Darcy Fogarty’s footballing talent shone through from a very young age, according to former Lucindale Football Club A Grade coach Sam Logan.

Logan was the Roos’ mentor from 2013-2017 and gave the now Crows leader his country footy A grade debut.

He spoke to AFC Media ahead of Fogarty’s 100th AFL game against the Western Bulldogs this Sunday.

“Darce was training with us during the pre-season that year, he was a big lad and made his debut at just 15,” Logan said.

“When you play a 15-year-old in the (Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League), it’s a big deal, you don’t do it for the sake of it, obviously they need to be around the mark, they have to be of some sort of stature, which Darce had.

“Just his skills and the way he went about it, you could see he was talented, he played like a man not a boy, he didn’t struggle.

“I can remember his first game was against Mundulla at Mundulla and in our competition they had been a strong side but Darce really held his own, playing at full-forward and he kicked a couple of goals.”

Logan said Fogarty’s accuracy with set-shot goal kicking stood out to him back then.

“He just had that natural talent, he was a naturally gifted footballer from day dot,” Logan said.

“He had that size about him and he’s probably one of the better kicks in the AFL for goal at the moment.

“He has that nice action, kicks through the footy.

“From what I remember, Darce was easy going and he took everything in, he just wanted to learn and was always willing to have a bit of fun with the older boys.”

Todd Price, who was Lucindale’s A Grade coach prior to Logan, said Fogarty began training with the Roos’ A Grade side as a 10-year-old.

Price, also Fogarty’s brother-in-law, remembers a “footy mad” youngster with a dream of playing AFL.

“Darce was footy mad, he would always help me set cones up, practise goal kicking and when I would let him train, he would train with the A Grade, even from that young age,” Price said.

“We could tell really early that he was talented.

“He was always kicking the footy and you could just tell even in the early days he had his routine set out and it was going to be a strength of his.”

Fogarty, now 24, was selected by Adelaide with Pick No.12 at the 2017 AFL National Draft.

He made his AFL debut in Round One, 2018, and after solidifying himself as a mainstay in the Crows’ forward line, Fogarty was named in the leadership group ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Price said the family “couldn’t be prouder” of all Fogarty had achieved so far.

“There’s a lot of expectations when you are touted to be a high draft pick and a long way out from his draft he was highlighted to be one,” Price said.

“As a family, we were always confident in his ability but that’s always that bit of concern about the pressure and the weight of expectations.

“For him to get to 100 games and having a really strong year this season, we are immensely proud he has ridden the expectations and the highs and lows.

“We are over the moon to see he is getting rewarded for effort now.”

Price’s daughters Elise, six, and Clementine, three, together with Fogarty’s five-year-old nephew, Chester, will run out with him as mascots this weekend.

“He’s a gentle giant, he’s very loyal to his family,” Price said.

“My two daughters love Uncle Darce.

“He is a jokester, he loves ruffling feathers but in a loving way.”

The Crows will look to celebrate Fogarty’s milestone with a win when they play the Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval this Sunday at 3.40pm.

Tickets available here.