Gippsland Power co-captain Cody Templeton provided a reminder of his talent with a best afield performance in Gippsland's Talent League premiership on Saturday.
Templeton kicked five goals, including three in an eight-minute span either side of three-quarter-time to put the game out of reach for Dandenong.
The Warragul Industrials junior seized his moments with the game on the line, as his forward smarts, footy IQ and strength one-on-one and around stoppage came to the fore.
“I know he has genuine x-factor and the bigger the game, the better he plays,” coach Kris Pendlebury said of Templeton.
“I'm really pleased he had a breakout performance – this is what this day's all about, you showcase two country teams and one kid just pops up and plays like that so hopefully that holds him in good stead for the draft.
“He's a genuine match-winner, and (I'm) so proud of him.”
Born on January 1, there is a strong likelihood he would already be on an AFL list if he were born 24 hours earlier and qualified for last year's National Draft, so strong was his bottom-aged campaign.
But an up-and-down season has invited queries, most notably about his endurance and athleticism.
The 18-year-old has this year engaged a running coach to address that question mark and on a hot and taxing Saturday afternoon for footy, Templeton ran out the game strongly and struck a balance between his inside toughness and outside damage.
“A game like this which was a fair bit of offence and high speed running that was probably not a strength at the start of the year and last year, so a lot of reward for effort with the early mornings and work I did with my coach,” Templeton said.
He was matched up on Dandenong captain Gus Kennedy for much of the contest, in what was an enticing battle between two players who compete with a ruthless edge, and who neutralised each other's strengths at different times.
“He's a tough player to play on, he gives 110 per cent every single time and that's a credit to him, you don't smile and think you've got an easy day when he comes to you,” Templeton said.
“It was a good battle. We've had a couple over the years and he made me work for it today.”
Templeton played three of Vic Country's four games at the National Championships, frustratingly missing the first game where many of his teammates were at their best.
A top-five finish in the Morrish Medal reinforced that he is a player who catches the eye and he has a state combine invite where he will hope to prove his athletic attributes.
“A few times it's been a little bit disappointing but I think I just try to not read too much into it – there's some things you just can't control and you can throw the towel in but if you keep rocking up day-in, day-out, it's bound to go your way,” Templeton said following the preliminary final win, a statement which proved to be a prophecy for what he would produce in the big dance.
Speaking to Zero Hanger ahead of the grand final, he indicated that seeing just one flag at Gippsland's Centre of Excellence, won in 2005, was a significant motivating factor for winning a premiership.
Following the flag, he emphasised the strength of the program and sacrifice of his family which has allowed his football to develop.
“Showing that versatility. Two years ago, I'm probably not kicking five as a forward, I'm that mid who tries to get it, kick it long and be a high metres gained player,” he said when asked about how his football has grown at the Power.
“So just really trying to adapt and add more tricks to my game and show that versatility to give me more opportunities as a footballer to do whatever the team needs.”
