Sam Petrevski-Seton ready for the challenge of playing for Carlton after AFL Draft

A SLICK ball-winner with a tough streak, another Giant and the grandson of a Blues legend. Carlton’s 2016 draft night will certainly have fans talking.

Brendon Bolton welcomes Sam Petrevski-Seton to Carlton. Picture: Jonathan Ng

CARLTON’S forward half will get some electricity back.

After losing Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett in recent years, the Blues welcomed a slick ball-winner who has modelled his game on Cyril Rioli with their prized No.6 pick.

Sam Petrevski-Seton has speed, polish and, just like Rioli, a tough tackling streak.

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But his journey to the AFL has been far from straight forward as Petrevski-Seton learnt English only four years ago after moving from his Halls Creek community to further his football.

The 180cm speedster was also a star bull-rider growing up in remote Western Australia, but is now happiest chasing leather of a different kind – the Sherrin.

“No more bull-riding for me,” he smiled. “I had my last ride in 2014, so I’m all footy, now.”

Sam Petrevski-Seton in action for Western Australia during the under-18 national championships.

The Carlton rebuild gathered significant momentum on Friday night adding prolific 175cm onballer Zac Fisher (pick No.27), 196cm tall half-back Harrison Macreadie (No.47), Sandringham midfielder Cameron Polson (No.59), defender Tom Williamson (No.61) and Pat Kerr (No.65).

Kerr is the grandson of Laurie Kerr, one of Carlton’s greatest players.

But Petrevski-Seton will be the Blues’ poster boy. The line breaking midfield-forward has shown elite foot skills on both feet over his junior career but his efficiency took a hit this year as he moved into more of an inside midfield role, and beefed up his contested ball work.

It rounds out an exciting package, with the West Australian averaging 23 possessions, 12 contested possessions and six clearances in the WAFL Colts this season.

List chief Stephen Silvagni said Petrevski-Seton brought something different to the Blues’ midfield mix after loading up on tall draftees Jacob Weitering, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow in last year’s draft.

Sam Petrevski-Seton (far left) has some fun with his fellow top-10 picks. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We haven’t got a lot of his type to be honest, someone who has got outside speed but also likes to tackle,” he said.

“We see him playing through the midfield but also forward, so he is going to be a really good asset for the footy club.”

Petrevski-Seton said Hawthorn premiership hero Rioli has long been his inspiration and Petrevski-Seton can also fill up a highlight reel with his clever goalkicking, evasive sidestep and defensive pressure.

“I grew up watching him play and just his work ethic in the forward line and putting on that forward line pressure,” he said.

“I have modelled my game around him and tackling.

“At the start of the year I put on a fair few kilos and I saw myself as being a contested ball-winner and that all comes with the game.”

Zac Fisher in action during the AFL Draft Combine. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Harrison Macreadie in action for NSW/ACT. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Petrevski-Seton flagged earlier in the year he wanted to join a big Melbourne club and sample life in Victoria.

Recruiters believe the risk of him wanting to return home to WA is minimal.

The underage star said he has adjusted well to the city life in Perth after leaving his remote community, where he loved to hunt and swim with his mates. He also spoke the language Kriol.

There were some significant cultural adjustments back then, but he can’t wait to get started with the Blues.

“Obviously I’ve had the challenge of moving down to Perth and I stayed in Perth for four years to adapt to the city life and I had learn how to speak English,” he said.

“So I thought if I could be at a Victorian club or an interstate club, it would be a new challenge in life for myself. I’m really looking forward to it.

“Carlton is a great club, there’s a lot of history behind the club. I’ll be proud to get there and it will be great to be a part of it.”