Melton footballer Liam Duggan has won the Ben Mitchell Medal, for the player in the AFL academy program who shows the most leadership and commitment.
The Western Jets TAC Cup player took out the award last week, ahead of West Australian Bradley Walsh and Victorian Jake Lever.
Western Jets region manager Shane Sexton wasn’t surprised to see Duggan receive the medal.
“We always thought he had outstanding leadership skills,” Sexton said.
“He has a fantastic attitude to those things.
“Nobody will question what he is going to bring to the table in terms of his approach to his footy.
“Anything that comes his way he handles it and he gets it done.
“He does a really good job with it as well.
“We’re really confident he will give himself every chance to succeed at whatever level of footy he finishes up playing.”
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The Ben Mitchell Medal is named in honour of former academy member Ben Mitchell, who died while a part of the program in 2002.
Duggan joins an impressive list of past winners, including Essendon’s Joe Daniher and Greater Western Sydney’s Josh Kelly.
As well as starring throughout the Australian Institute of Sport academy program, Duggan has put together a great year in the TAC Cup.
In his matches, he was named the best player on the ground against the Dandenong Stingrays and the Bendigo Pioneers.
“He conducts himself in an admirable manner with everything he does,” Sexton said.
“I think if you spoke to his school you would find the same thing. He’s a terrific kid.
“If he can get himself to an AFL footy club, and we are hoping he does, he will give himself every chance to get the best out of himself.”
With his commitments to the Vic Metro side drawing to a close, Duggan and his representative Jets teammates, including Jayden Laverde and Corey Ellis, will be available for the Jets in the coming weeks.
