Essendon’s Nate Caddy shows way ahead for Bombers in AFL finals charge
A week after being omitted for ‘team balance’, Nate Caddy made a big impression for Essendon. His emergence could show the way ahead for the Bombers in the rundown to September.
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Exciting teenager Nate Caddy says he feels ready for the challenge of playing a key role in Essendon’s forward line as the Bombers took another sizeable step towards locking in a top four spot.
And last year’s No.10 draft pick couldn’t be more grateful to have arrived at The Hangar at a time when the Bombers are rising up the ladder.
Caddy made a big impression in his third AFL game on Friday night, kicking 1.3 and providing a strong avenue to goal in the club’s 12-point win over Collingwood.
It came a week after the 18-year-old was left out of the side due to “team balance” against Geelong when coach Brad Scott opted to instead go with a dual ruck combination of Sam Draper and Todd Goldstein.
A change in that dynamic against the Magpies, with Draper going it alone in the ruck, and with Caddy working well in a forward line that included Peter Wright and Kyle Langford, looks to be the way ahead for the Bombers in the rundown to September.
“It was amazing,” Caddy said of the experience of playing in front of 81,000 on Friday night.
“The crowd noise took a bit of getting used to. It kind of seems weird when you look around and you see so many people, but I loved it.
“It is my childhood dream … I had a bit of a decent game (against West Coast in round 15), so I had a bit of confidence in myself.
“But it helps when you are having a good game.”
Caddy, who turns 19 on Sunday week, had 12 disposals, eight marks, 18 pressure acts and an impressive 315 metres gained on Friday.
He missed a few chances that he could have kicked, but really brought a change in the Bombers’ structure which made them more dangerous.
“We have got some great players and we are sitting third now, and we’ve just knocked off Collingwood,” Caddy said.
“I have come along at the right time. I said that when I got drafted. They (Essendon) have had some rough patches, (but) they are definitely on the upward track, and they are not stopping now.”
Asked if he thought his days of playing VFL football were over, Caddy said he would play whatever role his coach wanted him to play.
But he made it clear he aspired to keep playing well at the top level.
“He (Scott) just said it was team balance (last week); he wanted to play two rucks and I was fully understanding of that,” Caddy said.
“I didn’t play VFL. I was an emergency, so I hadn’t played footy since that Eagles game. He trusted my ability to go and get the job done, and hopefully I lived up to that.
“It is great to be a part of this club and I am very happy to be here.
“I am happy to put my case forward … to play every week. I will keep (working) as hard as I can and whatever happens happens.
“I play like a third tall at the moment. I try to provide a contest and get the ball to ground or mark it, and just run all day.”
Essendon teammate Jordan Ridley said of Caddy on SEN: “He is a super difficult match-up and obviously I’ve seen that at training.”
“He is a very athletic kid, quick with his feet and really strong in the air. I think since he has stepped in the door on day one he showed he has some really high end talent and is going to be a player for us.”
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