Will Sutherland will pursue professional cricket career over AFL

TALENTED youngster Will Sutherland won’t nominate for this year’s AFL Draft, the dual-sport star choosing to pursue cricket ahead of football. READ HIS STATEMENT

Will Sutherland bowls for Australia in an under-19 match. Picture: PATRICK GEE

SUPREMELY-TALENTED youngster Will Sutherland won’t nominate for this year’s AFL Draft, the dual-sport star choosing to pursue cricket ahead of football.

Sutherland on Sunday released a statement saying it had been an “incredibly tough” call but he was choosing bat over football.

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“Most of the advice that I received was to just follow my passion,” Sutherland said.

“That sounds easy enough, but not so much when my passion is for both sports. I really loved my experience in the recent Under 18 National Championships when representing Vic Metro and this only made the decision more difficult.

“When it came down to it, my love and passion for the game of cricket just won out. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed representing my state and country in the under-age ranks and the prospect of potentially being able to continue this at the senior level is very much my dream.”

Will Sutherland playing for Vic Metro. Picture: Stephen Harman

Shaun Graf, general manager of cricket at Cricket Victoria was understandably thrilled.

“We’re pleased Will has made this decision and we look forward to supporting him through the rest of his Year 12 studies and his Cricket Pathway,” he said.

“The full Cricket Victoria squad lists for the upcoming 2017-18 season will be announced following the resolution of an MOU.”

AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said he was pleased Sutherland, considered a top-10 pick should he have pursued an AFL career, had made his decision.

“It is a big dent for the AFL,” Sheehan said on the Nine Network.

“He is a good young man. It was always going to be a choice the game he was more passionate about. He showed us a fair bit in the national Championships.

“At 195(cm) he has the attributes but that’s the choice that we knew would come one day. It is good he made the decision sooner or later.”