At 16 years of age and in just his third senior game, Coolamon young gun Liam Delahunty will carry plenty of expectation in Sunday’s vital encounter against Wagga Tigers.
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The rising star is back for his first game since a matchwinning performance against Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes four weeks ago.
Delahunty kicked seven goals, including three in three minutes during the last quarter.
“It was pretty intense. Everyone was real hyped so I got up and about and just tried to get back and get a win because we were down by a bit,” Delahunty said.
“I knew everyone really wanted to win and we had to win that game (to stay in contention for finals).”
As Delahunty returns from junior rep duties and a hamstring concern, the Hoppers’ finals hopes are on the line again. They’re seventh on the ladder, six points adrift of Tigers, who hold down fifth.
“There’s heaps of pressure but everyone’s confident,” Delahunty said. “We know they’re going to bring it – they’ve got to defend the title so we’re both on the line but everyone’s real pumped.”
The year 11 student at The Riverina Anglican College is getting used to the spotlight after being named player of the championships when representing NSW/ACT at the AFL’s national division two under 16 titles.
He kicked 11 goals in three games, including five in a match against the Northern Territory.
It continued a brilliant 12 months, after he and fellow Coolamon product Ryan Allen made names for themselves and their town last year, when both were named in the under 15 All Australian team.
Delahunty, who was moving between centre-half-forward and full-forward for NSW/ACT, said the junior representative experience is helping him learn to handle expectation.
“Yeah, because there’s always a bit of pressure on you at that level, people watching and the coach is going to criticise you,” he said.
“So you just go back to what you know, do what you do, and get hyped if you do it right.”
The experience has also helped his education in the game.
But he said he’s loved his two senior games with Coolamon (he kicked a goal on debut at Mangoplah in round one). Coach Matt Hard has been a great support and teammates like Joe Redfern bring valuable experience.
“Joe normally sits at half-forward and is always talking me through the game,” Delahunty said. “It’s good because he’s had the same coaching as me so it’s pretty good to come back to club and still have that structure, it makes it easier that’s for sure.”
It will be a huge occasion at Kindra Park on Sunday as Coolamon and Tigers get right behind Neale Daniher’s fight against Motor Neurone Disease with a “Big Bush Freeze’ fundraiser.
