Keysborough dasher Riet Pal turns heads at AFL Vic Young Guns game
A 20-year-old playing division two football in the Southern league has emerged as a draft bolter, stealing the spotlight in yesterday’s Young Guns game.
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Riet Pal plays for Keysborough, in Division 2 of the Southern league.
On Saturday he played for Vic Country in the third AFL Victoria Young Guns game at Werribee — and was best-afield as he advertised his ability to recruiters.
It was a jump in class for the tall 20-year-old but he handled it with aplomb, earning him lift-off from Country coach Tom Curran.
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“He was absolutely amazing. I was blown away by him, just with his ability in the contest to stay strong and keep his feet,’’ Curran said this afternoon.
“He looked like a seasoned veteran. Every time the ball went near him you could rely on him.
“He was half back and we slipped him up to a wing in the last quarter. He said he’d never played there much but he adapted, found the ball, kept his feet in the contest.
“Off half back he was an absolute lock, really composed under pressure. He was really impressive.’’
Pal played one season of junior football, at under-12s, and joined Keysborough in 2017.
Keysy ruckman and former Collingwood and Carlton player Chris Bryan recommended him to Collingwood, which placed him on its VFL development list this year.
Pal is yet to debut for the Pies.
“After the way he played, I can’t believe that, but it’s always tough when you’re on the VFL list of an AFL club,’’ Curran said.
“If he’s been playing footy only for three years he’s got a lot of potential.
“To me he was a cut above the rest and clearly our best player. All of us coaches were sitting in the box in awe of some of the stuff he was doing. We’ll be watching his name with interest.’’
Pal has regularly been among Keysborough’s best players this season.
Ruckman Will Christie, from Murray Bushrangers; midfielder Bailey Patterson from Korumburra-Bena; halfback Chad Harris from Richmond VFL and Sorrento; Werribee wingman Aiden Domic; and Frankston wingman Lachlan McDonnell also did well for Country, which defeated the Metro team 10.19 (79) to 6.4 (40).
Collingwood VFL midfielder Michael Marotta did best for Metro, which was coached by Port Melbourne VFL assistant Trent McMicking.
“Even though we got flogged he was one of the best on the ground,’’ McMicking said of Marotta, who hails from Dalyston in South Gippsland.
“He played mid and we spat him forward for a bit to try to give us something there. He was really good.’’
McMicking was also pleased with defender Lachlan Farrugia (Footscray VFL/St Kevin’s) and forward Hamish Dick (Old Brighton).
Curran, 25 and the son of former Hawthorn star Peter, coached Country to a clean sweep over Metro in the three-match series.
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