Player Watch #3: Harry Sheezel - 2023 AFL RS, AFLPA Best First Year Player, 2023 SBM, NMFC Best Young Player - signed thru 2030

[DEVO]

WOW! Two contract extensions within 16 months of drafting, this has to be a league first.

 

[koshari]

oh it be true.

Yep was just waiting on one detail before he signed, now that mupper tt has been moved on its full speed ahead with sheeza.

 

[Cool Kangas]

Hazzzzzzzza

 

[amaz199]

A remarkable person and a remarkable football player.

Here's to 7 seasons of glory for this superstar.

 

[shinboner magic]

He has to be in the leadership group next season - he’s already looked up to by all the players.

So professional and sets a great example on the field - also doesn’t hurt that he’s a gun person.

 

[Farthers]

Rising Star winner set to sign monster extension with Roos

Harry Sheezel is set to sign a long-term extension with the Kangaroos

www.afl.com.au

 

[sruss]

He has to be in the leadership group next season - he’s already looked up to by all the players.

So professional and sets a great example on the field - also doesn’t hurt that he’s a gun person.

He already is

 

[Possession]

He has to be in the leadership group next season - he’s already looked up to by all the players.

So professional and sets a great example on the field - also doesn’t hurt that he’s a gun person.

He already is in the leadership group lol, in his second year. Speaks to his character.

 

[Heaps of fun]

He has to be in the leadership group next season - he’s already looked up to by all the players.

So professional and sets a great example on the field - also doesn’t hurt that he’s a gun person.

Should be captain next year.

 

[Kanga Glory]

NORTH Melbourne is set to lock in Harry Sheezel for the long-term, with the young gun closing in on a mega contract extension to the end of 2030.

The Kangaroos' Rising Star winner signed a two-year contract extension after his brilliant debut last season that saw him tied to the club until the end of 2026.

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However, after his phenomenal first season at AFL level that saw him win the Roos' best and fairest, North Melbourne has been deep in talks to extend that for a further four years.

AFL.com.au can reveal discussions have progressed that will see the 19-year-old signed to the end of 2030, when he will reach free agency at the end of his eighth year.

The commitment from North Melbourne after one season signals its belief in Sheezel as a key member of its rebuild in coming years, with the talented and versatile emerging star joining the Roos' leadership group ahead of his second AFL season.

The benefits of a long-term extension after one season at the top level are for both player and club.


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For Sheezel, it brings extra security through to his free agency eligibility, while for the Roos they lock in one of their brightest players while also giving them flexibility with the contract that can allow them to front-end payments or structure the deal differently through its entirety.

The deal will follow the likes of Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos, Adelaide pair Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo and Fremantle forward Jye Amiss, who last year all extended their contracts through to the end of their eighth season (in 2029) while in their second year in the AFL.

The updated contract will see Sheezel as the longest-contracted Kangaroo, surpassing Nick Larkey

20

Nick Larkey

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.5

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.5

3star

G

1.4

5star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.8

3star

K

4.2

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.8

4star

, who signed last season through to the end of 2029. Only Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton

33

Aaron Naughton

Age

24

Ht

196cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

6.3

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.3

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

0.8

1star

G

0.5

4star

D

12.8

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.0

1star

and Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee

1

Connor Rozee

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.6

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.6

5star

CL

1.0

3star

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.3

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.4

3star

CL

1.6

4star

D

16.4

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

8.4

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

3.4

5star

CL

0.8

3star

(both to 2032) and Sydney's Nick Blakey

22

Nick Blakey

Age

24

Ht

196cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.9

3star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.4

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

7.2

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.2

2star

T

1.2

3star

(2031) have longer contracts in the competition.

Harry Sheezel and Beau McCreery during North Melbourne's game against Collingwood in R11, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos
The Roos' No.3 pick at the 2022 draft became the first player since Port Adelaide's Darren Mead

Darren Mead

Age

53

Ht

193cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

12.8

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

2.2

3star

T

0.6

3star

in 1997 to win a club best and fairest in their debut season after a terrific year off half-back with his skill and poise.

After gathering 34 disposals in round one last year, he finished the season with 622 disposals – breaking the record for the most disposals in a debut VFL/AFL home and away season, and was the runaway winner of the Rising Star award.

 

[Horizons_00]

Best news I have heard in a long time

Absolutely LOVE him, he is 100℅ going to be our sole captain in the future. One of the best players we have ever seen in north colours.

I can't be anymore excited about our future

 

[shinboner magic]

He already is

He already is in the leadership group lol, in his second year. Speaks to his character.

Yeah I stopped reading after I saw Lmacs name

 

[Sillygit]

god damn is that some good mid week news

 

[LB2Snake]

Can't believe we play Port at Blundstone again.

Is this the AFLs doing? Weak as piss

100% it is. A hecking joke.

 

[Hatchy1992]

That's huge! How short are the odds on Kane Cornes criticising his long term contract as he does with every other player who doesn't play for Port?

Oh pretty short. If I were tab I'd be paying $1.10

 

[shinboner magic]

100% it is. A *ing joke.

heck em - we’ll play that little dog here when we’re back up the top with a huge crowd baying for his blood.

 

[koshari]

A remarkable person and a remarkable football player.

Here's to 7 seasons of glory for this superstar.

will see me into retirement

 

[Ashley B]

Great news there’s some loyalty for you.

 

[The Dingrel]

Just signed until 2030.

True story that.

Great use of TT's paycheck, put it to immediate work. Well done North, well done Sheez. Colby to be extended after round 1 you reckon TAO ?

 

[SonofSamsquanch]

A remarkable person and a remarkable football player.

Here's to 7 seasons of glory for this superstar.

Very happy that I recognised his family sitting a couple of rows behind us for R1 last year and gave them a cheerful welcome to North Melbourne. Obviously that would have been taken into account. His Mum looked to be thrilled at Harry getting a game. His Dad was looking really nervous. They were pretty happy by half time though.

Whether he becomes captain or not he has on-field leadership qualities that (IMHO) exceed his actual football skills. By that, I mean, Harry causes the players around him to be better players.

 

[justroyal]

I can’t believe that heck stick is defending Ports signing’s on twitter, but is ridiculing *’s. Surely he comes for us. Says Rozee and Butters are different.

One. F uck *.

Two. Sure, by all reports we are signing a fat slow Daicos for six years. But that’s like chump change for the five years we handed our co-captains.

I hope we sign George up too.

 

[Engimal v3]

Oh you beautiful boy, music to my ******* ears

 

[czero]

I also think that AFL clubs lock in players for too long, not so much because of potential for injury but really a potential for losing the hunger - every case needs to be looked at in isolation.

Our clubs wants stability and is building a new generation. Sheezel being already voted in for leadership does mean that we are not just locking up one person, we are potentially helping lock up a new generation.

I would also suggest that by any metric you look at with Sheezel it just seems very unlikely he will suffer from go easy mode post signing.

So while its a long time, I think its one of those long time contracts that you can feel comfortable with, and in fact is pretty desirable considering we are as a team and what we want over the term of that contract.

 

[Hatchy1992]

Fantastic news!! Fist pumped at the pub when I saw the article on the afl app.

 

[marklovesbeer]

I can’t believe that * stick is defending Ports signing’s on twitter, but is ridiculing *’s. Surely he comes for us. Says Rozee and Butters are different.

One. F uck *.

Two. Sure, by all reports we are signing a fat slow Daicos for six years. But that’s like chump change for the five years we handed our co-captains.

I hope we sign George up too.

Are you talking about Cornes?

He hates the long term contracts.