THE PORT Macquarie Magpies' Max Lower is within a couple of steps of fulfilling an AFL dream, and those in the know believe he is good enough.
Lower was selected in the AFL (NSW/ACT) under 18 TAC Cup Rams squad last week.
Players selected in that side will participate in the TAC Cup against teams from throughout Victoria and southern NSW.
Following those matches, a NSW state side is selected which then opens doors to the national AFL draft and then possible selection if AFL club scouts deem a player is good enough.
The talented teenager is already a member of the Sydney Swans Academy and Magpies vice-president Wayne Nelson believed he has the ability to make the next step.
"He's basically one cog from AFL draft level which is impressive when you consider he was a late inclusion into the academy," he said.
"The pathway has been set up for him now and it's up to him because I think he is the best option I've seen in the 10 years I've been in the Port Macquarie area."
Nelson said it had been through plenty of hard work with Lower juggling school commitments with chasing an AFL dream.
"You see him running the streets when he should be home in bed and that puts him 110 per cent ahead of everything we do over the pre-season," he said.
"I think he's capable and I think he's good enough to get there. It's his attitude that has increased ten-fold towards what he's doing. He's starting to believe in himself; I don't think he had that belief in previous years, but now I see the difference."
He knows the teenager will have some tough competition to deal with.
"With no disrespect to the local competition, the level down there is 10 times better than up here," Nelson said.
"You need to be extremely good on both your left-hand and right-hand side of your body but Max has the goods and now it's up to him. One bloke might be able to kick 55 metres with his right foot but only 50 metres with his left so they won't pick them.
"We've put him on the right path and now it's up to him whether he takes it.
"It's fantastic for the club even though we're resigned to the fact we won't see him too much but being registered to the club means he can play finals here which is a good thing."
Last Modified on 15/04/2016 11:26