Livewire forward Irving Mosquito could be headed to Hawthorn in national draft

HE’S the electric small forward with the best name in football. And lightning goalkicker Irving Mosquito could follow in Cyril Rioli’s footsteps to Hawthorn.

HE’S the electric small forward with the best name in football.

And if lightning goalkicker Irving Mosquito can showcase his stunning attributes in the second half of the year, the speedy gamebreaker could follow in Cyril Rioli’s footsteps to Hawthorn.

While the Hawks remain hopeful Rioli will this year return from taking personal leave and continue his dazzling AFL career, the good news is there is another exciting indigenous prospect in the wings at Waverley.

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Mosquito, 17, has been a member of the Hawks’ next generation academy for the past two years, meaning Alastair Clarkson’s recruiters will have first call on the Gippsland product in November’s national draft.

And Mosquito knows what his strengths are, saying earlier in the year: “I just like to put on pressure, tackle, kick goals and sell a bit of candy.”

That is why he is considered a bit of a highlights machine at TAC Cup level, kicking 12 majors in his six games earlier this season.

Irving Mosquito is an exciting draft prospect.

This weekend, Mosquito will make his comeback from a hamstring injury and will likely press for selection in the national under-18 championships the week after.

Power coach Leigh Brown said the popular forward had special talents and should be drafted.

“He’s got some fantastic attributes,” Brown said.

“He’s very quick, very agile, he’s a smooth-mover, he’s got really good hands, he’s a very good left-foot kick and he’s added some midfield craft as well.

“When you see him with the ball in hand or when he is pressuring the opposition, it’s a pretty exciting (highlights) tape.”

Even better, his teammates love him.

“He walks into the club and he has got the biggest smile you will ever see on a player,” Brown said.

“He has got a different hand shake with each of his teammates, he’s even got one with me and I didn’t think I was cool enough for that, but he’s just a great kid, and he’s always happy.”

Irving Mosquito is part of Hawthorn’s next generation academy.

Mosquito has already trained with the Hawks and is shaping as a late-round pick.

With veteran Paul Puopolo facing an uncertain future beyond this year, and Rioli’s circumstances unclear, the timing for another clever livewire at Hawthorn could hardly be better.

As one recruiter said yesterday: “He’s perfect for them because he is exactly the type of player they need and how they like to play.”

Another club could draft Mosquito if they make an earlier bid, and the Hawks fail to match it.

But a lot could yet depend on how Mosquito fares in his return from his hamstring injury, especially at the national championships.

AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan said Mosquito was an eye-catcher.

“He can light up a game pretty quickly,” Sheehan said.

“He’s one of those electric players and within moments you will notice him either in the forward line or through the midfield because he has got that breakaway pace, real agility and a really natural, instinctive feel for the game.”