cap.

Grimmett wrote:Sorry Jimmy. Wasn't sure of the posting protocols here as to where that article should be placed.

No problem Grim, but i thought more ppl would see it here, no worries

The possible SANFL recruit turned out to be nothing more than possible. Stayed in Bendigo but dropped from VFL to Bendigo FL.

Article from the Bendigo Advertiser.

Kain signs with Hawks -- Santa brings early present for Eaglehawk
Saturday, 24 December 2005

THE Christmas wishes of the Eaglehawk Football-Netball Club were answered yesterday when Kain Robins signed with the club for the 2006 season.
In an early Christmas present for Eaglehawk, Robins has decided to return to the Two Blues after a two-year stint with the Bendigo Bank Bombers in the VFL.

A lot of wrapping paper would have been needed to put the 190 cm key forward under the Christmas tree at Canterbury Park.

But Hawks' senior coach Derrick Filo, football director Michael McKern, players and supporters are rapt that Robins will be back in the Two Blue guernsey for the club's 126th year.

Robins, 21, said commitments to his work as a builder with Bendigo Relocatable Buildings were his No. 1 priority.

He said to play for the Bombers in a 25-game career in the VFL had been a tremendous experience and helped improve his game in many areas.

"It's a huge commitment to the Bombers, pre-season and during the season," Robins said.

"But my work comes first," Robins said of his 3 1/2 year stint with BRC and becoming a fully qualified builder in February.

Originally from Hopetoun in the Sunraysia region, Robins represented the Bendigo Pioneers in the VFL TAC Cup under-18 competition in 2002 and '03.

In 2004, he lined up for the Bombers, or as a key player in Eaglehawk's attack.

Last football season he was a full-time Bomber.

Although most of his football has been at centre half-forward or on a flank, Robins has also played on a wing, and could tackle an on-ball role next season.