YOUNG RUCK READY TO ROLL
Geelong Falcons draft hopeful to take centre stage
GEELONG Falcons big man Toby Conway has emerged as one of the country’s top ruck prospects, added to the AFL Academy squad for Saturday’s match against Geelong’s VFL team.
The 204cm ruckman has made a brilliant start to the
NAB League season, named in Geelong’s best players in each of its three games.
But the biggest challenge of his career will be this weekend at GMHBA Stadium when the St Mary’s junior takes on AFL pair Darcy Fort and Esava Ratugolea on his 18th birthday.
“Obviously I’ll be playing on an older ruckman … but I’ve just got to try to keep playing footy to the best I can,” Conway said.
“I’m just going to try to learn as much as I can. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity. I’m really looking forward to it.”
In Conway’s three NAB League matches, he has averaged 16 disposals, three marks, three tackles and 28 hit-outs. He represented Vic Country in the under-16 national championships two years ago but he had a premature ending to his season because of a knee injury.
Geelong Falcons coach Paul Corrigan said Conway had a “bright future” and the call-up was deserved for his “outstanding” start to the season. He said Conway had enhanced his reputation with AFL recruiters.
“The thing that I like about him is he’s not only good in the air with the tap stuff but his follow-up stuff is a big strength of his and the ability to get down at ground level and also cover the ground, too, for a ruck is really impressive,” Corrigan said.
“I think his marking is really good at the moment but it can go to another level.”
Corrigan said Conway’s diligence to his recovery from the knee setback and work ethic during the abandoned season had helped him impress in the early rounds.
“Sometimes players can take a bit of a while to adjust back into the game — but he’s hit the ground running,” he said.
“Having a really good preseason under his belt has really helped that as well. He hasn’t had too many complications or niggles through pre-season.”