Oakleigh Chargers regional talent manager Jy Bond has sung the praises of gun father son duo Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy ahead of November's draft.
Both Daicos and Darcy have impressed for the Chargers in 2021, despite much of the NAB League season being affected by lockdowns in Victoria.
Daicos, the son of champion Magpie Peter, is likely to be taken early in next month’s National Draft, with Collingwood banking enough draft points to match any bid.
Darcy, who is the son of Bulldogs great Luke, is also expected to be bid on early on draft night.
Bond has closely watched both gun teenagers progress through the ranks and expects Daicos to play senior football for Collingwood next year.
“There were games where Nick had 45 touches (for Oakleigh),” Bond said on SEN Afternoons.
“His averages would be in the high 30s (for disposals) and I haven’t seen a young man dominate NAB League football like that, we’ve had Matt Rowell (in the past) so we’ve had some super talent come through.
“I think Nick will play senior football next year for sure, whether he’ll translate into the midfield straight away…he’ll certainly be very dangerous around goals and is such a smart player.
“He has elite skills and is confident in his ability, so he’ll be in with a chance next year.”
Due to Darcy’s height and size, he’s expected to take longer than Daicos to make his AFL debut, but Bond said the Dogs were drafting a player that could excel as both a key forward and defender.
“We’ve had Sam Darcy since he was a 14-year-old and just watching him grow and develop, I remember a couple of years ago he took a game apart but he was a very skinny young man,” he said.
“This year during pre-season, I accidently stepped out in front of him while he was running laps and he nearly knocked me over the fence, by that stage he is filling out and is going to caught some havoc.
“The beauty of Sam is he can play both ends, if the Bulldogs are lucky to get him they certainly have a really talented tall player on their hands.
“He’ll take a bit of time to develop, but he really has a high ceiling. He’s a lovely kid, has a high work rate and a bright future.”