WHEN it was suggested that his match against Greater Western Sydney was a season-best, Leif Cope simply laughed.
“I reckon it’s the best game of my life,” replied Cope, who at 204 cm is the second tallest player in the TAC Cup behind GWS’s Jarrod Witts (205 cm).
Don’t misinterpret Cope’s candour for over confidence. It’s simply that Cope, a Year 12 student at Yarra Valley Grammar, is a newcomer to football. Given his height, Cope has concentrated mainly on basketball, where he laughingly notes he was about “one foot” taller than his rivals, and swimming. It’s only been in recent years that Cope has switched to football, and not surprisingly his height has again made him stand out in more ways than one.
Cope was in the mix to represent Vic Metro until he ruptured ligaments in an ankle, which erased any chance he had of playing in the AFL Under 18 National Championships. Missing the National Championship took time to swallow.
“I got down on myself a bit, it got into my head space,” Cope said. “After a while I tried not to let it worry me.” During the match against GSW, Cope was simply dominant. Quite apart from 23 hit outs, Cope dished out 14 hit outs, but one of the real highlights was the seven tackles he laid. Not surprisingly, it was a performance that earned Cope, playing just his eighth game this season for the Ranges this season, five votes in the TAC Cup Coaches Award.
Despite his talent in other sports, Cope said his focus is on taking his football as far as it can take him. Already, the Ranges are considering inviting Cope back next season as one of the 19-year-olds.
“Football has taken over from basketball because of the opportunities here,” Cope said. Ranges coach Darren Bewick has helped Cope continually work at and improve his game and just recently Bewick and Region Manager Anthony Parkin organised for ex-Hawthorn premiership ruckman Robert Campbell to work with him. Cope now plans to get down to Box Hill Hawks training, where Campbell is embarking on a comeback, so he can continue learning the ruck craft.
“That would be awesome,” Cope said.
Last Modified on 18/08/2010 12:12