Carlton captain Marc Murphy explains Paddy Dow’s nickname, backs him to play Round 1

HE hasn’t been at Carlton very long but Blues young gun Paddy Dow has made an immediate impact. Get the lowdown on his new nickname and find out why Marc Murphy is such a big fan.

PADDY Wow.

If Carlton captain Marc Murphy has his way, it is a nickname that will stick throughout the career of No. 3 draft pick Patrick Dow - starting on Thursday night at the MCG in front of 90,000 fans.

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The silky smooth, explosive midfielder is one of up to 15 first-year and rookie players set to make their debuts in Round 1.

Nine of the AFL’s top 10 draft picks from last year are a chance to play, not bad for a crop discounted as thin on talent.

But not many have the smooth moves of Dow, who not only shares a nickname with Carlton’s Warren “Wow” Jones, but the No. 2 Carlton guernsey.

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On Friday he signed a three-year contract extension before his first game, locking him in at Carlton until 2022.

The Herald Sun can reveal Lochie O’Brien, the club’s No. 10 pick from November’s draft, has also agreed to a two-year contract extension taking him through to 2021.

If Murphy has his way, Dow’s nickname, started over summer, will soon find its way into the football lexicon.

Paddy Dow has impressed all at the Blues. Picture: AAP Images

“How did you hear that? Yeah, we have been calling him Paddy Wow,” Murphy confirmed at AFL captains’ day on Thursday.

“It’s always good for a nickname like that to stick, so you can run with that one.

“Honestly, a week out I would think he’s going to play. He has trained really well and impressed everyone at the club.

“He is a down to earth kid who wants to improve pretty quick. And he has got a lot of belief in himself.

“He was quieter on the weekend, a little sore in his little toe. I think he had a blister.

“But the way he has played in the AFLX and first JLT game he’s going to be a very good player for us.”

It doesn’t mean Dow isn’t still learning. He snapped half a front tooth in the JLT game against St Kilda after forgetting to put his mouthguard in.

“I had my tooth dented last year and the club covered (the cost), but I don’t think he will be leaving his mouthguard in his sock too much longer,” Murphy quipped.

Across town, No. 9 draft selection Aaron Naughton is a certain Bulldogs Round 1 debutant after seamlessly slotting into the back six.

He has flown by exciting young defenders Kieran Collins and Lewis Young right into the side to play Greater Western Sydney in Canberra.

Aaron Naughton is in the mix to debut Round 1 for the Dogs. Picture: Getty Images

“It would certainly look that way,” Dogs captain Easton Wood told the Herald Sun.

“He has stepped in and done such a fantastic job for a kid that age, to play in such a strong position as a key defender.

“He has stood up so well. He doesn’t seem fazed and you need that cool, calm demeanour when you can be really under the pump in defence.

“He has leapfrogged a few of our younger defenders, which is tough for them, but I am rapt to see him take the opportunity.”

West Coast has four possible debutants — all in its forward line — in Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli, Daniel Venables and Jake Waterman.

And if Geelong is seen to be recruiting for the now, all of its November draftees are pushing for early debuts too.

Liam Ryan is set to debut for the Eagles in Round 1. Picture: Getty Images

No. 22 pick Lachlan Fogarty is a tackling mid-forward, No. 24 selection Tim Kelly will play Round 1 as a quick mid and Charlie Constable and Gryan Miers have shown something in the JLT series.

“Kelly has played senior footy in WA and I would expect him to play early in the season if not Round 1,” Cats captain Joel Selwood said.

“Fogarty had a slight concussion in the first JLT game and Myers and Constable showed they are OK at the level, which was really pleasing straight out of under-age footy.”