And if Daniel’s pre-draft camp advice to his sibling is anything to go by, footy fans could be in for another dose of Motlop magic after Saturday’s NAB AFL Draft.
“Daniel told me not to show off,” Steven Motlop said with a laugh.
“He’s always giving me advice and telling me what to do and how to impress the recruiters and coaches. It’s definitely good having him there.
“He was back in Darwin for a few weeks after the season finished, so it was good to catch up with him.”
Motlop, 17, was the youngest invitee to this year’s NAB AFL Draft Camp in Canberra, behind Murray Bushrangers midfielder Dylan McNeil.
But the clever forward didn’t have many opportunities to show off, with a shoulder injury keeping him sidelined for most of the physical testing.
Daniel has since stepped in to fund the surgery on Steven’s shoulder and bolster his chances of being drafted.
And it’s not the first time Daniel has gone into bat for an AFL aspirant.
Last year, he admitted to ‘talking up’ cousin Marlon to the Port Adelaide recruiting staff. Weeks later the fleet-footed half-forward was welcomed to Alberton via pick number 28 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.
Steven Motlop, who tested in the top-24 at the NAB AFL Draft Camp’s repeat sprint test, already stands at 181cm - just 4cm shy of Daniel - but weighs just 68kg.
Their father, Eddie Motlop, believes Steven is more advanced as a player than Daniel was at the same age, but Steven is determined to shape his own AFL career, outside of his older brother’s shadow.
“I’ve watched Daniel and [brother] Shannon play since I was little and it was good to see Marlon out there this year,” Steven Motlop said.
“I suppose I do have some of the same traits as Daniel. Everyone says we’re exactly the same, but I try not to model myself on him.”
Motlop, who is touted as a potential second or third-round draft pick, has been linked to Port Adelaide, but said he would be happy to ‘go anywhere’.
“Obviously, it would be great to play with Daniel and Marlon, but just to get drafted by an AFL club would be a dream come true.”
