If the Bendigo Bombers are to make season 2008 one to remember then it looks likely to be on the back of steady improvement from their Bendigo pool of talent including forward Grant Weeks.

At just 19 years of age Weeks has experienced more highs and lows of the game than most of his age.

Playing as a forward flanker for his home town of Colbinabbin Weeks tasted instant success being an integral part of the Grasshoppers senior Premiership side of 2004 producing 50 goals for season.

It didn’t take long for the Bendigo Pioneers talents scouts to identify Weeks as a player of the future as he enjoyed two fruitful seasons with the local TAC club.

Among his achievements in that period including winning the Pioneers Goal kicking award twice in the seasons of 2005/6 finishing runner-up in the best & fairest award of 2006 and representing Victoria Country in the National Championships.

Weeks teamed with star players such as Joel Selwood, Scott Pendelbury and Dale Thomas throughout the championships highlighting the regard his football talent is held in.

It was at this time that talk began to flow that the kid from Colbo who grew up on a grain farm was favoured to be drafted although soon after Weeks was delivered a savage blow with a foot injury that specialists failed to diagnose.

Despite missing games late in the 2006 home and away series he was still invited to state screening which is were up to three clubs in the A.F.L have requested to look at a player perform a number of tests.

Weeks was unable to do many of the tests still struggling from stress fractures which would be diagnosed following the National draft.

National Draft Day came and went and unfortunately for Weeks there was no slice of luck and he was left with the natural disappointment of his dream not being fulfilled. ‘’ I thought I was an outside chance by then, there had been some talk of it but with the injury I thought it would count against me’’.

‘’It hurt a bit with people talking it up and a bit of hype leading up to and also with some of my mates getting picked up’’.

He remains optimistic that there could still be an opportunity to play at the elite level.

‘’ You have to move on and these days there are guys who are 24 years old getting drafted and guys making rookie lists so it pays to be optimistic’’ Weeks said.

Right now his focus is putting the finishing touches to what he describes has been his best pre-season yet. 2007 proved to be a learning curve for the noted goal kicker breaking into the senior side following a slow start to the season and showing from his limited opportunities the ability to compete at the sub elite level. 

 Weeks played a modest 7 senior VFL games including the epic elimination final loss to the hands of North Ballarat although his personal expectations for the season ahead are much greater. ‘’I aim to be a regular in the senior side and have an impact up forward and in the midfield if required’’.

He noted a good feel amongst the Bendigo Bombers group at present with the new leadership of Carlton and Geelong midfielder Adrian Hickmott providing the list with renewed enthusiasm.’’ Training has been good really specific to the game plan and hopefully it doesn’t take long to implement and we have early success in the home and away series’’.

A strong start to 2008 could also see this young gun to blossom into one of the stars of the TRU Energy Victorian Football League Season.

Categories: Feature Articles
Tags: Bendigo Bombers, Grant Weeks