IT HASN'T been the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships Nick Blakey was hoping for, but Friday's performance showed the likely Sydney Swan is not far away from recapturing his best.
Blakey missed the opening round of the under-18 carnival with illness – a viral infection that sent him to hospital and saw him lose four kilograms – before returning in round two.
That afternoon against Vic Metro Blakey gathered only seven disposals and missed a late shot that would have all but sealed victory for the Allies.
However, after a two-week break, Blakey was one of the Allies' best in their loss to South Australia at GMHBA Stadium on Friday, gathering six marks and kicking 2.3.
The 18-year-old, who is tied to the Swans and expected to attract a top-10 bid at this year's draft, said the bout of illness had been a big interruption.
"I thought I just had gastro. I got home from a camp in Melbourne and felt a little bit crook and five days had gone by and I was still feeling crook as. There was a bad gastro bug that was taking six or seven days to get over, so I thought I'd get over it eventually," Blakey said.
"But three days later I was still crook so I ended up in hospital for a day on a drip.
"It is disappointing. You want to be fit and healthy and ready to go by the time division one nationals comes by, but that's footy. I'm back to normal now and I felt my way into the game today."
Blakey entered the championships in strong form, having dominated the under-18 Academy series for the Swans and finished second in the Harrison Medal as the best player in the carnival.
He showed glimpses of that dominance against South Australia, particularly in the second quarter when he kicked two classy goals on his preferred left foot.
Blakey, the son of former North Melbourne and Fitzroy player, and current Swans assistant John Blakey, had the choice of joining the Roos or Lions as a father-son selection.
However, in April he made the decision to nominate as an Academy player to the Swans. Blakey said he made the call early in the year to avoid having to skirt around the truth when asked about his intentions.
"[I made it early] just so everyone would stop asking what I was going to do. It was just to be honest with everyone. I knew what I was going to do and people were asking and I'd say 'Hmm, I don't really know', but I did know so it was a bit of a white lie I guess.
"But I just want to stay home with the family, I love Sydney. Anything can happen on draft night, I get that, but if I stay in Sydney that would be great."
Blakey said he personally called Roos recruiting manager Mark Finnigan to inform the club of his decision, but that he calls Sydney home after living there for the past 12 years.
John Blakey played in North's 1996 and 1999 premierships.
The Allies will be looking to finish their carnival with a win next Wednesday when they meet Western Australia at Etihad Stadium.
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