Super start for rising star Sheezel

HARRY Sheezel has always had ambition when it comes to wanting to play Australian Rules Football. As a 10-year-old, he told his father Dean that he dreamed of being an AFL player one day. But not even Harry himself could have foreseen that his senior debut last Saturday would be as “incredible” and “perfect” as it was. After Styles rocked Marvel Stadium, it once again became Harry’s House. The prodigiously talented AJAX Football Club and Sandringham Dragons product showed his class, skills and composure all afternoon, as North Melbourne held on to a five point 12.15 (87) – 12.10 (82) win over the West Coast Eagles. It didn’t take long for his first involvement.

After building his junior career and catching the eye of recruiters as a clever forward, Sheezel lined up in defence and immediately made an impact. He intercepted a ball heading straight for West Coast livewire Liam Ryan in the first 10 seconds of the match. It was the first of his 34 disposals. Sheezel was a constant presence around the ball, on his way to collecting the third most disposals on debut in the history of the VFL and AFL, and the most since 1991. With such a standout performance, Sheezel secured the first Rising Star nomination for 2023, finding that out firsthand from head coach Alastair Clarkson in a team meeting on Monday afternoon. The Kangaroos controlled the contest for most of the match, skipping out to a 33-point lead early in the third quarter, before the Eagles mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter to bridge the gap to single digits on multiple occasions. After a late goal from Eagles captain Luke Shuey trimmed the margin to under a goal with under three minutes left, Sheezel’s composure – along with former captain Jack Ziebell and new captain Luke McDonald – stood tall, delivering Sheezel his first AFL win, and the first win in the new era at the Kangaroos under Clarkson.

Speaking post-game, Sheezel said initially it took some time adjusting to the speed of AFL, but it didn’t take him long to find his feet, and settle in. “It was definitely faster.” Sheezel told The AJN. “It was my first game playing back as well so, the boys around me, Ziebs [Jack Ziebell], L-Mac [Luke McDonald] – boys who have played there for years – told me where to be, gave me the confidence to do my own thing, and made me feel so comfortable out there.” Sheezel only started training in defence after the players returned for pre-season training in the new year. The 18-year-old was trialled down back in the club’s official practice game against the Western Bulldogs two weeks ago. “I loved it, [it gave me] great freedom,” Sheezel said of the role change. “It’s something different … not having someone following you, and stopping you all the time. “I’ve been playing a bit of forward, a bit of back, and I’m sure I’ll be playing both this year, so I’ll keep an open mind to it, and do whatever the coach wants. “I am new to the position, so I’m sure there are a lot of things I didn’t do right, [so I’ll] see what I can improve on.” Sheezel said receiving the news that he would debut early in the week helped settle his nerves, and allowed him adequate preparation.

“Getting all the text messages [last Tuesday night] saying well done got me pretty nervous, but getting told so early helped me settle in, and focus on the week of training. “That made it comfortable going into main training on Thursday, and the captain’s run on Friday. “It was like it was a normal game today … I didn’t get too nervous, and I’d slept well.” Sheezel acknowledged and thanked the Jewish community for the enormous groundswell of support he has received since he entered the AFL system back at the National Draft in November. “The support has been unreal,” he said. “I felt it today, with the crowd. It makes you feel loved.” In among the 21,274 people at Marvel Stadium, AJAX Footy Club jumpers, AJAX players, Israeli flags and “Mazal tov Harry” signs stood out and Sheezel said he saw every one of them. He is now preparing for a Round 2 meeting against Fremantle in Perth this Saturday night. “I just want to focus on my footy. That’s what I’m here to do. But the community is so supportive,” he said. “Seeing so many familiar faces in the crowd just makes me feel like I can just go and do my thing. “If I play badly, I play badly, but they will be there to support me no matter what. That gave me confidence.” To top off his first round Rising Star nomination, the Kangaroos confirmed on Tuesday that Sheezel has signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2026. “I’m really excited to be here as long as possible,” Sheezel said, “because it’s a great club … I love the boys, the whole playing group, and the coaching staff.”

Credit AJN