Draft hope Ben de Bolfo offers reliable defence, intercept marking, leadership

Versatile defender Ben de Bolfo grew up supporting Carlton and could be exactly what the Blues need. He discusses a whirlwind draft campaign.

Ben de Bolfo grew up supporting Carlton and the young defender might just be exactly what the Blues need.

Capable of locking down his direct opponent and launching counter-attacks from half-back, de Bolfo has been tracked by several clubs ahead of next week’s AFL Draft.

The de Bolfo name is famous at Ikon Park, uncle Tony is the club historian, and Carlton certainly have a need after Liam Jones’ retirement.

The Research junior and Northern Knights graduate hopes his versatility wins him a place on any AFL list.

“I feel like I can do both (defend and attack), I can definitely shutdown with my positioning but offensively that first kick is really important, especially after an interception,” de Bolfo said.

Ben De Bolfo marks over the pack. Picture: Michael Klein

“Somebody who’s able to hit that inside kick quickly, I think I’m pretty good at that.

“I watch a lot of those intercepting half-backs like Darcy Moore and Jeremy McGovern, Liam Jones and Jacob Weitering I watch a lot of at Carlton.

“In lockdown I watched some vision with Jason Davenport, the Vic Metro coach, and he showed me a few things I could work on in terms of using my speed and knowing when it use it.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to come out and show it because we didn’t get another game, I was really excited by it, so next year I think I can become a lot more attacking.”

The 19-year-old impressed this season with the Knights – where he was vice-captain – averaging 15 disposals and four marks in six appearances.

It saw him selected in the Under-23 Young Guns match in May and the Under-19 Vic Metro squad in July and earn an national draft combine invite in September.

“I don’t think anyone really knew me at the start of the year so it felt like a rapid change for me, I only debuted in the NAB League this year,” de Bolfo said.

“I played in the Young Guns game and it continued from there, I got an invite to the Metro trials and getting picked was one of my biggest achievements.

Ben De Bolfo tries to escape his Oakleigh opponent. Picture: Michael Klein

“To be surrounded by 15-20 guys that are going to get drafted is pretty amazing, just learning off them and seeing how they play.”

Lockdowns last year and again this season haven’t hampered his progress, despite a shoulder reconstruction in 2020.

De Bolfo used the time to build his body and work on his endurance, slashing 17 seconds off his 2km time trial last month.

“Lockdown last year was a bit tricky for me because I had the reconstruction, training was a lot harder but I was definitely in the weightroom a lot,” he said.

“The biggest thing I achieved last year was putting on seven or eight kilos on the home gym and then this year I was focusing on the combine and getting my 2km time trial.

“I was able to keep training with Joel Trudgeon but it was pretty tricky in lockdown because I was the only one in my area.

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“I think I went pretty well, my best last year was 6.52 and I ran a 6.35, so I was pretty happy with my result.

“I know some clubs have wanted to see me get that 2km time trial down and see my speed improve, I haven’t been able to show my speed in the 20m sprint but I think I was able to show my work ethic and fitness with that time reduction.”

De Bolfo is one of three Knights half-backs hoping to be drafted, along with Darcy Wilmot and Joel Fitzgerald.

He is expected to be a late to rookie pick with the draft again held over two days this year, beginning November 24.