Ty Gallop has company at Brisbane as the teenage forward learns his AFL craft on the run, and on the biggest stage.
The AFL grand final will be just the sixth game of Ty Gallop’s career, but he only has to look across the room for some perspective.
“His story’s pretty, pretty crazy,” the 19-year-old said, nodding in the direction of his Brisbane forward-line partner Logan Morris.
“That’s really getting thrown in. I was at least given the heads-up.”
Morris, now 20, was last year’s emerging star in the forward line.
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Plucked following late injury drama to make his AFL debut, Morris had to borrow a pair of boots and back up hours after playing in a VFL game and stopping at McDonald’s on his way home.
But like Morris, who won a premiership in his 19th AFL game, Gallop has adjusted quickly to life in the AFL.
“It’s a good experience, just to see what I’m capable of,” he said ahead of Saturday’s date with Geelong.
“Yeah, it is a bit like being thrown in the deep end, but I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”
The teenager has stepped in for the injured Eric Hipwood, who coincidentally also learnt his football on the Sunshine Coast.
Gallop, who went to Mountain Creek State High, came through the ranks at clubs at Kawana and Maroochydore.
It was for Maroochydore in last year’s QAFL that things clicked for Gallop, who kicked 18 goals in the final three games of that season.
Drafted to the AFL with pick No.42, he debuted in round 14 on a cold, wet night in Adelaide, then returned for the final regular-season round.
He’s played all three finals games, getting the monkey off his back with a first goal against Gold Coast before his three-goal effort silenced the Collingwood faithful at the MCG on Saturday.
“I spoke to some role models of mine and coaches, and they gave me the confidence just to completely back myself in … see where it can take me,” he said.
“I probably built (the first goal) up a little bit in my head.
“You want to get the first one out early, so it was good, good to put one through and then just play footy.
“And that (preliminary final) was just an awesome experience.
“A huge crowd, a little bit outnumbered in terms of fans and we just talked about feeding off the silence.
“If they’re down, it means we’re probably up.”
