North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel is the AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 1 following his debut against West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Taken with pick No.3 in the 2022 AFL Draft, the 18-year-old made an impressive start to his career in the Kangaroos’ thrilling five-point win over the Eagles with a game-high 34 disposals, nine marks and 631 metres gained while playing off half-back.
His 34 disposals are the most disposals by a debutant in 32 years and places him third overall for the most disposals recorded by a first-game player behind Greg Williams (38) and Dean Greig (39).
Originally recruited from the Sandringham Dragons as a forward, North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson said the prized draftee looks poised to spend some more time at half-back this season.
"He is a pretty special talent for us," he said.
"We just really lacked some polish in our back half [in the practice match against the Western Bulldogs] ... he did give us a little bit of that class.
"Where he actually settles, we're not too sure but he might be starting at half-back for us next week."
Sheezel played his junior football with AJAX (Australian Jewish Amateur Association), a Jewish football club in the South Metro Junior Football League.
He is the 31st North Melbourne player to receive a Rising Star nomination since the award’s inception.
