THE dreams of Wagga teenager Dougal Howard came true on Thursday night when he was picked up by Port Adelaide in the AFL Draft.
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Port Adelaide was quick to pounce on Howard, 18, and snapped him up with their first pick in the draft, selection number 56 overall.
Howard, who moved to Albury this year for university, will now shift to Adelaide to start his AFL career.
Port Adelaide national recruiting manager Geoff Parker said the Power see Howard as a future key forward for the club.
“He’s played forward and back during the year, but we see him as a key forward who can go in the ruck and provide relief in the ruck,” Parker told portadelaidefc.com.au immediately after the draft.
Howard took a break from working harvest at his uncle’s farm in Lockhart yesterday to head home to Wagga and watch the draft unfold with parents Trevor and Christine.
Howard started his junior football with East Wagga-Kooringal, before moving to Wagga Tigers.
He made an immediate impact at senior level with Wagga Tigers and then spent this year in Albury playing the majority of his football with TAC Cup team Murray Bushrangers.
He also played for NSW-ACT Rams at the under 18 national championships and Albury Tigers’ reserve grade premiership in the Ovens and Murray League.
Howard will be joined at Port Adelaide by fellow NSW-ACT player Logan Austin.