McIntyre puts his best foot forward

Zac Milbank The Advertiser

Tim McIntyre during Adelaide Crows pre-season training at Max Basheer Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed. 

EVEN Sturt fans weren't convinced Tim McIntyre was an established league player until round 19 this year.

But the Adelaide rookie soon dispelled any doubt when he booted 14 goals in two weeks for the Double Blues.

And it was the 22-year-old's good fortune that Crows list manager David Noble was sitting in the stands at Glenelg to watch a career-best eight-goal haul against the Tigers.

"I'd say that would have been," said McIntyre when asked if his August 13 outing was a breakthrough.

"That was the game where it all started to click and then the week after, I followed it up against the Port Magpies on a Friday night game (with six goals) to finish the season on a good note."

With regular Sturt spearhead Matthew Duldig sidelined with injury, McIntyre put on a show which included a stunning checkside goal deep from the north-eastern pocket.

"That was a spur-of-the-moment thing," said McIntyre, a qualified carpenter.

"I went to give it off and he (his teammate) wasn't there so I just put it on the boot and hoped for the best."

Anyone who has watched McIntyre play would be surprised to learn he stands at just 180cm.

Playing as Sturt's third tall forward, the boy from Corowa in New South Wales is particularly strong overhead.

"I play as a marking forward and have some good hands," said McIntyre, who was selected with pick No. 41 in last week's AFL rookie draft.

"I've played my best footy in the forward line this year as a permanent forward. But I feel I have something to offer in the midfield as well, so hopefully I can do well up forward and pinch-hit in the midfield.

"The last couple of years, I've started to come on and started to mature," said McIntyre, who played for the Murray Bushrangers in 2006.

"That should hold me in good stead to put my best foot forward next year."