AFL Draft Watch: Tyrone Leonardis

NORTHERN Knights defender Tyrone Leonardis has put himself in the frame to be snapped up by an AFL club after an impressive final year of underage football.

TAC Cup: Northern Knights (white) V Eastern Ranges (blue) at Preston City Oval. Knights' Tyrone Leonardis. Photo taken on the 12th of July, 2015. Photo Christopher Chan

TYRONE Leonardis tried all sorts of sports as a youngster. From football to basketball and soccer to tennis, he enjoyed them all.

But he eyed a berth at the top level in football, and his long-time dream could become reality later this month.

The 182cm Northern Knights defender has met with 11 clubs ahead of the AFL National Draft on November 24 after producing an impressive final year of underage football.

A late bloomer, Leonardis was cut from the TAC Cup club’s under-16 squad but impressed during the 2014 pre-season and played eight games as a bottom-age player in the under-18s.

The 18-year-old went on to produce a blistering start to 2015, drawing the attention of Vic Metro selectors who added him to their squad for the Under-18 National Championships.

He played in five of Vic Metro’s six matches, averaging 14 disposals and four marks, before returning to the Knights for the remainder of the TAC Cup season.

In all, it was a year in which Leonardis feels he could not have given much more.

“I’m pretty happy with my year,” he said.

“It’s been pretty consistent. I had a good first couple of games of the season and got invited down to Metro and then I had a good carnival.

“My confidence has grown a lot. Coming off a half-back flank, my speed and my agility has got much better and my kicking has as well. I’ve got more confident at kicking long whereas I always used to kick short.

“My whole ball game has improved because my confidence has improved.”

There could be a reason Leonardis was a late bloomer. The Bundoora resident was also a late starter to football, having taken up the sport at under-11s.

He played juniors with Bundoora and St Damians before finding his way to the Knights and, while listed with North Heidelberg this year, did not play a game for the Bulldogs.

The Knights’ campaign ended in late August, but he has not had much of a chance to enjoy a break during the post-season.

Leonardis attended the National Draft Combine early last month where he placed equal second in the clean hands and goalkicking tests while posting a 13.11 beep and ranking in the top 46 per cent of players tested in the repeat sprints test.

There have also been several weights and fitness training sessions as Leonardis prepares to, he hopes, take part in an AFL pre-season.

His Judgment Day is now just a fortnight away.

“It’s been my dream since I was a little kid, to play AFL,” the Collingwood supporter said.

“I’m getting excited but nervous as well because I don’t know what’s going to happen on draft day.

“I could be moving interstate or I could not even get picked. You never know what’s going to happen. But, hopefully, my name does get called out on the day and it all starts from there.”