Teenage tearaway aiming to step up
TEENAGER Jack Duggan is determined to be noticed in the Townsville AFL.
The Northern Beaches Suns forward is into his third year in senior footy and has been set a task by coach Brad Mclaren: cement your spot.
But the 17-year-old tearaway is ready to take it a step further, he wants to make a name for himself.
“I just want to be known across the league as a good player,” Duggan said. “Just play as hard as I can, run as much as I can and do what I can for the team.
“I will go all out this season. The more I get into it the easier it gets. Last year I got a bit more contact and I felt like I could get into it without hiding out the back.”
Duggan will get the opportunity to prove himself to the coach when the Suns return to formal training this week.
According to Mclaren, there are a few in the squad who have to prove themselves after spending “time in the paddock” over the COVID-19 sport shutdown.
The Suns will start back with a high intensity fitness regimen, while the coach will mix in ball skills as they wait for the green light to begin contact work before the season restarts.
“A few of them have been in a good paddock the last three months, they might have been doing some work but it certainly wasn’t fitness,” Mclaren said.
“They were happy to be out there and having a bit of a run (last week). With the way the whole rules are at the moment with no contact – it will more be fitness based and get the footy out and touch the footy.
“It won’t be your normal set up, but it will be good to get some running in the legs – they will need that after the break.”
AFL Townsville has not set definite start date for the a season, but the football is expected to return around midJuly. AFL Queensland is exploring its options for the season with a 10-round competition the most likely solution.
It will give a chance for Mclaren to blood his young brigade, including forwards Duggan and Hayden Littlejohn, and help build towards a strong 2021 seniors’ campaign.
“Without knowing what everyone has got, I am pretty sure we will have the youngest crew running around,”
Mclaren said. “They generate their own excitement – with half a season realistically to learn what senior footy is about and get used to it. We will concentrate on building a little bit into next season.
“We had a few play last year, which was really good.
They are the older kids coming through and they need to step up and make some spots their own.
“They’re young kids that keep running, they are pretty invincible. It is a chance to create some history for themselves.”