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Max Duffy, take a bow.
The Aussie punter has left American sports fans in awe after pulling off an incredible piece of skill to get his team out of trouble.
Duffy, who plays college football for Kentucky, produced what's being described as an "AFL Step" during his side's 23-21 win over North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl.
That play by Max Duffy is one of the coolest things I have ever seen a Punter do
- Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 2, 2021
Max Duffy breaking ankles on punts
- Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) January 2, 2021
I'm really going to miss Max Duffy.
- Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) January 2, 2021
Max duffy a first team all pro punter rn
- Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) January 2, 2021
I hope UK fans are able to reflect back and appreciate just how damn good Max Duffy is. I can argue he's the most consistent Wildcat, and the best punter in school history. With one kick, he can change the aspect of a game. He will be a pro. #BBN
- Josh Mackey (@JMackey1981) January 2, 2021
With his team pinned back in their own half on fourth down, the ball was snapped to Duffy to punt the ball down the other end of the field.
But as he caught the ball, he was immediately met by the onrushing North Carolina State special team.
It looked like his punt was about to be blocked but Duffy sold a slick dummy that left the rapid defender in the dirt.
He then slipped through his blockers and another set of defenders before finally rifling the ball down the field.
It was the sort of move straight out of the Aussie Rules playbook, topped off with a monster kick that AFL great Buddy Franklin would be proud of.
Max Duffy with the "Aussie Step" ..... #BBN pic.twitter.com/GQWUsCP00d
- Bradley Stevenson (@bss1974) January 2, 2021
Aussie-style punt as only @Max__Duffy could execute@taxslayerbowl on @espn https://t.co/FORaU8OQWX pic.twitter.com/0I4KBTyQDi
- Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) January 2, 2021
Duffy himself had a stint with the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL before jetting over to Kentucky to play for the Wildcats - and it seems he hasn't forgotten his roots.
And when his team needed him most, the Aussie was on hand to help out.
"We'd done a bit of homework in the week leading up on one of the guys that came after it. He blocked a fair few punts during the year. The plan was to block him. Apparently we didn't want to do that," Duffy told RSN Breakfast after the game.
"I knew he was going to be coming after it pretty hard and it was just a spur of the moment to go back to the AFL days.
"When I went off to the sideline I was pretty p***ed off to be honest because we didn't do the job that we wanted. But then I got to the sideline and all the guys were going crazy and telling me 'You're going to be on ESPN' and 'That's definitely (SportsCenter) top 10'.
"I was caught off guard because I was more worried about the bad job we'd done with the punt. Since then I've got a fair few messages, which is funny because it's something we seen every weekend in Australia in the AFL."
You just love seeing it.#sellingcandy pic.twitter.com/0qOYKGjSCG
- Mason Cox (@masonsixtencox) January 3, 2021
Duffy is one of the highest-rated punters in college football - and you can see why.
His record numbers with the boot combined with fancy footwork like this mean he's a good chance of getting a phone call from an NFL team come the 2021 Draft in April.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@SECNetwork
Topics: afl, American Football, American football news, College football, NFL, Australia