‘If I did I'd probably get sacked': Bombers young gun Caddy on the risk behind that stunning goal

The Age

2 days ago

Everyone has seen Nate Caddy's goal against the Brisbane Lions in round 12 – an outrageous over-the-head kick that will take some beating for the AFL goal of the year award.
But it was a moment against Sydney three rounds earlier that illustrated the teenage star's true value to Essendon.
The excitement around the athletic key forward grows by the week and spots on the Caddy bandwagon are fast running out.
That goal against the Lions was an instinctive moment, but it also allowed the Bombers to level the scores against the reigning premiers at the Gabba. That game was a season-best performance for Essendon that ended in defeat, but it was also a breakout game for the 193-centimetre Caddy, who was drafted to Tullamarine from Melbourne's nearby northern suburbs less than two years ago and just weeks ago put pen to paper on a two-year extension.
Against the Swans, Caddy's gut-running was on full display in an eye-catching team goal by the Bombers – kicked by Caddy himself – after he first gathered the ball across half-back, before the Sherrin finished in his hands in the goal square. The passage of play stemmed from a facet of Caddy's game that he'd made a priority ahead of this season: improving his tank and making it one of his weapons.
'I think a real target point for me [this year] was being an elite runner,' Caddy told this masthead.
The numbers show that he runs up to 15 kilometres per game. Caddy points out that in Essendon's most recent game – a loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium in which the Bomber took another great hanger – he played every minute.
'I kind of come into the games [now] thinking that I can beat people for speed,' says Caddy.
'I try to think as a [personal motivation for me] that no one can stop me.
'That's how I think I can impact the game.'
And Caddy's ability to impact games is why the plaudits are coming thick and fast. Comparisons with Geelong's aerobic dynamo and goal-kicking champion Jeremy Cameron are common. Kane Cornes says Caddy will be vying with Bulldogs phenom Sam Darcy for best-player-in-the-AFL status in five years, while Essendon legend James Hird poured out the superlatives as he dissected the passage of play involving Caddy against Sydney at Marvel Stadium.
'Watch him keep running to get himself into [the] play, and get in the goal square,' observed Hird on Nine's Footy Furnace.
'That's the work rate and the work ethic that gets you to be a star in the competition.'
'Winning the ball at half-back, running all the way down and getting a goal [near] the goal-line – that is elite running.'
Ahead of his 25th game in the top flight, Caddy – who played junior footy with fellow Bomber Isaac Kako – is a focus of hope for long-suffering Essendon fans.
Caddy told this masthead that he sees his long-term AFL future at Tullamarine. But he's also convinced that a two-year top-up to his initial deal, locking him in at Essendon until 2028, was the right call.
'I really liked my time at Essendon the last two years,' he said.
'To sort of go around and sign for another two more, [taking] me to the end of my fifth year, I'm really excited for what Essendon has to offer in the future.
'I think I can bring my strengths to help the club and push us in the right direction. The club have shown heaps of trust and faith in me over the time, so I had to repay them and get it done early, so there's no discussion or anything [about leaving].'
Those with red-and-black blood in their veins can soak up the following words.
'I don't see myself at any other club but Essendon,' Caddy said.
'I really love the club, and it's where I see myself long-term.
'I'm not sure if Essendon would have been 100 per cent sure yet on a long-term deal, and would just [have instead preferred to] keep me on a short one for now.
'I still need to prove a lot more to be able to earn the trust to get a long contract.'
The goal that kick-started the bandwagon
Caddy's stunning goal against the Lions was the exclamation mark of an eye-catching third-quarter revival by the Bombers. They were pushing forward hard when Jade Gresham centred the ball from the pocket to Caddy lurking in the goal square. He pounced on the ground level ball and the rest is history.
But the kick over his shoulder that levelled the scores wasn't pre-planned, or something he trained. It was entirely instinctive.
Caddy is proud of the goal and, yes, he'd soak up any official recognition from the AFL.
When asked about the possibility of it being adjudged goal of the year at the end of the season, Caddy's reply was immediate: 'hopefully'.
'It was just kind of an in-the-moment thing,' he said.
