NAB League: Top Eastern Ranges prospect Tyler Sonsie opens up on football journey to AFL draft

Eastern product Tyler Sonsie reflects on his whirlwind journey from juniors to chasing the AFL dream, as he firms as one of the top prospects at next week’s draft.

Tyler Sonsie in action for the NAB AFL Academy. Picture: Michael Klein

He’s touted as the Eastern Ranges’ top prospect at this year’s AFL draft.

And it’s not difficult to understand why.

It’s no secret that the possibilities are astronomical at the elite level for first-round draft hopeful Tyler Sonsie should he be snapped up by an AFL club next week.

Just ask Eastern Ranges talent manager, Danny Ryan.

“There’s been a lot of talk around him – he’s a pretty incredible talent coming through,” Ryan said of the 18-year-old midfielder.

“If he has a good pre-season, he could easily slot into Round 1, Round 2 next year at a club, if all things go well over summer.

“He uses the ball unbelievably, the way he sees the game open up, left and right foot, he’s really dangerous. In traffic, he’s very clean to be able to get the ball from the inside to the outside of the contest, and he’s got the ability to roll forward.

“At under-14s interleague he really stood out, and he’s been part of our program since he was about 15. He was a part of the under-16s carnival back then (2019) and he was ranked very highly in the nationals and has really captured the interest of AFL clubs since then.”

Tyler Sonsie in action for the Eastern Ranges in 2019. Picture: Andy Brownbill

They’re traits that have drawn comparisons to Richmond legend Trent Cotchin – a huge rap for an 18-year-old, but a welcome compliment for Sonsie, an avid Tigers supporter.

“Trent Cotchin’s my favourite player – I’ve looked up to him since I was a little kid. To hear that, I love it really,” Sonsie said.

“I’ve spoken to all clubs – most clubs two or three times, some clubs, four. I’ve had a fair bit of interviews and it’s been all right – hopefully I can land at the ‘Tigs’, but we’ll see.”

But it hasn’t been all smooth-sailing for the 181cm, 77kg talent, as with any draft hopeful across the past two years contending with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Season shutdowns, coupled with a knee injury Sonsie suffered mid-season against Sandringham limited the Eastern league product to just five NAB League appearances in 2021, following no football in 2020.

“Obviously the last two years have been pretty shattering, like last year not playing at all,” Sonsie said.

“That was a bit flattening … and I was a bit flat at that time (of the knee injury).”

But he hasn’t wavered in his pursuit for a spot on an AFL list, according to Ryan.

“He got injured halfway through the year with bone-bruising on the knee. Once he was ready to return, COVID came and ended the season,” Ryan said.

“He’s probably only played five games of footy in two years – it’s been an incredibly frustrating period for Tyler, but he’s been working really hard … he’s in the gym doing a lot of strength and conditioning and trying to get himself in the best nick he can.”

Despite the limited run this year, Sonsie certainly turned a few heads – especially at state level, taking in the highs of an appearance for Box Hill where he gathered 24 disposals and kicked two goals – no mean feat for a teenager.

He also spent a week at Hawthorn through the AFL Academy program, which he believes was an invaluable experience.

“It (the VFL match) was a good experience – I thought I did all right,” Sonsie said.

“Training with the likes of Tom Mitchell, O’Meara and all (at Hawthorn), and then playing in the VFL team was a good experience and held me in good stead as well – it’s such a professional environment unreal to be in.”

Football has meant more than chasing the AFL dream for Sonsie, however.

He’s played alongside close mates and fellow Ranges draft prospects Jake Soligo and Tyreece Leiu at local level since under-13s and in the NAB League system from under-16 level.

The trio also donned the ‘Big V’ together for Vic Metro at under-16 level, combining in the midfield on the way to claiming the championship in an undefeated tournament.

Sonsie was named Vic Metro’s MVP.

Sonsie played an integral role in Vic Metro’s 2019 championship. Picture: Getty Images

He played the majority of his junior career with Lysterfield, after stints with Scoresby and Rowville.

This season, he was aligned to Rowville’s senior side in the Eastern league’s Premier Division.

“I was at Lysterfield for the last five years of my juniors. We were lucky enough to win a flag in the under-15s and then finish in the 17s playing with my best mates Jake Soligo, Tyreece Leiu and (Dandenong Stingray) Connor MacDonald as well so I loved juniors at Lysterfield,” Sonsie said.

“They’ve been my best mates since about under-13s since we’ve been playing together at local level, then at Eastern at ‘16s we formed a connection there and Metro as well.

“It’s unreal. All our families are close as well – it feels good to be around your best mates and hopefully all of us end up at a club.”

There’s no doubt for Ryan that Sonsie is one of the most talented prospects in the draft pool.

“If he had a clear run at it in the last two years, you’re probably looking at anywhere in the top 10,” he said.

“You’d like to hope he’s a first-rounder, late teens, early 20s potentially. But what transpires might be completely different, but I’d like to think that’s where he’d fit.”

And the occasion certainly isn’t lost on Sonsie.

“There’s a fair bit going through my mind at the moment, probably overthinking, but nervous and excited at the same time,” he said.