WESTERN Jets rising stars Duom Dawam and Liam Duggan have retained their places in the elite AIS-AFL Academy squad for 2013-14.
Dawam, a late blooming Sudanese-born ruckman, and Duggan, a running defender, will move up to a level-two scholarship as top-age players.
Jets coach Torin Baker told the Weekly that earning an elevation was not a fait accompli.
“They do review the squad and make add-ons or deletions,” he said.
“The boys have to warrant getting a second year, and both of them have got a second year.
“It’s their application and the way they’ve gone about it, it’s a real reward for that.”
Dawam will understandably draw comparisons with North Melbourne big man Majak Daw.
Both have followed similar football paths, born in Sudan, discovering the game upon arrival in Melbourne and coming through the ranks at the Wyndhamvale juniors.
Like Daw, Dawam has an insatiable appetite to learn more about a game he only started playing as a teenager.
“He’s only been playing football the past four years,” Baker said.
“For him to do what he’s done in that short amount of time is really quite remarkable when you think about it.
“No doubt he’s got some improving to do, but he’s shown a willingness to learn.”
Dawam is 200 centimetres and gifted athletically, making him a hard match-up in the height.
But it is below the knees and in the second efforts that makes him stand out among the ruckman in the TAC Cup.
“He’s a real natural in his second and third efforts at the contest,” Baker said.
“He’ll get on the ground and lay tackles and try and win ground balls.
“For a ruckman to do that, it’s really good to see.”
Duggan has been mainly used in a defensive role this season, but has shown his ability when thrown into the midfield mix.
The Bacchus Marsh product is slight in stature, but brave in the contest, and when he finds space, he is an elite ball user.
“He’s a real class player,” Baker said.
“He’s got some body development to do, but he’s still a really good contested-ball winner, even though he’s got a slight body.”
Last weekend was a development week for TAC Cup teams. The Western Jets face Bendigo Pioneers away on Saturday to defend their top-four berth.
