AFL unearths born natural
ANTONY STEWART
June 5th, 2010
FROM sinking baskets to kicking goals, John Macansh takes it all in
his stride.
And, according to those in the know in the AFL Townsville community, just
how far he goes from here is boundless.
After taking up the game about three months ago, 16-year-old Macansh will
this afternoon graduate from junior footy, where he has been setting the
competition alight, to seniors for the Curra Swans.
The transition of Macansh's talents from the basketball court, where he has
represented junior Townsville Heat sides at Queensland championships, to AFL
has been seamless. He was almost immediately picked in representative teams the
Townsville Eagles and Queensland Country in under-16s.
''He's someone who wants to play footy and (has been) setting things alight
on the track so he's got to get his chance,'' Swans coach Darren Gwynne said of
Macansh's pending debut against Thuringowa.
''He made the under-18 rep side without even training he's just one of
these blokes who's just a good sportsmen.
''His ball skills are very good being a basketballer, and he can kick a ball
well and has a good knowledge of where to run.''
While an on-baller with his under-17 team, Macansh will be protected
slightly and moved to the wing at Muldoon Oval as the last-placed Swans look to
unleash his pace on the Bulldogs.
It almost hurts Curra under-17s coach Peter Johnson to lose the Year 12
Cathedral School student today, but he said he knew from the moment he saw him
he would not have him for too long.
''His first game was for the Townsville Eagles and he dominated, which I
thought was freaky. But in his first club game of footy he was best on
ground he killed them,'' Johnson said.
''You have kids who play footy their whole lives ... but you look at this
kid and you think 'gee, this boy could be anything'.''
In the face of such enormous raps, the bolter is certain to have plenty of
eyes on him today. Macansh, who plays point guard for A-grade basketball team
Blackstars in the Townsville competition, conceded the compliments had been a
little overwhelming.
But with a major step-up ahead of him this afternoon, he was just doing his
best to come to terms with keeping his nerves in check.
''I am pretty nervous, the physicality is going to be a level up,'' he said.
Last Modified on 16/06/2010 23:02