Roo boy: Adam Tomlinson joins North Melbourne’s VFL team
Adam Tomlinson is the latest former AFL player to join the ranks of the VFL, linking with North Melbourne as a marquee recruit for the club and competition.
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He was linked with an SSP trial at West Coast Eagles and Gold Coast, and with Collingwood and Sandringham in the VFL.
But Adam Tomlinson has landed at North Melbourne VFL, continuing the influx of former AFL players to the state league since the end of last season.
Tomlinson began training with the VFL Roos last week and took part in match simulation with the AFL squad yesterday at Arden St.
The 31-year-old played 185 games, 140 with GWS and 45 with Melbourne, before being cut by the Demons last October.
He expressed hope he could find his way to a third AFL club but nothing has eventuated.
Tomlinson was a Giants foundation player and crossed to Melbourne in 2020.
An ACL injury in 2021 meant he missed the Demons’ premiership but he played in Casey’s flag in 2022.
Last year he had eight AFL appearances with Melbourne and dominated at VFL level, averaging 24 possessions from nine matches.
It’s been a busy off-season for North Melbourne, bringing in former Gold Coast Sun Darcy Macpherson and his brother Ewan, delisted Saint Olli Hotton, ex-Hawk Jack O’Sullivan, Sandringham’s Oliver Lowe, Sandringham Dragons graduates and premiership players Adrian Cole, Sam Linder and Nathaniel Sulzberger, and Casey Demon Oscar Van Dam.
Matthew Clarkson, the son of North AFL coach Alastair, has switched from Richmond.
The Roos have also latched on to Koroit’s Paddy O’Sullivan, the brother of their high draft pick Finn.
Former AFL players to join the VFL in the off-season include Dyson Heppell (Port Melbourne), Curtis Taylor (Collingwood), Jack Bytel (Coburg), Riley Bonner (Casey Demons), Francis Evans (Carlton), Lachie Gollant (Williamstown), Will Hamill (Frankston), Nathan Kreuger (Geelong), Charlie Lazarro (Port Melbourne), Hewago Paul Oea (Southport), Ethan Phillips (Carlton), Ethan Stanley (Box Hill Hawks) and Tex Wanganeen (Port Melbourne).
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Originally published as Roo boy: Adam Tomlinson joins North Melbourne’s VFL team
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