Dylan Conway said he has taken his game to another level this season. 81600 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
DYLAN Conway’s end-of-year report card was not exactly a glowing one.
The Western Jets product played just one senior game for Williamstown last year (and 17 in the development squad), and was questioned by coach Peter German about whether he had what it took to play at senior level.
“He (German) said to me at the start of the year he had a fair idea of what sort of footballer I was last year and I decided to come back to Williamstown to make sure I changed his mind,” Conway said.
“Because if you’re not going to change his mind then you’re not going to change anyone else’s mind about your football, and he’s one of the toughest critics, so I really wanted to step up my game to really show him that I can play.”
Conway said German had been riding him hard over the last 18 months, but it finally seems to be paying dividends, with the 20-year-old producing strong performances in his last two senior games, including the Foxtel Cup game against South Adelaide.
Before that he kicked 22 goals in seven games for the development squad as a half-forward.
Conway admitted it took him longer than anticipated to make the transition from TAC Cup to VFL.
“I probably wasn’t ready and mature enough. But this year I’ve matured a fair bit and realised what I have to do,” he said.
Conway was one of the Western Jets’ stand-out players in 2010, and was a member of the Vic Metro team that competed in the NAB Under 18 Championships.
Scouts saw a player with great hands, a good football brain and strong leadership qualities, but had doubts over his engine.
Conway said his fitness let him down at Williamstown last year, but vowed to turn it around over pre-season, and he has come back a more well-rounded player.
“I really put my head down and worked hard, and I definitely improved in my fitness and the coaching staff have seen that.”
One thing the coaching staff has also been impressed with is Conway’s leadership qualities.
He was in the leadership group at the Jets and at St Kevin’s College with Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore, and said it came naturally to him. “I want to help the group get to where we want to get to, and trying to get everyone involved,” he said.
Conway still has a burning desire to play AFL footy, but is not getting ahead of himself.
“I just need to concentrate on playing regular senior football at Williamstown and just do everything there and hopefully an opportunity arises in the next few years, that will be unbelievable,” he said.
