LIAM Duggan appears certain to be the latest St Patrick’s College player to embark on an AFL career via the national draft.
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The St Pat’s football captain is being tipped to be a first round selection on Thursday night.
Duggan hails from Bacchus Marsh and plays in the TAC Cup under-18 competition with the Western Jets.
He was a member of the 2013-14 AIS-AFL Academy, which voted him the Ben Mitchell medal winner as the player who embodies team values, such as courage, leadership and trust on and off the field.
Duggan has also been a distinguished player with St Pat’s – leading it to another Herald Sun Shield premiership this year.
The 17-year-old left-footer has been under the eye of AFL recruiters for some time.
The national under-18 championships are an important stepping stone in the development of buddy AFL players and Duggan did not miss a beat representing Vic Metro.
He averaged 15 disposals in five games for the Big V.
St Pat’s football director Howard Clark said earlier this year that Duggan was highly respected in the St Pat’s, Jets and Bacchus Marsh communities.
“He’s an extremely well-balanced footballer on both sides. He played predominantly on his left side and has
worked hard on his right side,” Clark said.
“His decision-making, skill and inside-outside game are of the elite level.”
St Pat’s key tall Brenton Payne, also a Cobra and Jet, has also generated interest.
Payne, at 194 centimetres tall, tested well at combine, and played well for Vic Metro in the national under-18 carnival.
He is a grandson of Essendon premiership player Charlie Payne.
St Patrick’s College had 20 former students on AFL lists in 2014.
