Adam Grocke's 100th game

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/adam-celebrates-his-century/story-fn525un5-1225854236796

Adam celebrates his century


EAGLES star Adam Grocke, who plays his 100th league game this Saturday, is more than just a model footballer.

The 25-year-old key forward is a stylish mover on field and off, balancing the rugged demands of football with part-time modelling, for which he cops a bit of stick.

After leaving North Adelaide to join the Eagles, Grocke said he was secretive about his side career.

``Originally at North I copped a fair bit for it,'' Grocke said.

``Then when I went to the Eagles I kept it quiet until the boys started to notice some photos here and there.

``You tend to cop it for the first six months then they ease off it."

Despite his association with a glamour profession, Grocke has a reputation for being hard at the footy and never shirking an issue on field. That doesn't stop the occasional sledging from opponents.



``On the field you cop a fair bit. Some people make comments about suits and modelling and make-up and that sort of stuff. They wouldn't be saying it if they didn't think you could play footy.

``It's part and parcel of the game, I enjoy a bit of that niggly stuff.''

Grocke, a member of the Eagles' 2006 premiership side, said he's had the chance to blossom as a player since shifting to Woodville West Torrens.

``The coaching staff, with Ron (Fuller) and this year with Godsey (Michael Godden), have allowed me to play a role in the team and I've known what I had to do. They've given me some freedom as well.

``It's shown through the years that I've blossomed with the Eagles, as opposed to North.

``There were some other key forwards at North, Damon White was one of them, and I was pushed down the line a bit and not really given the opportunity.''

He said he wasn't approaching this weekend's match against Sturt at House Brothers Oval as a milestone.

``You try not to focus on it too much, a win for the team is more important. You try to go through the normal preparation for a game.''

While the Eagles lost forwards Ken McGregor and Mark Passador at the end of 2009, Grocke believes star recruit Scott Welsh, who played his first game for side last week, brings a new element to the attack.

``I think it will work well. On the weekend (against Norwood) it wasn't a great day for the forwards but we did play some footy in the trial games and it seems to work well with our structure.

``He and myself and the other forwards, like Lee Staples and Hilly (Stuart Hill), we seem to work well together.

``It's a good forward line that's going to be hard to stop.''

Sturt v Eagles, House Brothers Oval, Saturday, April 17, 2.10pm.

I thought u guys were making a banner we were sitting in the jarman stand watching training

Well done Grocke will have to let him know wednesday night 100games and 100 Eagles goals