AFL Draft 2023: Harry DeMattia on running drinks on Boxing Day, chat with David Warner and choosing footy over cricket
Harry DeMattia was out on the MCG on Boxing Day last year. In 2024, he could be playing AFL at the venue. He discusses his rare experience, including a lengthy chat with a big name Aussie.
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As Harry DeMattia reflected on his impressive draft year ahead of combine testing, he peered across the MCG that was being prepped for the upcoming cricket season.
It was a sight he was all too familiar with.
Just 10 months ago DeMattia had the experience of a lifetime on the hallowed turf, running the drinks for the Australian Test side on Boxing Day against South Africa.
At that point the enormously talented dual sportsman, who was part of the Australian U19 and Victorian U19 squads, still hadn’t made his mind up on whether he would choose cricket or footy.
“It was a pretty special moment, I was lucky enough to get the call from the team manager back in South Australia when I was at nationals for cricket and got to train with them on Christmas Eve which was pretty eye-opening to see how they prepare – not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well,” DeMattia said.
“I was lucky enough on Boxing Day to run drinks and we were fortunate enough to get them all out and batted so it was good to see a bit of both as well which was pretty cool. It was great the crowd was pretty surreal, it was something I’d dreamed of.
“In the rooms and when they were batting I had to go into the rooms and grab bats and when we were bowling shoes and towels and that type of stuff. It was good to see how they handle the pressure and stress I guess as well with the whole world watching them was pretty cool and some things I can take into my own game.”
BRUSH WITH FAME
The behind-the-scenes opportunity gave DeMattia the chance to have fielding practice in the lead-up to the Test with those just outside the XI like emerging quick Lance Morris and be a fly on the wall in the Australian dressing room.
But perhaps the best part of the experience was a lengthy chat with David Warner ahead of his 100th Test.
At that point the ageing superstar was under immense pressure with critics calling for his head.
But despite all this, the opener gave the boy from Edithvale all the time in the world. Warner would go on to silence the doubters by plundering a stunning double-century against the Proteas days later.
“I had a conversation with Dave Warner for about an hour, just spoke after training,” DeMattia recalls.
“Just spoke about how he’s handled it for so long and talking life as well as cricket.
“That was a pretty good experience to see how he goes about it and how he handles everything. And obviously got to have lunch, the breaks and all the tea breaks on the day and chat to (the players). It’s just like how you’d thought it’d be, it was pretty cool.
“I think it is a testament to him as a person as well, being selfless for the next generation coming through as an athlete. Not just cricket but as a person as an athlete he has been put in so many situations in his life and he knows how to handle it well.
“Just to pick his brain a bit was once in a lifetime type of thing.”
FOOTY OR CRICKET?
It is a decision that DeMattia knew he would have to make eventually.
Performing at an elite level at both sports, the call ultimately came down to which he loved more.
When the consummate professional was named captain of the Dandenong Stingrays side, DeMattia opted to give footy his undivided attention and chose the Sherrin over the Kookaburra.
“I’ve always enjoyed my footy that little bit more and I missed it, over lockdown obviously those couple of years of footy so it was a really good opportunity I got and it just took over,” DeMattia said.
“I guess it just came down to where my heart lied and that was footy. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“It’s my draft year this year and it was the really good crack at this year and I’ve still got a couple of years at under-19s in cricket as well and that was in the back of my mind – this is my really good shot at it.”
It is a move that has paid dividends. DeMattia has shone throughout the season for the Stingrays and Vic Country, with his lightning speed, ball-use, leadership and versatility – playing in virtually every position on the ground this season – standing out.
The 185cm utility’s well-rounded game could see him taken as high as the first round, but there will always be a back-up plan if things don’t quite work out — whenever that might be.
“I’ll cross that bridge if it comes to it after the draft,” DeMattia said.
“I’ve kind of just been focused on that at the moment and put everything in the basket with footy, but Cricket Victoria have been very good and that door is always open – no matter how many years to come – if things don’t go to plan with footy.”
Coincidentally, DeMattia crossed paths with cricket convert James O’Donnell – who made his debut for the Western Bulldogs after joining them as a Category B rookie at the beginning of the year – in his first Premier Cricket match.
The pair may bump into each other again on the footy field in 2024.
“I was 15, he opened the bowling and I opened the batting. Funnily enough now he is on an AFL list and hopefully I’ll be, yeah that’s just the way the world works,” DeMattia chuckled
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OOZING LEADERSHIP
Despite his obvious gifts with the blade and footy in hand, DeMattia’s greatest gift might be his leadership.
Clubs have been blown away by DeMattia’s professionalism, with one side remarking that DeMattia recorded one of the best psychological test results that they had ever seen.
DeMattia led both Vic Country and Dandenong Stingrays as captain this year which helped ease the pressure on his on-field performance, and a leadership role beckons for him at the next level.
Being in a high-performance environment across two sports across his junior career has no doubt had a significant influence – along with words of advice from people like Warner.
“I’ve always loved both sports and I wouldn’t be in the position I was without cricket as well with my football with just the mental side of the game and being able to adapt in the middle and the pressures and stuff,” DeMattia said.
“At the start of the year I sat down with (Nick Cox) my coach and just spoke about a couple of words – impact and consistency around the ground.
“And that not just goes with me with my disposal and my impact and all that type of stuff but also as a leader how I can impact and get the best out of everyone at the program.
“It’s a development program, how I can develop them as people as well.
“I feel like that took the pressures off everything else by putting my attention towards others and helping them obviously releases good endorphins and you feel really good about yourself when you’re helping out other people as well and I guess it just takes your mind off it at all.”
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