Morningside’s Josh Threapleton is the round 2 Rising Star nominee, after a determined defensive effort for the Panthers on the weekend.
Four time junior premiership player, Churchie sports captain, Colts captain, and Colt’s best and fairest, he’s achieved a fair bit in 20 years, and now Josh Threapleton can add Rising Star Nominee to the résumé.
The 20-year-old Morningisde player – who played his junior footy at Jack Esplen Oval – was savage with his attack on the ball and the pressure he put on anyone in a maroon jumper in the Panthers win over Palm Beach Currumbin Saturday.
It might not have been his highest possession game, but he did exactly what the team asked of him.
“In terms of the role that I’m usually given, I was pretty happy with how I went. In the end we got the job done, I probably didn’t get as much of the footy as usual, but gave a lot of defensive efforts,” Threapleton said.
And while it was tight, especially late, he was always confident.
“Even though they were up a couple of goals, I still felt like we had a lot left in us. We had control of most of the game, there was just a five minutes lapse that let them in, but I definitely didn’t think we were out of it. In the end we were able to overcome them. Some of the leaders in the team, Sam Brown and Matt Logan stood up and that’s what’s really carried us over the line,” he said.
2016 already looks set to be Threapleton’s break out season. He got a taste last year, but is making it his own now
“After playing two games last year, struggling a little bit with injuries, but having a good pre-season, I’m happy with how everything is going. I’ve still got a long way to go, a lot of development ahead, but I’m feeling much more at home than I have in the past,” he said.
He credits that feeling of belonging to one person in particular.
“Alastair Nash has been really good for me so far. In the three pre-season games, and the two home and away games, he has come up to me at the start of each game, given me direction, and really made me feel a part of the team. He is really encouraging of me,” Threapelton said.
At 2-0, he says the vibe is good at Morningisde at the moment.
“It’s really positive. Everyone is really enjoying it at the moment. Everyone is getting around Matt Walder, the new coach, he is a great person and everyone relates to him really well; he is a great coach,” he said.
For Threapelton, this year is about keeping his ears open as much as it is playing good footy.
“My goal is to play as much senior footy as possible, and to learn off the more experienced guys in the group. Guys like Alastair Nash and Lachie Russ, to learn as much off them so in the future I can become a leader as well,” he said.
A kid who has just turned 20 can be forgiven for daring to dream, and although his thinks about what could be, he is firmly focused on what is in front of him.
“You’d love to be playing the top level, that’s everyone’s dream, but at the moment it’s just to play as best as I can this week, if I feel like I’m more confident with myself and my game, we can take things from there,” he said.
Morningside travel down to Cooke-Murphy Oval this Sunday, April 17, for the grand final rematch against Labrador at 2:00pm.
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
