That’s provided that 19-year-old Essendon key forward Nate Caddy compiles a show-stopping weekend – he certainly did. Those efforts contributed to his team’s thrilling eight-point win over Sydney that helped launch his team’s comeback. Even in only his second year in the league, Caddy was a dominant force. In that match he took seven contested marks and kicked three goals, commandeering the focus of broadcasters and fans alike.
It was Caddy’s athleticism and high work rate that wowed Kane Cornes, former AFL player-turned-commentator. Cornes jumped on the emerging Caddy’s light-footed speed, easily leaving the experienced Tom McCartin standing in his wake. His exceptional second efforts through collisions highlight his upside. Caddy’s ball success on one match. He demonstrated his spryness by dribbling the roundball eloquently, relative to his enormity.
It would be a huge acquisition,” Cornes predicted. He’s convinced that the dynamic young forward will help Essendon compete for a premiership over the next few years. You can’t teach this, this is his second year, he’s 19 years old, the athletic profile and then the workrate and the competitiveness of him. He’s one of my all time favourite players,” Cornes said.
The praise did not stop there. Cornes was understandably impressed, singling out Caddy’s performance as the best he’s seen from a young key forward. This only strengthens his conviction that Caddy can develop into a game-changing player for the Bombers. “That’s as good as you’ll see from a young key forward,” he commented.
Caddy’s breakout with the Goannas has brought inevitable comparisons to other highly touted players in the league, most notably Jason Horne-Francis. In a light-hearted moment, Cornes declared, “I will break the news to the Hornet, Nate Caddy is the new one and it’s been bubbling away for a while. I would be that excited to be an Essendon fan.”
With such high praise from Cornes and a standout performance to back it up, Nate Caddy appears set to become a key figure in Essendon’s future. He’s sharpening his skills and gaining great experience at this level. No doubt, fans and analysts alike are excited to see how he makes his mark on the team’s future course.
