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PART 4: 2009 Awards Sean Robertson-Tait |
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Friday, 04 December 2009 15:37 |
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Sean Robertson-Tait, like most Canadians, had no background in Australian football before he was introduced to the Ottawa Swans. However, from his first training session he was quickly identified as a player of the future for the Swans.
"He showed great enthusiasm from day one. He was keen to become a good teammate and he quickly learned the positions and skills involved in playing the game," explained Chris MacLean, Swans Assistant Coach.
 The start of the 2009 season was not a typical rookie’s dream debut though. Injuries kept Robertson-Tait on the sideline for several games. When fit enough to get back on the field, he found himself floating between the forward and back lines before settling in as the Swans backup ruckman. As the season wore on, Robertson-Tait developed a good deal of versatility and consistency in his game.
This consistency earned the half forward/ruckman joint honors as the 2009 Rookie of the Year award. "It was great!” said Robertson-Tait, accepting the honour with tongue-in-cheek. “It was nice to be recognized and although we tied for the award, I know I was number one."
"We are a team, and I was always influenced by our team mentality. I wanted to do my best for everyone, not just for myself," Robertson-Tait said, attributing his consistent football playing to the strong team atmosphere the Swans have built.
By unearthing a backup ruckman in Robertson-Tait, the Swans are able to take the pressure off Ryan Gregory, giving him some well earned rest during each game. The club looks to build on the combination in 2010 and also hopes to develop Robertson-Tait up forward to help out Darren Roffey. This versatility is now a luxury the club can afford with such an adaptable player in its ranks.
2009 Award Winners Series
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