Grandson of a gun’s draft stocks rising quicklyMatt Turner
The Advertiser
9 Nov 2019Will Day is the grandson of a West Adelaide great, a Gold Coast supporter, the cousin of a Suns player, a former baseballer – and has shot up AFL draft calculations.
Day, whose grandpa is SA Football Hall of Famer and 1971 Hawthorn premiership player Robert Day, and cousin is Sam Day, shapes as a possible top-20 pick later this month after a stellar year across half-back for West, Sacred Heart College and the SA under-18s.
Among Day’s best attributes are his skills on both sides of his body, honed from an early age with his grandpa at a park in Novar Gardens.
Robert, now 75, does not miss one of Day’s games, even flying to Melbourne to watch him during the national under-18 championships.
West Adelaide half-back flanker Will Day looms as a top-20 pick in this year’s AFL National Draft. Picture: Dean Martin“When I was real young I heard he was a good footballer then as I got older, I’d hear some of the stories … and research a bit,” Day, 18, says of his grandpa, a three-time best and fairest, former captain and Team of the Centuries member at West.
“From a real young age he’d get me to kick on my left and handball on my left, and always talk about getting the edge over your opponents.
“At the age of nine or 10 we started that and by the age of 12 I was able to kick on my left like it was my right.”
Being two-sided has long been in Day’s kitbag but plenty has changed in his world over the past 18 months.
He was 180cm and playing with Glenelg’s juniors early last year, only to shoot up 9cm and switch to West midway through last season.
Last summer he was a shortstop for Glenelg Baseball Club and member of the state under-18 team in that sport.
Will Day (second-left) with Sacred Heart teammate Beau McRae and Rostrevor duo Cameron Taheny and Stefan Lanzoni ahead of their college intercol. Picture: Matt TurnerBut the reality of being on the cusp of an AFL career began to hit him last year when he played in the SANFL futures game before the state league grand final and he quit baseball at the end of last season.
“It popped in my mind to follow that (baseball) but in the end it was always footy that was going to be number one,” he says.
This past season, Day averaged 26 disposals in four under-18 games for the Bloods and also played three reserves matches once school footy with Sacred Heart finished.
He showcased not only his kicking but footy IQ, ability to read the play and athleticism, helping him jump up phantom drafts.
“I have a few mates who’ll tag me in them on social media and I’ll have a quick read but I don’t dive into them too much,” he says.
“It’s pretty flattering to see yourself go up a bit but I’m not fussed what number I go, as long as I’m picked up by an AFL club.”
Day has turned to Sam, 27, for advice in the lead-up to the draft.
When Sam joined the Suns via pick three at the 2010 national draft, Day switched allegiances from Carlton to Gold Coast.
“He’s just said to don’t worry about it too much, just get the nerves out and have a good time,” Day says.
Along with picks one and two, Gold Coast has the 15th and 20th selections – a part of the draft where Day may hear his name called.
“Looking at their list, they’ve got a lot of young talent … so it’d be exciting if I got the chance to go up there,” he says.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/west-adelaide-halfback-flanker-will-day-cousin-of-gold-coasts-sam-day-and-grandson-of-robert-day-looms-as-a-top20-pick-at-afl-national-draft/news-story/14d87d2ce2d3c822ad1b476d975494ce
