JUST as striking as Irving Mosquito's name is his infectious personality.
One of the most exciting and watchable players in this year's NAB AFL Draft pool, Mosquito has the attitude and the playing style to match a name that is a commentator's dream.
Whether he's playing, training or in team meetings, Mosquito is doing it with a smile. That likeable and knockabout persona is clearly reflected when asked what he likes best about playing footy: "I just like tackling and kicking goals," Mosquito told AFL.com.au.
An incredibly hard worker on the training track, the culmination of those attributes has made Mosquito the perfect teammate for those at Gippsland throughout the season.
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"He gives a lot of energy to the group when he comes in," Power coach Leigh Brown said.
"As soon as he walks through the door at training, there's always a big smile on his face and that's there the whole time. That's week in, week out.
"That's how he is all the time, he's happy and he brings a lot of energy – it's infectious. It really sets the tone for the group."
A livewire 175cm forward, Mosquito's speed and evasiveness helped deliver 14 goals from 14 games – while averaging a tick under 13 disposals – in the TAC Cup this season.
But while he's naturally gifted with ball in hand, it's his work without the footy that has seen him shoot into draft calculations. The youngster's desire to chase and tackle stems from his love of Cyril Rioli, with his coaches praising it as his greatest attribute.
"It's something he wants to do, not chooses to do," Brown said.
"His forward pressure sets up his game and from there the rest of his skillset comes into play. He's a very good kick, he's got really nice hands in the air for a small guy and he's a lovely finisher around goals."
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Mosquito hails from Halls Creek, which is almost 700km inland of Broome in the Kimberly region of Western Australia. He left for Victoria when he was just 11 years old, travelling with guardians Mick and Shane Roberts to Briagolong to further his education.
Developing his footy skills with Gippsland has been a bonus, but it's helped Mosquito adjust his new environment – and the colder climate, though he's still getting used to that.
"Leaving my family was pretty scary for me," Mosquito said.
"Adapting to the new environment, it's pretty hard when you don't speak the language. I only spoke a little bit of English, but not really. And especially with the cold.
"When that cold hit me, I said 'nah, stuff this'."
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If Mosquito isn't quite used to the cooler conditions of Victoria just yet, he might have a few more years to acclimatise.
A member of Hawthorn's Next Generation Academy, he has officially been nominated by the Hawks, enabling them to match any bid on the talented teenager at the draft.
Having trained under Alastair Clarkson and his Hawthorn charges earlier in the year, Mosquito was able to learn from his heroes – even Rioli. Now, he'll be hoping he can help fill the void left by the four-time premiership champion in the near future.
"It just builds confidence, going into that sort of area and that environment," Brown said.
"Hawthorn is a very good football club and obviously Irv is aligned with their Next Generation Academy. It's brilliant for him to go and spend some time there.
"You certainly saw him grow in his confidence, both on and off the field, and that's been really important for him."
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Not only did the experience give Mosquito an indication of what it would take to make it at AFL level, but it gave the youngster a reminder of how close he was to fulfilling his dream.
"That was big for me, I thought 'I could actually be drafted one day'," Mosquito said.
"I'm just really keen now. It would be a big thing for me, coming from my background in Western Australia, to make a name for myself and for my family … it would be really big."
