Kuwarna forward Darcy Fogarty says his elevation to the leadership group has helped him become “more present” on the field in 2024.

In his seventh season, the 24-year-old said entering the leadership was a natural “next step” in his career, as he continued to cement himself as a key pillar of the Club’s forward line. 

Speaking to AFC Media, Fogarty said he has enjoyed the extra responsibility and the influence it has had on his own game.

“I’ve really enjoyed taking on the new role, it felt like it was the next step for my career, and I’ve already gained so much from the experience of being in the leadership group,” Fogarty said. 

“Focusing on a different side of the game has been really refreshing for me, it takes my mind off my own game a bit, and I’ve got a much more holistic approach now.

“So even if the goals are drying up for me, I won’t stew over it as much, rather I’ll be looking at ways to help us improve as a collective team and focus on what I can do to help us improve. 

“It has helped me bring myself out of my own head, and allowed me to be a lot more present out on the field, as I look to help lift all the guys around me.” 

Fogarty has produced some solid form across the past few weeks, with his four-goal performance against Brisbane last week encapsulating his upward trajectory. 

He said that while it is nice to hit the scoreboard, it is what he does around the ground that has the biggest influence on the team. 

“My form is slowly getting better, it’s been very similar to how the team has gone,” Fogarty said. 

“The main thing for me is being able to do it each week and keep competing, the goals don’t worry me too much, it’s more the score involvements and how I’m making others better. 

“I’m starting to stick my marks a bit more now, which has been the biggest thing for me, as it has an impact on everyone around.

“If I can continue to do that (make others better) and play my role, I’ll be happy, regardless if the goals come or not.” 

Similarly to his own form, the Club’s forward line has improved as the season has progressed, with the team averaging 95.25 points per game over the past four weeks. 

“At the start of the year as a forwards group I think we were trying to do too much on our own, we weren’t playing well, so when the ball came I think we were all trying so hard to have an impact, which can have a negative effect,” Fogarty said. 

“I feel now things are definitely starting to turn, we are sharing the ball much better and things have come a lot easier to us as a group. 

“We certainly know we aren’t a finished product, but over the last few weeks things have certainly started to move in the right direction for us.”

That improvement will be put to the test this weekend, as Kuwarna faces reigning premier Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. 

Having fallen to the Magpies by a combined three points in their two meetings last season, Fogarty said the squad was confident it had what it took to find itself on the right side of the result this time around.

“It’s going to be good, we don’t get on the ‘G too often, so to get the chance to go over there and play an in-form Collingwood side is a great opportunity for us,” Fogarty said. 

“Our last few matches against them have been really tight, we know we match up well against them, so the challenge will be to bring our best brand of footy this weekend.

“We go into this game super motivated to turn those couple of recent close losses against them our way.”  

Kuwarna faces Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, with the first bounce at 1.15pm (ACST).