As is the tendency, negative stories find their way into the headlines far easier than those of a more uplifting, commendable nature.
Heath Shaw’s betting misdemeanour, the demise of South Australian football, the Tigers selling their games; it all finds its way into print, on to the airwaves, and over the beer taps at the local without the slightest hint of resistance.
That being said, one of 2011’s best stories has received little to no acclamation.
The emergence of Daniel Wells as one of the game’s premier midfielders has been resounding, relieving and all-round remarkable.
Here’s a 26-year-old from Kwinana, southwest of Perth, who has been maligned his whole career since going No. 2 in the 2002 draft.
Following Brendan Goddard, who at times last year was considered the league’s best player, much has been expected of the silkily-skilled Wells, yet a failure to deliver on those hefty expectations plus the appearance of a laconic, perhaps lackadaisical attitude has had the media sharpening their knives.
Perhaps it was an adjustment aspect moving from the west, potentially the heavy burden of a high draft pick playing in an underachieving side, possibly the understaffed and under-resourced football department at one of the league’s poorest clubs hindering his development?
Whether it was any or all of the above, Wells’ progress has been slow, and even he would admit that.
Flashes of brilliance overshadowed unfortunately by the annoyance of inconsistency, we all knew that he had the makings of a great player, but the inability to back up a solid performance with another held him back, and fuelled the fire that he wasn’t as good as his high draft position led us to initially believe.
People along the way have questioned his endeavour, his worth, his application to his craft, from media analysts, former players, even those who coached him at the time.
To be fair to Wells, he was making inroads in his fourth year, he played a full year and averaged just shy of 19 touches a game. He capped the season off with a runner-up finish in the best and fairest.
It seemed 2007 would be the coming out party for Daniel Wells, where we could see the sublime pace, the effortless skill and game-breaking ability turn this second-string contributor into one of the competition’s stars.
He failed to really progress in a year that saw the Kangaroos make the preliminary final. 2008 wasn’t that much better.
Groin issues then held him back, and come the end of last year, the zephyr of trade murmurs was blowing through the Wells camp.
It seemed for the first real time the North Melbourne hierarchy would contemplate cashing whatever chips they had left on Wells. Here was the club’s highest ever draft selection, and with the tempting lure of home, West Coast approached the Roos offering their No. 8 a second chance.
No-one wants to think they require a second chance after only eight years into their career, and whether it was that or the determination to make things right at Arden Street, Wells blocked any move back home and put his head down for a bumper pre-season.
And what a result.
If the Syd Barker Medal was counted today, Wells would be a runaway leader or something would be terribly awry.
He is showing not only the attributes we all liked about him since he was plucked from Peel Thunder as a teenager, but the roundedness of a premier midfielder.
Turned into a half back flanker the last few years to show his skills while nullifying his supposed weaknesses in work-rate and accountability, 2011 has seen a complete reversal.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has had nothing but utter confidence in turning up the responsibility with Wells, throwing him into the mix and relying on him to produce in areas others previously would have scoffed at.
Pundits and punters alike would have been more than satisfied if Wells had become an outstanding outside midfielder.
Yet Scott has seen Wells not only develop a more than comparable inside game but become so proficient that it’s hard to nail down what particular role, inside or outside, he is exemplifying with more aplomb.
An All-Australian jumper is on the cards, among many other awards and acknowledgements, not to mention his growth inside the club.
Never one to be outspoken or enjoy the public spotlight, Wells has grown to become quite the positive influence on the younger Kangaroos brigade and is demonstrating leadership worthy of a recognised title among his peers.
It’s a complete turnaround for a man questioned for his care and commitment to a talent he is so blessed with.
So it’s joyous that among the reoccurring doom and gloom, a hidden gem can emerge and warm the cockles of your heart.
Everyone wanted to see Wells succeed as a talent, and it was through disappointment that resentment headed his way. Now we all can eat humble pie for writing him off, as we now watch and admire the way he has persisted and come out the superstar he was destined to become.
While it’s taken a while to say it, no-one can begrudge the fact, nor would anyone who loves this game be displeased to say it – Daniel Wells is now elite.
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Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
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