Heading into the AFL North West senior competition, New England Nomads coach James Treweeke touted Walcha teen Morgan Dunn as the one to watch.
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"In my personal view, I think he is ready to step up and play senior footy all year," Treweeke said before their first match against premiers Inverell Saints.
"Over summer he spent time in Sydney and came back with a wealth of experience now.
"He is maturing and I have seen a lot of improvement just from the end of last year until the start of this year.
"I am really, really looking forward to how he progresses this year.
"I am hoping it is very good because if he does it will be a massive boost to our team.
"He probably is the fittest in our team, every time he does train with us he works his backside off."
The Nomads suffered losses to the Saints and then 2018 runners-up Gunnedah but turned their fortunes around in their recent hit out against the Tamworth Kangaroos.
It took until the final quarter but the Nomads managed to clinch the 15.11-101 to 14.6-90 win.
With "10 or 12 blokes still missing" Treweeke called upon Dunn and some of the club's under-17 players to stand up.
"It was really good to see the juniors stand up especially under all the pressure they had," he said.
The Nomads senior team head to Tamworth again this Saturday to face the Swans while the under-17 side is at home at Armidale's Bellevue Oval against the Moree Suns.