By Lance Jenkinson
A sumptuous reward awaits Darcy Cassar for an impressive bottom-age season with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.
The medium forward/midfielder will get the chance to take on the best under 17s in the nation in the AFL All Stars Futures match at the MCG on Saturday, which will be a curtain-raiser to the 2018 AFL grand final between Collingwood and the West Coast Eagles.
Cassar is excited to be running out on to the hallowed turf before the superstars battle it out for the AFL premiership.
“I was rapt when I found out I was picked,” he said. “It will be great to be a part of the best kids around the country.
“It’s really good to be able to play on the ‘G, especially before the AFL boys run on to the ground.
“All the recruiters will be out there, so hopefully I can show them what I’ve got.”
Cassar has turned heads with his play this season.
Jets coach Torin Baker loves the versatility in the 17-year-old’s game, deploying him as a high half-forward, wingman and even at times on the ball.
A Keilor product, Cassar first came on the radar of the talent scouts playing for Vic Metro at the under 16 national championships.
While Cassar is taking massive steps in the right direction, he is grounded and just wants to improve every time he pulls on a football jumper in a match or training situation.
He closely monitored how more experienced Jets teammates such as Xavier O’Halloran or Connor Thar went about their business and is like a sponge when Baker is giving him advice.
That will be no different when he turns out for Team Bartel alongside Jets teammate Emerson Jeka in the futures game on Saturday.
“It’s been a really good season for me – I played all 18 games,” Cassar said.
“It’s also been a bit up and down, a few off games and a few good games.
“Everything can be worked on.”
Cassar, an Essendon Keilor College student, got his start at Taylors Lakes Auskick.
It was with his fellow Auskickers as an eight-year-old that he got his first chance to play on the MCG at half-time of an AFL game.
Cassar went on to play for Hillside in the juniors before moving to Keilor.
His biggest supporters are his dad Mark, who drives him to all his training and games, and mum Josie, who critiques his game.
They are “rapt” their son is getting the chance to play on the ‘G on grand final day, but whether they will be there in the crowd or watching on television is to be determined.
