THE dreams of Albury footballer Dougal Howard came true last night when he was picked up by Port Adelaide in the AFL Draft.
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Port Adelaide was quick to pounce on the former Wagga teenager, snapping him up with its first selection at No. 56 overall.
Howard, who moved to Albury this year for university, will now happily shift to Adelaide to start his AFL career.
Port Adelaide national recruiting manager Geoff Parker said the Power had pegged Howard as a future key forward for the club.
“He’s played forward and back during the year, but we see him as a key forward who can go in the ruck and provide relief in the ruck,” Parker told portadelaidefc.com.au immediately after the draft.
Howard took a break from working harvest at his uncle’s farm at Lockhart yesterday to head home to Wagga and watch the draft unfold with parents Trevor and Christine.
Howard started his junior football with East Wagga-Kooringal before moving to Wagga Tigers.
He made an immediate impact at senior level with Wagga Tigers, then spent this year in Albury playing the majority of his football with TAC Cup team Murray Bushrangers.
He also played for NSW-ACT Rams at the under 18 national championships and Albury Tigers’ reserve grade premiership in the Ovens and Murray League.