Sheezel Returns to his Junior Roots

FORMER AJAX junior, number 3 AFL draft pick, and rising North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel was keen to revisit his footy roots, so he reserved some time in the week leading up to playing for the Kangaroos against the Melbourne Demons last Sunday, to attend an afternoon AJAX Junior Footy Club training session, and the 2023 Jewish Schools Cup.

The latter event, held at Princes Park, South Caulfield, on Thursday, August 3, was presented by the AFL and the St Kilda Football Club, and saw year 5 and 6 students from seven of Melbourne’s Jewish schools take part in AFL 9s round robin games, in which talent and fair play were on full display.

Sheezel, who in 2016 won an Jewish Schools Cup championship playing for Mount Scopus College’s boys’ team, was all smiles as he met many of the teams playing in the 2023 edition, and posed in photos and selfies.

The students were thrilled by his presence, and chants of “Sheezel, Sheezel” could be heard right across Princes Park’s ovals.

They were also treated with cool AFL giveaways to take home, and prizes for boys and girls playing in the tournament were signed St Kilda Saints jerseys.

Ultimately, after the two grand finals, the winning girls’ team was Bialik College, and the boys’ was King David School.

The Jewish Schools Cup, now in its ninth year, was established to provide students across Melbourne’s Jewish schools with the opportunity to play Aussie Rules football for their schools in a fun, yet competitive, one-day tournament.

Sheezel backed up by dropping into an AJAX Junior Footy Club late afternoon training session, enthusiastically joining U8, U9, and U11 AJAX boys’ Sharks players in kicking, handball and running drills, and signing autographs.

Credit: AJN