'I can't even explain it.
'I don't know what made me think to kick it [like that].
'I just threw it over behind my head, and [it] went through and then I celebrated accordingly.
'[But] oh no, no, I don't plan on kicking them over my head – if I did I'd probably get sacked, to be honest.
'And if I had missed that, I probably would have looked stupid, so luckily it went in.'
In an era when kicks 'around the corner' at goal have become de rigueur, Caddy is conscious of focusing on the right routine for his set shots and his kicking in general play.
'I'm just trying to get as many reps in as possible – [to] keep it a really good routine,' Caddy says of his approach to goal-kicking.
'I'm still working on that and seeing what works best for me, [ensuring that] I'm really improving on that [part of my game].
'My field kicking is something I work on a lot more as well... trying to improve that so that I can be a more dangerous AFL player and [so that] when I've got the ball in my hands I can be trusted with [it] by teammates.'
'I don't know what made me think to kick it [like that]. I just threw it over behind my head, and [it] went through and then I celebrated accordingly.'
Nate Caddy on 'that' goal against the Lions
A sponge for footy knowledge
Only days away from turning 20, Caddy is one of the game's hottest properties. Essendon development coach and former Collingwood premiership player Travis Cloke is a strong influence, while Caddy also leans on the club's forwards assistant coach, Cam Roberts, and former Bombers big man Michael Hurley for advice.
'There's heaps of them, to be honest,' Caddy says, the enthusiasm in his voice obvious as he reflects on his trusted confidantes.
It was a moment captured on live TV that illustrated Caddy's keenness to soak up information from those who've plied their trade at the top. Caddy had a post-game interview on Channel Seven in March featuring St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt. The pair had never met and the young Bomber, with the cameras still rolling, decided to hit up the hall of famer for some quick advice. Riewoldt quickly stepped aside and the two engaged in a chat about forward craft.
'I'm not sure how professional it was of me to … just walk off mid-interview to go and have a chat to the young fellow,' the St Kilda great said.
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'We spoke about some simple key bodywork stuff in marking contests. Like it was pretty granular.
'We've exchanged numbers – we'll catch up and have coffee.'
Caddy is happy he made the first move.
'I just had a few things I wanted to ask him, and he's been really good post that [moment] as well,' the young Bomber said.
'He's obviously a really good player, and, you know, someone I really look up to because he was kind of a similar player to what I am.
Caddy's willingness to be a sponge for knowledge on all things footy doesn't go unnoticed. One industry figure who's been keenly watching Caddy's career, who spoke anonymously to speak freely, said the young Bomber was constantly looking for improvement.
'Usually it takes them [footballers] until they're 22 to work that out,' the figure said.
'He's not too confident to not take counsel, if that makes sense, which just puts him in wonderful, wonderful stead.'
The Kako combination
The red-and-black fraternity have gone 25 years without a flag. A decade ago, they endured the drugs scandal. But having the likes of Caddy and Kako on the list has helped deliver fresh hope.
'Yeah, we're good mates,' Caddy says of his forward-line sidekick.
'We went to school together, played school footy together. We knew that once I got drafted to Essendon that we'd be teammates, because he was an Essendon NGA [next generation academy] player.
'We've also got Zak Johnson [another player who also went to Parade College].
'We've got all three of us that are playing consistent AFL footy … from the same high school team at least two years ago.
'It's pretty cool.'
Managing the hype
With the hope of what Caddy could become comes the increased scrutiny and expectation – a tough juggling act for any player to manage.
'Yeah, yeah I see it,' Caddy says of the attention.
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'It obviously chops and changes when you have good and bad weeks.
'I'm not a pin-up boy for when everything goes wrong just yet.
'That might happen in the future, but hopefully not.'
Caddy's eyes are firmly focused on the main target ahead of him – making the most of his potential to be one of the game's biggest stars.
'I've obviously got a lot to learn, and I'm the first to admit that,' he said.
'[But I'm] just learning as I go, and just kind of slowly working out what works for me and how I can be a damaging AFL player.'