Sandy Dragon Fischer McAsey’s All Australian honour

He learned to kick by watching Nathan Buckley. His dad played one game for St Kilda but he’s a Doggies supporter. Meet the key position prospect who starred at the national Under 18 championships.

HE was back, he was forward, now he’s back.

Whatever position Fischer McAsey has taken up on the ground, he has advanced his football.

Now it can be said the Sandringham Dragon has taken another stride forward after his selection in the All Australian Under 18 team.

His performances for Vic Metro in four games at the national championships earned him the honour.

The 18-year-old Caulfield Grammar student was chosen as the centre half back, the Dragons’ sole representative in the line-up.

McAsey played as a key backman for the Victorian 12 years and under schoolboys team and for the South Metro league Under 13 representative side.

For the next few years he was a forward for his club and school teams.

At the instigation of coach Luke Power, a switch back to the backline came late last season in the AFL grand final exhibition game at the MCG. And McAsey has been used as a defender this season at the Dragons, where he’s coached by Josh Bourke, who just happened to coach him with the Vic schoolboys.

Fischer McAsey in the Dragons jumper.

The baysider is comfortable in both positions.

“I’m not really sure which one is my best,’’ he said. “I like both. They’re different. Playing as a backman, the game sort of comes to you. It’s more simple. Stop your man and then go and get the ball, whereas as a forward you’ve got leading patterns and have to go up and back. I enjoy doing both.’’

McAsey set himself for All Australian selection and it was a buzz when he gained it.

“Made me feel pretty proud,’’ he said. “It was disappointing team-wise to win only the one game, but to be a good contributor over the four games was something I was pretty proud of. I was happy I could tick that one off.’’

He said the standard of the football was the highest he had experienced.

“It was a step-up from the NAB League but not too much of a step-up. I think the NAB League is really strong, but it was that little bit faster and there were bigger bodies as well,’’ he said. “I had some good opponents. You always had to be on your game.’’

McAsey played his junior football at East Brighton, counting fellow Dragons Finn Maginness, Hugo Ralphsmith, Josh Worrell and Miles Bergman as teammates. All five played for Vic Metro. “That was pretty special, pretty cool,’’ McAsey said.

Flashback: Fischer McAsey after his selection in the Victorian primary schools football team.

When he was picked in the Victorian schoolboys, McAsey told the Leader how he had learned to kick by watching Nathan Buckley.

A few years on, he is happy to repeat the story.

“Yeah, it was in the Auskick days and we got a little Auskick video, and it ran you through each skill,’’ he said.

“Each player did a different skill and Nathan Buckley was doing the kicking instruction. So I’d watch it over and over again and go out to the backyard and try to improve my kicking. That was pretty much how I learned to kick, through that video.’’

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Kicking, it has to be said, is a strength of his game, as is his intercept marking and his ability to read the play as easily as a children’s book.

McAsey’s father, Chris, played one game for St Kilda, in 1983, and has encouraged him all through his football.

But McAsey senior and junior are Bulldogs supporters and mention of the 2016 gets Fischer fizzing.

“I was there,’’ he said, referring to the grand final. “It was surreal.’’

With his All Australian selection, all AFL clubs are sizing up the 195cm McAsey.

“I guess it’s been a good year so far. I’m really enjoying my footy playing at all different levels, school, NAB League, the championships,’’ he said. “Hopefully I can get on to an AFL list and continue to enjoy it.’’

That would be a big step forward for the key position prospect.

Fischer McAsey doing some ruck work for the Dragons.

JOSH BOURKE ON FISCHER McASEY

“We had a chat the start of the year about some growth. I think by his own admission Fischer was disappointed with his year as a 17-year-old. He showed signs without really putting it together. To his credit, the way he took the feedback that he had to work on some areas, he’s been outstanding. You can say now he leaves no stone unturned with his efforts to progress and it’s seen him move up boards. His anticipation as a defender is what sets him apart, his reading of the play and making good decisions about when to leave his man and when to stay. He’s a hardworking kid and obviously very talented.’’