LUKE McLeod credits a move into defence at club level for helping him find a niche in the TAC Cup this season.
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The Warrnambool teenager shifted from his customary role on a wing to add dash out of the Blues’ back half.
That move caught the attention of North Ballarat Rebels’ selectors.
McLeod, 18, has played the past six games for the ladder-leading Rebels and will line up in their final-round showdown against Oakleigh Chargers at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
“I started playing in the back line at Warrnambool and that’s when the Rebels thought I could play back line with them,” he said.
“It’s the first time I’ve played in the back line with the Rebels.
“I am learning a heap playing there, about how to defend on a player and then move off them and using them as a starting point and trying to make them play to you.
“They (the coaches) are happy for us to run off our player and influence the contest.”
McLeod is in his second TAC Cup season, having mustered half a dozen games as a bottom-age player.
He’s managed nine appearances in his top-age campaign.
The Emmanuel College student expects to play at Warrnambool next season while on a gap year but is relishing the chance to play with and against highly-rated AFL draft hopefuls.
“It’s pretty good playing on high profile players, being able to play on top 10 draft picks and see what they do,” he said.
“Darcy Parish at Geelong Falcons has stood out to me.
“He’s probably the best midfielder in the draft this year.”
North Ballarat Rebels collected their only TAC Cup premiership in 1997 with a team which featured two-time Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes.
It remains their only appearance in a grand final since the statewide under 18 competition started in 1992.
McLeod said the Rebels had the depth and talent to add to that tally next month – if they played to their potential.
“It’d be unreal,” he said.
“You only get two or three years maximum to play for the Rebels and if you got an opportunity to play in a TAC Cup grand final or flag it’d be really good.
“You’d learn a lot and get to play on Etihad Stadium.”
McLeod will join South Warrnambool’s Hugh McCluggage, Portland’s Tom Templeton and Koroit’s Jarrod Korewha in North Ballarat team to play Oakleigh.
The two sides could meet again in a qualifying final a week later depending on results.
McLeod also remains in contention to represent Warrnambool in its Hampden league premiership tilt.
