FORMER Horsham Saints junior Darcy Tucker is being praised by his former club after he was drafted to AFL club Fremantle on Tuesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tucker was expected to be a top-20 choice at Tuesday’s National Draft in Adelaide, but a few shock choices early in the bidding process pushed him into the second round, where he was picked at number 27 by the Dockers.
Former Saints’ president and current club football manager Roger Sordello said Tucker was a special talent from a young age, saying all who knew him as a footballer and young man knew he was destined for something special.
“I think he was always destined to do it,” he said.
“He’s always worked extremely hard and wanted to test himself, even from a young age.
“We absolutely congratulate him for what he’s been able to achieve.”
Sordello said Tucker’s silky skills and composure as a youngster set him apart from his peers.
“He obviously showed a lot of potential early,” he said.
“He would always listen to what the coaches had to say.
“He always had fantastic skills. The way he moved through packs and moved the ball was very clean for a kid.
“At junior level, kids like that are always a standout, and he was able to continually improve.”
Sordello said Tucker was lucky to have a support group around him that encouraged him to further his football existence elsewhere.
“Brendan Broadbent was a senior coach and was always pushing the young kids to push themselves to get to the next level,” he said.
“The club was always supportive of the family and Darcy.
“His parents have been amazing with the sacrifices they made. Darcy had a great friendship base at the club too.
“He was a bit of an inspiration to the other kids and everyone at the club.”