Darcy’s looking ahead
DARCY Macpherson has never been one to dwell on setbacks, especially when it comes to his AFL career.
The son of former Footscray midfielder Steve Macpherson, the terrier-like small forward appeared destined for a future in the red, white and blue.
But he was ultimately overlooked in the 2015 national draft by the Bulldogs, instead later picked up by the Suns as a rookie selection.
“It was a little bit tough, because I spent a lot of time down there as part of the father-son program,” Macpherson recalled. “I didn’t feel like I put a foot out of place.
“But obviously with their list at that point in time, they didn’t need more small guys, they had a few on the list.
“When the Suns picked me up, I was over the moon. I couldn’t have cared less about not going to the Dogs after that.”
Now into his third season, Macpherson has had to work hard for his 14 AFL games, while on and off the senior list, initially under former coach Rodney Eade.
He admits he was at his “lowest” when he suffered a medial ligament strain in his third senior game in 2016.
“Other than I’ve stayed pretty positive. I’m a pretty positive sort of guy,” he said. “I always look on the bright side of things.
“I pride myself of being resilient, pushing through those times when things aren’t going your way.
“I had to bide my time ... last year and the year before, (but) it’s paying dividends now.”
After playing the last six games of the 2017 season, the
V4.35PM TODAY, OPTUS STADIUM Suns B: Harbrow Thompson Joyce HB: Rischitelli May Kolodjashnij C: Weller Lyons Fiorini HF: Martin Lynch Young F: Ainsworth Day Sexton Foll: Witts Miller R: Swallow Inter: Holman Hanley MacPherson Hall Emer: Brodie Crossley Rosa Heron
Dockers B: Wilson Johnson Ryan HB: Sheridan A Pearce Hamling C: Langdon Neale S Hill HF: Cerra Crowden Ballantyne F: Banfield Taberner Matera Foll: Sandilands Fyfe Rover: Mundy Inter: Blakely McCarthy Brayshaw Walters Emer: Darcy Tucker Cox Duman
20-year-old is looking to cement his place in the side.
He’s still listed as a rookie, but a new rule has allowed him to step up without having to wait for a long-term injury to a teammate.
And he’s played no small part in the Suns’ 2-0 start to the season, including wins over North Melbourne and Carlton.
Only three players in the league have laid more tackles than Macpherson (19), among them leader and teammate Nick Holman (24).
A few of the Suns instituted an in-house competition in which the player with the least amount of tackles has to shout coffee. Macpherson hasn’t had to fork out yet.
Having modelled his attack on Dogs star Luke Dahlhaus, Macpherson is personifying new coach Stuart Dew’s approach to relentless pressure. GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew says it was a “necessary evil” to sell today’s home game to Fremantle and he won’t be using it as an excuse for a poor display.
With Metricon Stadium being used for the Commonwealth Games, the Suns play at Perth’s Optus Stadium after selling their Round 3 home game to the Dockers.
Dew said his players weren’t that fussed about losing a home game.
“It’s a necessary evil. We moved on pre-Christmas really We knew the deal, we knew the plan,” Dew said.
“It’s not like we’re travelling to places we haven’t been before.
“We’ve got a good plan. We’re certainly not putting it up as an excuse.”
Gold Coast will stay in Perth after the game to prepare for the next week’s clash with West Coast at the same stadium.
Dew said it was a good opportunity to knock off two games in Perth in the same period, rather than flying back there later in the year.
“I always thought this wouldn’t be a bad way to do given what they do in the NBA,” Dew said.
“We are a different sport of course but Australians do get caught up in flights and the feeling behind it.
“I’m not sure where that comes from.”
Gold Coast have won just once in 10 attempts in Perth.
They will be hoping their fortunes change at the new Optus Stadium.
Fremantle beat Essendon there last week and will be aiming to make it two wins on the trot.