NO.1 DRAFT pick contender Darcy Fogarty is expected to show his versatility by being used in a number of positions as he spearheads South Australia's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships campaign.
The 17-year-old is among a handful of prospects seen as the leading chances to be the first player picked at November's national draft, and has already performed well this season for Glenelg at senior SANFL level.
Fogarty was named the Ben Mitchell Medalist as the standout player in this year's NAB AFL Academy group, and has impressed with his tenacity and physical approach. At 192cm he can play all over the ground and South Australian talent manager Brenton Phillips expects Fogarty to display his adaptability at the national carnival.
"I actually asked him that question and said "Where do you think you should play?' and his answer, which was very pleasing from a coaching point of view, was 'Wherever you want me to play'," Phillips told AFL.com.au's Road to the Draft podcast.
"We'll end up playing him through the midfield at some point in time, and no doubt we'll play him forward, but we've also played him at centre-half back in the key defensive role and he's looked really good in that area.
"Because he actually reads the ball quickly off the ball and is able to chop out in the defensive half of the ground. Then he kicks it so well with some penetration and brute force coming out of there which is something most clubs looking for."
Under-18s hub: fixtures and results
South Australia will start its championships on Saturday, June 10, when it faces Western Australia at Domain Stadium.
Phillips said Fogarty will continue to need to build his endurance so that a permanent midfield move is possible in the future, but that the hype surrounding the Lucindale product had not fazed him.
"He's a country kid so he just takes it in his stride and gets on with what he needs to do and plays a bit of footy," he said. "He's really matured as a person I've seen over the past three years and he's been able to become more of a leader and is one of the things he worked on through the national [academy] program."
More on this week's Road to the Draft podcast:
- The guys wrap up last weekend's under-18 trial games
- How are the Allies looking ahead of the national carnival? Nat and Cal take a look at the group
- We chat with West Australian talent manager Adam Jones about the state's leading talent this year
- All your Twitter questions are answered
