YOUNG DEVIL EYES DREAM
Cowan in line for Draft glory after superb run
A MASTER stroke, which turned a young Tassie Devil from a dime-a-dozen midfielder into one of the country’s most lethal defensive weapons has the teenager confident he belongs at the top level as he looks to fulfil a lifelong dream at the AFL Draft later this year.
Devils co-captain Lachie Cowan, 17, had been one of the state’s best young midfielders throughout his junior years but it was a move into defence for the Devils last season that has propelled him into the national spotlight.
Since the move from the engine room into the Devils’ back six the Devonport footballer has turned himself into one of the best rebounding, intercept defenders in the country and to be widely regarded as the state’s best draft chance this year.
With great foot skills and the ability to read the play at an elite level, Cowan’s starring performances for the Devils since the move earned him selection in this year’s Allies squad where he’s been a standout across the first four games.
The dashing defender is averaging 22 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency for the Allies to go along with six rebound 50s, four marks and four tackles per game. The young draft hopeful said the credit for the move down back belonged to former Devils coach Cameron Joyce and that he was relishing his new role. “I was always a midfielder and went forward at times but in Cam Joyce’s last game coaching Tassie he decided to put me in the backline because he thought with my strength in the air and my ball use I could flourish down back,” Cowan said.
“I wasn’t getting much of the ball in the midfield at the time so they moved me there and I guess I haven’t looked back,” he said.
“I feel from that first game down back it has really clicked being able to see everything and read the play.
“And I feel really comfortable floating across and taking marks and all the boys down there have really helped me as well.”
While the St Brendan-Shaw College student said he’s always dreamt of playing in the AFL, he admitted he didn’t believe it was a realistic goal until a phone call he received last year. “I’ve always wanted to play AFL since I was young but there was a bit of selfdoubt being from Tassie and so I never really thought I could actually get drafted,” he said.
“But that sort of changed when I got the call from Tarkyn Lockyer [AFL Academy coach] last year to say I was part of the AFL Academy as that gave me some self-belief that maybe it was something I could achieve.”
While Cowan admitted to having spoken to more than half of the AFL’s clubs ahead of this year’s draft, he said he knew nothing was guaranteed.