AFL: Western Bulldogs recruit James O’Donnell’s transformation stimulates interest in cricketers

James O’Donnell’s code success swap has stimulated club interest in cricketers, so could clubs push harder to poach the apparent future captain of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield team?

James O'Donnell of the Bulldogs celebrates during the 2023 AFL Round 09 match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

James O’Donnell’s 35-day transformation from Essendon District fast bowler to AFL debutant has stimulated interest in recruiting cricketers – but three Victorian young guns have dismissed approaches … for now.

Wil Parker, Will Sutherland and Zak Evans have had multiple clubs make recent inquiries and while phone calls for Evans and Sutherland in particular have been an annual event, the O’Donnell factor has clubs thinking harder about cricketers they could poach.

Western Bulldogs signed O’Donnell as a Category B rookie on April 6 and he made his debut last Saturday night after playing just three VFL games.

Coach Luke Beveridge said the 197cm forward had some “really good moments” against Carlton and also featured in the clash against Adelaide on Saturday.

James O'Donnell. Picture: Getty Images

Sutherland was touted as a top-10 draft pick in 2017 before committing to cricket, and about 5-10 AFL clubs have repeatedly attempted to lure him back ever since.

But Sutherland, 23, is viewed as Victorian captain Peter Handscomb’s likely successor and a future Test all-rounder.

He was last season’s leading Sheffield Shield wicket-taker, captained the Vics to four wins and won the Bill Lawry medal as their best player.

Evans, 23, and Parker, 20, have also told AFL clubs recently that they are all-in on their cricketing dreams but their careers are less certain.

After finding O’Donnell it’s understood the Dogs were one of several clubs who asked about Parker, who is the nephew of Port Adelaide’s recruiting manager Geoff Parker.

Clubs reference the tough half back’s 2019 NAB League grand final performance when assessing his talent.

Wil Parker. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Parker was Eastern’s best player in a big defeat on the day Matthew Rowell cemented himself as the No. 1 pick with 44 disposals, 12 clearances, nine tackles, two goals and 244 ranking points.

Parker collected a team-high 27 disposals, 10 intercepts and 112 ranking points and was tracking towards being a strong draft chance in 2020.

But Parker became Victoria’s fourth-youngest first-class debutant in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG that summer and then Covid hit, making it an easy decision to pursue cricket because he already had a contract and the footy season was cancelled.

Parker has a Victorian contract for next summer and after the departures of Jon Holland and Tom O’Connell he has the chance to crack the Sheffield Shield team alongside No. 1 spinner Todd Murphy.

Parker was overlooked for Victoria’s Second XI at stages last season and the pressure will be on after Cricket Victoria delisted youngsters Mackenzie Harvey, Brody Couch and planned on downgrading Jake Fraser-McGurk to a rookie before South Australia swooped.

Evans, 23, also lost his Victorian contract but is heading to Essex next week to play club cricket and is still hopeful of getting Sheffield Shield games.

The fast bowler didn’t play until February last season, which was wrecked by a pectoral injury.

Evans was contracted to Cricket Victoria as a schoolboy but it allowed him to play for Xavier, where the halfback was seen as being draftable in the 30-40 range before he stopped playing football.

While Sutherland is unlikely to ever answer an AFL club’s call there could be a change of heart for Parker and Evans if their cricketing careers don’t kick on next year.