He isn't there just yet, but future Essendon tall Joe Daniher already has the mindset of a professional footballer.
Daniher, the son of former Bomber and Sydney Swan Anthony, is one of 30 elite prospects in the level two AIS-AFL Academy squad, which trained at the Whitten Oval on Tuesday.
The 200cm ruckman/forward committed to Essendon a year ago, and believes his time with the academy, coupled with his Calder Cannons and Vic Metro duties, will provide the ideal preparation for his move to Windy Hill in 2013.
""I'm loving being in a professional environment like this,"" Daniher told AFL.com.au after academy training.
""It's a perfect introduction to step into what I hope to be a successful AFL career.
""We're fortunate enough to be able to have great AFL players coaching us, and really getting an insight into what it takes.""
Former Sydney Swans champion Michael O'Loughlin is in charge of the group, which will tour Europe later this year.
Brad Johnson, Matthew Lloyd and Glen Jakovich are O'Loughlin's assistants, the quartet passing on a combined 1213 games' experience to the talented juniors, who will all be eligible for this year's NAB AFL Draft.
Johnson, Lloyd and Jakovich are each personally mentoring 10 players.
""What kid, at age 16 or 17, has got Matthew Lloyd on his speed dial, and can go, 'Lloydy, I'm having a bit of trouble with my goalkicking'?"" O'Loughlin said.
""Or, 'Glen, I'm playing on a really good forward'.
""They've got first class access a phone call away.""
Daniher is also working with the conditioning and development staff at Windy Hill, with a focus on putting extra muscle on his slender frame before next year.
He hopes the extended preparation will see him well equipped to handle the demands of modern big-time football.
""At the moment I see myself more as a forward, but I'm sure the ruck's going to come once I get some more kilos on and my body fully develops,"" Daniher said.
""The way the game's heading, that's sort of the position that I want to take up – a ruckman that can go forward.
""I've just got to get all the conditioning and that sort of thing and I'll be in a good position to do that.""
Three other father-son prospects are in the level two AIS-AFL squad.
Jack Viney (son of Todd) has committed to Melbourne, with James Stewart (Craig) eligible to be picked by Collingwood, and Jordan Bourke (Damian) on Geelong's radar.
The AFL has doubled its AIS-AFL intake in 2012, splitting the elite pathway into two separate age-based squads of 30.
The level one squad, made up of 16-year-old players not old enough to be drafted this year, will tour New Zealand.
""It's about being able to keep an eye on the guys' development, from the under-16 championships through to the under-18s,"" O'Loughlin said.
""For these young blokes it's a chance to be in an elite environment and to pick up things really early, so that when they get to 18 or 19 they know exactly what's going on, and hopefully they get to an AFL club and they're ready to go straight away.""
Daniher, the son of former Bomber and Sydney Swan Anthony, is one of 30 elite prospects in the level two AIS-AFL Academy squad, which trained at the Whitten Oval on Tuesday.
The 200cm ruckman/forward committed to Essendon a year ago, and believes his time with the academy, coupled with his Calder Cannons and Vic Metro duties, will provide the ideal preparation for his move to Windy Hill in 2013.
""I'm loving being in a professional environment like this,"" Daniher told AFL.com.au after academy training.
""It's a perfect introduction to step into what I hope to be a successful AFL career.
""We're fortunate enough to be able to have great AFL players coaching us, and really getting an insight into what it takes.""
Former Sydney Swans champion Michael O'Loughlin is in charge of the group, which will tour Europe later this year.
Brad Johnson, Matthew Lloyd and Glen Jakovich are O'Loughlin's assistants, the quartet passing on a combined 1213 games' experience to the talented juniors, who will all be eligible for this year's NAB AFL Draft.
Johnson, Lloyd and Jakovich are each personally mentoring 10 players.
""What kid, at age 16 or 17, has got Matthew Lloyd on his speed dial, and can go, 'Lloydy, I'm having a bit of trouble with my goalkicking'?"" O'Loughlin said.
""Or, 'Glen, I'm playing on a really good forward'.
""They've got first class access a phone call away.""
Daniher is also working with the conditioning and development staff at Windy Hill, with a focus on putting extra muscle on his slender frame before next year.
He hopes the extended preparation will see him well equipped to handle the demands of modern big-time football.
""At the moment I see myself more as a forward, but I'm sure the ruck's going to come once I get some more kilos on and my body fully develops,"" Daniher said.
""The way the game's heading, that's sort of the position that I want to take up – a ruckman that can go forward.
""I've just got to get all the conditioning and that sort of thing and I'll be in a good position to do that.""
Three other father-son prospects are in the level two AIS-AFL squad.
Jack Viney (son of Todd) has committed to Melbourne, with James Stewart (Craig) eligible to be picked by Collingwood, and Jordan Bourke (Damian) on Geelong's radar.
The AFL has doubled its AIS-AFL intake in 2012, splitting the elite pathway into two separate age-based squads of 30.
The level one squad, made up of 16-year-old players not old enough to be drafted this year, will tour New Zealand.
""It's about being able to keep an eye on the guys' development, from the under-16 championships through to the under-18s,"" O'Loughlin said.
""For these young blokes it's a chance to be in an elite environment and to pick up things really early, so that when they get to 18 or 19 they know exactly what's going on, and hopefully they get to an AFL club and they're ready to go straight away.""
