AFL WATCH

Dec Mountford – North Melbourne FC

As the #60 selection in the 2015 draft Declan Mountford has been quick to find his feet at the highest level. From Many peaks in the Claremont Football Clubs strong Great Southern zone, Dec Mountford burst on to the AFL radar with a blistering 2015 season in which he earned state 18s selection and CFCs colts MVP award prior to being rewarded with his move to North Melbourne.

Almost immediately following the draft Mountford was whisked away to a high altitude preseason training camp in Utah and has since settled in with host family just up the road from Norths Arden Street Headquarters.

Another Claremont alumni keeping a close eye on Dec’s transition is none other than former colt’s premiership coach and current NMFC Development Manager Ben Dyer. Dyer was quick to praise Mountford’s transition, 

“They are a really good group the first years, really tight off field because three of them are from interstate. Dec just does everything right, he has just put his down from day one and works hard. His intra club games have been pretty impressive. He’s stood out with his acceleration and lateral movement because we don’t have a lot of outside speed – hence why they drafted him. We’ve been doing a heap of work on his bodywork around stoppages and learning all the roles associated with playing as an inside mid. He’ll play inside for Werribee in the VFL and do some time there which will be good for him”.

In further credit to his development Mountford was included in Norths 29 man squad for their first NAB challenge match against St Kilda and has also recently featured in North Melbourne’s “Players on the rise”, earning acclaim from senior coach Brad Scott;

Keep up the good work Dec!