For some young footballers the thought of twice not being drafted would be enough to see them put their AFL dreams on the back burner.
But not Woodend’s Jake Owen.
After missing out in the 2012 draft, when six of his Calder Cannons teammates landed on AFL lists, Owen returned to the club last season as one of its 19-year-olds.
Then he really flourished and was named among the side’s best players in 14 of his 18 matches.
That earned him the Robert Hyde Medal as the Cannons’ best player and he was named in the TAC Cup All-Australian team.
He spoke to AFL clubs before the 2013 draft but again wasn’t selected, so he signed on with VFL side Williamstown.
“My first aim was to try to get a game with Williamstown,” Owen said last week. “I played one game last year [in the VFL] as the 23rd player so I knew it would be hard.
“It’s a big step-up. The players are a lot faster and have better skills.”
Owen has met his own and others’ expectations, having played every game for the Seagulls this season.
“I’ve played some good games and I’ve played some average ones, but I’ve managed to hold my spot and I want to try to do that for the rest of the season,” he said.
Owen has spent most of the season on the forward line but has long-term ambitions to play in the midfield.
“That’s where I see myself, but I will have to build up to that,” he said. “Lack of speed is my weakness, but I’ve been working on that to try to get into the midfield.”
Owen kicked the opening goal in the Seagulls’ 62-point win over WAFL side West Perth in last week’s Foxtel Cup grand final.
“It’s been a really good experience and we get to travel as a team, which helps the side bond,” he said before the game.
“You get to play against some of the best players in the country.”
Owen has not abandoned his AFL dream and hopes to be drafted in 2014 .
“I’ve yet to hear from any AFL clubs, but I’ll keep playing footy and see what happens,” he said.
