HIS omission from the WA Under-18's side raised eyebrows last year, but Subiaco rover Adam Cockie's focus is on a third successive WAFL premiership for the Lions.
The quietly spoken 19-year-old is part of a growing youth brigade at the club, whose charge towards this year's flag is gathering pace.
Cockie has played all of Subiaco's games at senior level and represented WA against Queensland in Townsville last month. He is a product of the Lions, having come through the ranks as a Colt where he won the Jack Clarke Medal as the best and fairest in 2007.
Touted as a possible selection at the AFL draft later this year, Cockie last week said he would welcome the chance to play at AFL level.
"It would be a real dream, any kid's dream, really," he said. "I love playing footy with Subi but (the) AFL is just that next step."
Subiaco coach Scott Watters' wise advice to Cockie last year seems to be working.
"I said to him after he missed (WA Under-18s) selection that in six months time he would be playing league football and that (his non-selection) would be a distant memory," Watters said. "If he continues on the pathway he is on at the moment and continues to improve at the rate he has, there is a good likelihood that he could be on an AFL list next year.
"But if that doesn't eventuate, we'd certainly love to have him play a lot of football here at Subiaco."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Last Modified on 30/07/2008 22:37