BENDIGO Pioneers prospect Archer Day-Wicks plays with serious flair and a bit of swagger, fitting of the high-end talent he is. The classy forward has lined up alongside some of the best junior talent in recent times and is continuing to learn off them as he approaches his top-age campaign.

We spoke to Day-Wicks at the weekend’s Talent League preseason testing event.

FULL Q&A

Q: Archer, walk me through your preseason. How’s it been?

A: Really good. I got to spend a week with Essendon, which was fantastic. Then just with the Pios, probably since start of November. Been working hard out in the sun.

Q: You had the Vic Country camps as well?

A: Yeah, Vic Country hub was really good. We had two three-day camps, which we learn a lot from.

Q: What kind of learnings you take from each of them?

A: You sort of just get bits and pieces off different players, especially the higher end boys that are in (National) Academy too, like Finn O’Sullivan and Sam Lalor.

Q: Is there anyone that you played alongside last year that you’re trying to emulate this year?

A: I think it’s a mixture of a lot. Obviously Zane Duursma, he’s fantastic forward of the footy, a good mark. I really liked Daniel Curtin‘s ability to read the ball. Not that I play behind the ball, but the way he attacks it and the way he uses it. And you can’t go past Harley Reid for his contested stuff, his marking and goal sense.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with any of them?

A: I talk to Harley a bit, he’s loving it out West. Harvey Gallagher from two years before, I probably speak to him the most. He’s my mentor.

Q: In terms of your own game, you’ve played a lot of mid-forward. What kind of split do you think you’re going to have this year?

A: To start the year I’ll probably be forward of the ball, just using my weapons getting up and down… I think it’ll probably end up being more midfield time at the end of the year but we’re just working through that.

Q: What are your strengths, and then some of the things you’re still working on?

A: In terms of my strengths; I’m a good kick, competitive, X-factor, goal sense, and I just love the game. From a weakness point of view, probably the main thing I’m working on is just being consistent. I had a rough year with injury last year, so just trying to get through.

Q: What were some of the setbacks you had last year?

A: I did my hip flexor on a wet night at training which put me out for eight weeks, and I had glandular fever at the start of the year which I missed the first two games with.

Q: But you’re ready to go now, fit and firing?

A: Yeah, fit and healthy. Can’t wait.

Q: Do you watch a lot of footy?

A: Yeah, heaps.

Q: What team do you support?

A: Richmond.

Q: Are there any players in particular you look up to?

A: From Richmond it’s sort of a mixture of a few. I love Liam Baker and ‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin). I think the main player I look up to in the Isaac Heeney. I play like him a fair bit, so I learn lots of things off him.

Q: Do you have any goals set up for the year?

A: Being consistent first and foremost, making sure I play the first four games. I want to perform well in the academy games and then through the champs hopefully I play really well, get invited to the combine and get drafted.

Q: Are you happy to go anywhere?

A: Yeah, anywhere. I don’t mind.