Duncan lives the dream at the Cats
WA teenager Mitch Duncan's surreal start to his AFL journey will take a special twist this Sunday when he returns home for the first time to play for premiers Geelong against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
Duncan, a surprise early-season selection for the Cats, served notice of his bold talent when he booted two goals from his 17 possessions in the bruising nine-point win over Hawthorn at the MCG on Monday.
The teenager admitted that he was shocked to be in the midst of so many stars, but it is his poise and impact that has already impressed coach Mark Thompson, who has likened the young gun's attitude towards his football to that of 2007 NAB Rising star and now elite midfield teammate, Joel Selwood.
"An 18-year-old breaking into a team like Geelong . . . it's a pretty hard thing to do," Thompson said.
"But we love the qualities he has. He just turns up, he does everything that we ask of him and then he wants more.
"He has a real appetite to be a good player like we've seen in some of our other players.
"He's not that dissimilar to Joel Selwood in his attitude as a young person and we just think that we've already got a good, long-term player at the club."
Drafted from East Perth with pick No.28 last year, Duncan is the son of former East Fremantle player Glen Rogers, who remains the WAFL's 11th youngest debutant after he played his first game in 1979 at the age of just 16 years and 115 days.
Duncan said he was proud of his WA upbringing and said being coached by some of the State's best modern football mentors such as Rob Wiley, Tony Micale and Andrew Lockyer, as well as playing seven senior games for the Royals last year, had been crucial in his earlier than expected debut.
He also said fellow Sandgropers Harry Taylor and another East Perth recruit, Joel Corey, had given him significant guidance and advice since arriving at Skilled Stadium.
"It's so surreal at the moment," Duncan said. "I'm just loving it at the moment and I'm doing everything I can to keep in the team.
"It's across the other side of the country and it's been a big step up, but I'm happy to take it all on and do the best I can for Geelong.
"I've been pretty lucky because there were a few injuries going around and I just want to keep taking it week by week and hopefully play as many games as I possibly can.
"I didn't think I would have been playing round one that's for sure so now that I'm here, I've just got to keep performing, keep the consistent footy going, learn, take in everything and use it all as experience."
Duncan was convinced he was going to land at an Eastern States club, but had no idea it would be Geelong.
A childhood Essendon supporter, he started his AFL career a fortnight ago opposed to yet another East Perth recruit, Bombers defender Tayte Pears.
Duncan said he didn't have one vivid memory of Hawthorn's premiership win over Geelong in 2008, but was ecstatic to get a first-hand feel of the growing rivalry between the two clubs on Monday.
And he was just as anxious to experience his first return home to face a team featuring former State junior teammates Anthony Morabito and Stephen Hill.
"It will be great to get back home and get a few mates to come and watch and see the family again," the former Warwick-Greenwood, Carine and Trinity junior said.
"I've played at Subi probably five times now, so I know the ground pretty well.
"It's all amazing and it still hasn't really settled in yet. To play in front of 70,000 people (on Monday) . . . I thought last week (against Essendon) was big, but this week just topped it off and I couldn't ask for much more at the moment.
"I was rapt to come to Geelong just to learn off the best, so to find myself in the position I am now is just amazing.
"I never thought I'd be playing in the next game after Geelong played in a grand final and you've just got to act on instinct really.
"The game's so quick and your mind is always ticking so you've really got to give it to the stars (of the team)."
