IF YOU thought the Western Bulldogs were blessed to have one Luke Dahlhaus, there's every chance they'll have a clone of the star playmaker come November's NAB AFL Draft.
Father-son prospect Darcy Macpherson is high on the Dogs' recruiting radar and the Northern Knights' product believes he and Dahlhaus are cut from the same cloth.
The 17-year-old formed a strong rapport with the gun Dog during a pre-season training stint at Whitten Oval back in January
"I'm very similar to Luke," Macpherson told AFL.com.au.
"I have the same energy around the ball, pressure, tackles, speed and good decision-making.
"He was the one I looked up to when I trained with the Dogs."
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Standing at just 174cm tall, Macpherson understands he isn't the size most recruiters want in a player, but he's inspired by Dahlhaus, who has carved out an AFL career despite being under 180cm.
He hasn't had many chances to impress talent spotters this year, as a shoulder injury didn't allow his 2015 campaign to start until round 10 of the TAC Cup season.
"All my junior career I was a midfielder, but I know at the next level I'll be a small forward who can go into the midfield for little stints," Macpherson, who averaged 21 possessions a game for the Knights, said.
"But coming off the injury I thought I was pretty consistent and I felt I showcased myself in the eight games I played with the Knights and in the VFL with the Footscray Bulldogs.
"I did some good things that AFL recruiters would have liked."
His father Steve donned the red, white and blue on 188 occasions during the 1980s and '90s and he believes his son has the attitude and attributes to follow in his footsteps.
"I've got to say he is very committed," Steve said.
"He won't touch soft drink, has a healthy diet, he'll go out with his mates but won't have a drink, so that's great to see.
"I think he can still grow a few more centimetres, but he's realistic to know his speed, agility, workrate and intensity are critical attributes despite what your height is.
"He'll make a career out of footy."
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The Bulldogs are yet to nominate his boy ahead of draft night where the father-son bidding system will now occur, but Steve would be more than happy if Darcy lobbed at a rejuvenated Whitten Oval and became the fifth son of a gun on the club's list.
"If you'd spoken to me 18 months to two years ago, I didn't know whether it was the best environment, but there's been a huge amount of change around the place," said Steve.
"I played with Luke Beveridge at the Dogs and he's just a lovely human being who knows his stuff, he's good with people, he's honest and that's the sort of person you're happy to have in charge of your son."
Like most draft prospects, Darcy is a little "anxious" ahead of the draft, but he counters his nerves by spending time with girlfriend Britt, having an odd round of golf with his dad and undertaking a carpentry pre-apprenticeship course.
Darcy was "shattered" after the Bulldogs' elimination final loss to Adelaide and he covets a spot in a side many expect to contend for a flag in the next few seasons.
"If I do get picked up by the Dogs I'm a good chance to get a run in the AFL team if I'm performing well in the VFL," he said.
"That's the good thing about Luke Beveridge is he'll play anyone and he's not afraid to drop anyone."
