As a kid, Harry Sheezel knew he was going to try and make the AFL. He’s days away from securing that goal after a stunning season, topping the list of hopefuls at this year’s draft.
When his name is called out, the skilled footy player will not only have made his AFL dream come true, he’ll be making history as the first Jewish player to be drafted this century.
Top-five draft pick Harry Sheezel will make history on Monday as the first Jewish player to be drafted into the AFL this century Credit:Jason South
The 184-centimetre medium forward impressed clubs and talent scouts alike during his draft campaign with his goalkicking talent, playing in the NAB League for premiers Sandringham Dragons this year, where he kicked 36 goals across the season, and in the state league for Vic Metro, where he kicked eight goals.
At the draft on Monday, North Melbourne are likely to secure Sheezel using their second or third pick (the Roos are widely expected to bid on Will Ashcroft at No.1, pushing Sheezel a little further back), securing him as one of a handful of Jewish players to play in the AFL. It’ll also make him the only Jewish player to be drafted into the game since 1999.
Despite not practicing the faith, he sees as exciting his potential to inspire others in the community.
“I’m not religious at all, so it doesn’t affect my daily life. It’s just more of the [Jewish] community that I’ve involved in,” he says.
The last Jewish player to take the field was Ezra Poyas, who was drafted in the late 1990s by Richmond. (Kangaroos ruckman Todd Goldstein, whose father is Jewish, technically doesn’t qualify, as Jewish lineage traditionally comes from the mother’s side).
The Demons overlooked Poyas at the ’99 draft, over concern that the club’s then president, Joseph Gutnick, an Orthodox rabbi, would not permit the club to have a Jewish player playing on the Sabbath (the day of rest observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening each week). At the time, Gutnick denied this, but later admitted it was a conflict with his faith.
Harry Sheezel (left) playing for Vic Metro at the state championship at Marvel Stadium in SeptemberCredit:AFL Photos
Poyas was instead selected by Richmond, and in 2003 was listed as a rookie by the Demons, after Gutnick stepped down.
“I think I can use myself to be a positive role model for kids to hopefully make the AFL more often,” Sheezel said. “The Jewish community loves sport, and they’ve got a lot of good, young, talented footballers coming through.”
Ronnie Lewis, president of the Ajax Seniors Football Club (Sheezel’s local club), said that Australia’s relatively small Jewish population – around 0.4 per cent of the population – is a likely cause of the small number of Jewish players to come through the league.
“We’re not overly tall as a group of people, so typically we don’t produce a lot of ruckman and key midfielders. Maybe that’s counting against us as well,” Lewis says.
Aside from his scoring abilities, Lewis said it’s Sheezel’s knowledge for the game, and sense for where the ball is going that sets him apart.
“[His knowledge] is very special. He’s great in the air, and he’s great on ground. He’ll be very dangerous to defend in the forward line. Overtime, you’ll see him slide probably into the midfield.”
Sheezel likes the idea of chasing perfectionism – something that is, at all times, slightly out of reach.
“That’s the beauty of [footy]. If there was something you could achieve, it wouldn’t make it exciting, it wouldn’t make it different, it wouldn’t make footy was it is,” Sheezel said.
He analyses many players’ style on the field, and takes a keen interest in how they develop their game through their careers. Along with Toby Greene, whose playing style Sheezel has been likened to, the youngster pays particular attention to Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee.
“[Rozee] was a forward early on in his career, and he’s recently moved into the midfield. I’ve tried to see how smoothly he’s done that, and tried to learn from him – and hopefully implement that down the track,” Sheezel said.
He’s a Hawthorn supporter, but perhaps in a sign of Sheezel’s sensibility towards his career, he has been distancing himself as a fan as recruitment to other clubs loomed.
“I’m hoping it’s gonna be North Melbourne. That might change, but [it looks likely] from what I’ve been hearing,” Sheezel said.
