ALL eyes were focused on the AFL clash between Fremantle and Geelong on Monday night as former North Gambier player Brad Close made his debut for the Cats in a hard-fought win.
In atrocious conditions at Perth’s Optus Stadium, Close was a starter in the forward line and wasted no time to have an impact.
Inside the first minute of the game his first touch at AFL level was a mark inside 50 and he converted for a major score to the delight of his teammates.
Only seven players have kicked their first goal in AFL on debut quicker than Close, which places him in some rare company.
Close had two more opportunities to bag goals, but in the conditions, could be excused for his misses.
However, during the game he managed 14 possessions, with seven of those slick handballs and one in particular to spearhead forward Tom Hawkins which directly resulted in a goal.
Commentators suggested he looked dangerous, a big rap for the mature-age recruit who headed to Geelong after a stellar season at Glenelg which yielded a premiership.
After the final siren the Geelong players paid tribute on the ground to their supporters from the west who showed up in the shocking conditions, then pushed Close to the front of the group and he led the boys off the ground.
He then stood inside the circle to sing the club song in the rooms.
It was all a whirlwind night of football, with the moment not lost on the quietly-spoken player.
Close said walking out on the ground was a strange feeling.
“I was pretty excited to get out there,” he said.
“It had been a pretty big lead up being the last game of the weekend so we had to wait a while for the game.
“Walking out on the oval, just looking around knowing I was about to play my first game was a strange feeling.”
The first minute of play could not have unfolded any better for the debutante.
Gary Rohan found space out from the 50-metre arc and spotted Close in the clear inside.
The pass was pinpoint and Close did his part with a mark.
He then went back and calmly slotted the goal.
“It was a pretty great moment,” Close said.
“I could not think of a better start to my career.
“I was pretty excited once I put it through the big sticks and it was a good feeling having all the boys get around me after kicking the goal.”
Close said his teammates later let him know of the few players who had achieved the same feat faster than him, which he said was a pretty cool statistic.
As for his disposals by hand, Close said it was a part of his game he took pride in.
“That is something I like to pride myself on, being clean and taking my opportunities,” he said.
“It is also the way we play at Geelong, to keep in tight with our handball and support around the contest.
“I was pretty happy to come in and play my role that way.”
Close said he was disappointed to have missed another two shots on goal but simply moved on.
He accepted it was a poor night for skills by all on the ground but said the conditions probably suited the small forwards more than other players.
Post game celebrations provided as much of a thrill for the young footballer as he led his team mates off the ground.
“It was a pretty good moment to lead the boys off,” Close said.
“It was a bit of a stitch up where they let me walk into the stands on my own without me knowing, but it was a nice moment after the game and being in the middle of the song, just seeing how much the boys supported me throughout the night and got around was nice.”
With his debut now in the past, Close said he was still pinching himself to know he had made the jump to AFL football and held his own on the ground.
For now the focus is to remain in the mix as the season continues to play out in the COVID environment.
Close said while he was happy with his efforts, he accepted there was plenty of room for improvement in his own game.
He said he now hopes to simply build as a player and cement his spot in the team.
“I was pretty pleased with how I played,” he said.
“Obviously there is plenty of room for improvement, but to get the win on debut and finish with a goal … if someone had said that’s how it would end before the game I would have taken it for sure.”
