RISING Australian rules star Nic Upton was given the shock of his life during a phone call last week.
On the other end of the line was Nathan Clarke, the Brisbane Lions reserves coach, offering Upton a spot in his side to take on the Sydney Swans reserves over the weekend. While Upton, a Toowoomba Tigers junior, has impressed in his first season with Brisbane club Morningside, he never expected to be given his shot alongside the Lions’ best up-and-coming players so early.
But the surprises didn’t end there. After training with the Lions reserves, Upton was flown to Sydney for the match where he lined up directly opposite Swans premiership player Tadhg Kennelly.
Upton, 18, admits to being a little star-struck by Kennelly, who was one of the first Irish players to successfully make the transition from Gaelic football to Australian rules. “I manned up against him and I was just looking up and staring,” Upton said. But after he got over the initial shock of playing against one of the game’s superstars, Upton wasn’t afraid to ask for advice.
“I told him I’m not a listed player ... obviously he copped it a bit when he first came over from Ireland and he just told me not to listen what (doubters) have to say,” Upton said. While the Lions were heavily defeated by their Sydney opponents, Upton said the experience of playing with and against the next generation of AFL talent was invaluable.
“They helped me out a lot and taught me so much. Just being around them was such a big thrill,” he said.
The call-up to the Lions reserves is also proof Upton, a former Lions Academy player, is on the right path to releasing his dream of one day playing in the AFL and highlights the pathway for any Darling Downs player looking to make it to the bigtime.
Upton was unable to crack Morningside’s top team in his first year with the powerhouse Brisbane club, but he believes extensive gym work in the off-season can help improve his game.
“I’m hoping to put on about 7kgs by January which will hopefully help my game,” Upton said.
Last Modified on 05/09/2011 10:13
