IT’S FUNNY how footy works.
Back in 2017, Adam Cerra was the highly touted Eastern Ranges midfielder who was drafted at pick No.5 to Fremantle. Brad Lloyd was the General Manager of List Management at the Dockers that year, and Len Villani was the Talent Manager at Eastern.
Tomorrow, Cerra will line up in his 100th AFL game in the Navy Blue of Carlton, where Lloyd is Head of Football and Villani is Football Operations and Compliance Manager.
When Cerra was recruited to the Dockers on draft night six years ago, Villani still remembers his chat with Lloyd in the post-draft function at the Pullman near Sydney Olympic Park.
“I remember going over to ‘Lloydy’ in the foyer and saying ‘mate, you’ve got an absolute beauty’. A quality person and a quality footballer,” Villani told Carlton Media this week.
“At the time, I obviously didn’t know Brad like I do now. I had only crossed paths with him from time to time in his days recruiting while I was at Eastern.
“As luck would have it, your worlds collide again five or six years later. That’s pretty cool.”
While that draft night was the culmination of Cerra’s underage football journey, the kid who entered the Eastern Ranges programs from 14 was always bound to play at the highest level.
It hasn’t been without its setbacks. Not that you’d notice when talking to Cerra, who is well known inside the four walls at IKON Park for his no-frills, minimum-fuss approach.
Villani said those qualities had been obvious in Cerra from day one.
“He’s been Mr. Consistency in terms of the person he has been since he came our radar at the age of 14 through to who he is now, nearly a decade later. Not a lot has changed,” Villani said.
“Someone like ‘Cez’ had so many moving parts coming through: he had AFL Academy, Wesley, local footy, Vic Metro and Ranges commitments. But he’s always been a calm head.
“His parents - John and Mim - were really respectful of us: they would turn up, support Adam and kept an arm’s length. He’s from an amazing family.
“We knew he was going to play AFL footy three years out from his draft day, all things being equal. It was about looking at the endpoint and working backwards on how best to protect him.”
After playing in a TAC Cup Grand Final at the age of 15 (he turned 16 two weeks later), a knee injury halted Cerra’s progress in terms of playing his football week in, week out.
A conservative decision for the long-term was made, and it was there where the pragmatism which has defined Cerra’s on- and off-field approach to date was on display.
“He’s all about process — do the work, turn up and give yourself the opportunity. When it came to his application his due diligence around his rehab, he was an absolute pro - even then - and focusing on how he could improve himself.”
Over the first five weeks of 2023, Cerra has been one of the Blues’ strongest performers, combining his midfield role with stints across half-back.
Alongside close mate Sam Walsh, he was arguably the Blues’ best on a disappointing night in Adelaide, got the team going against North in Round 4 and received coaches’ votes against the Giants the week before that.
However, it’s one game from an individual standpoint which stands out for Villani.
“There was a proud dad moment for me in the Collingwood game last year. I think it was his best game for the Club: he stood up in some big moments when we were down on personnel.
“It was a little vignette for what I think you’re going to see for many years to come here.
“He has continued to carry that form through to this year. We’re starting to see that more consistently, without any fuss or carry on.”
