‘It’s all clicked’: VAFA premiership star Jack Polkinghorne joins Carlton VFL
Old Scotch premiership player Jack Polkinghorne is the latest Cardinal to land a VFL contract. And Sandringham and Sydney have made new signings for the 2025 season.
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When Jack Polkinghorne arrived at Carlton VFL, he did exactly what his Old Scotch senior coach, Mark Gnatt, thought he would do.
He hit the ground running.
“He’s an outstanding athlete,’’ Gnatt said of the Blues’ newest signing for 2025.
“I know he ran third in their 2km, with a 5:58, which is outstanding. In his school days he was a very good 800m runner.’’
Polkinghorne, 22, figured in Scotch’s breakthrough premiership in the VAFA last season to earn an invitation to Carlton’s pre-season.
He landed a contract after Christmas, joining a long list of Cardinals on VFL books.
Oliver Badr is also a Blue; Ryan Valentine was at Casey Demons but after the grand final signed at Coburg, where Hugo Bromell, Henry Brown and Rhys Galvin are also contracted; Harry Scott is at Richmond; Sam Grant has crossed from Coburg to Port Melbourne, linking with Harry Stubbings; James Tarrant and Alex Noblet are with North Melbourne; Ned Maginess applied pen to paper at Sandringham; and Mackenzie Allen is a Giant. Little wonder that Gnatt jokingly refers to the “Cardinals Footy Factory’’.
Sellers has signed at Essendon as he trains with the AFL team for an SSP rookie position.
“Beautiful skills, left and right foot, reads the game well, he’s got a good leap on him and can take a grab,’’ was Gnatt’s pen-pic of Polkinghorne.
“We ended up playing him more as a half-forward/wing last year so he was higher up the ground and could use his attributes. He had a really good couple of finals games. He was actually pivotal for us early in the grand final. He’s right in the prime spot with his footy. I think it’s all clicked now. He’s worked out what he needs to do. He’s really good mates with Tyler Sellers and with Tyler having been an on AFL list (North Melbourne), ‘Polks’ is taking his footy to the next step as well.’’
Carlton last week made two other signings, both from the Coates Talent League.
Zac Harding is a ruckman from the Murray Bushrangers and Wodonga Bulldogs, and Taj Logan a midfielder from the Northern Knights.
Harding was a boarder at Ivanhoe Grammar last year and did some training with the Blues.
Logan, from Diamond Creek, was named in the best in six of his 14 matches for the Knights last year.
In other VFL news:
Lorne youngster Ted Middleton has signed with Footscray Bulldogs after playing in his club’s 2024 premiership team under the coaching of former AFL Blue Ed Curnow. Curnow recommended him to the ‘Scray. Middleton, a small forward and midfielder, came through Lorne’s junior teams.
Collingwood is closing in on Williamstown wingman Josh Browne. He played 11 games for the Towners last year after transferring from West Coast Eagles in the WAFL, where he ran third in the best and fairest in 2023.
Frankston is set to strengthen its ruck and forward stocks by signing Dandenong Stingrays graduate Jordan Doherty, who played as a 19-year-old in the Coates Talent League last year.
Castlemaine’s Zac Greeves has joined Sandringham. Greeves went through the Eastern Ranges and was on Collingwood’s VFL list in 2023, playing one game for the Pies. The Zebras have also brought in Josh Hutchings, who was Caulfield Grammarians’ Rising Star in the VAFA last year. “His work ethic is exceptional, for a tall forward he’s one of the best and more accurate kicks for goal that I’ve seen, and he’s got good hands,’’ former Caulfield Grammarians coach Guy “Bluey’’ McKenna said of Hutchings. “
Sydney has recruited former SANFL player Jack Kluske. The 25-year-old spent the past two seasons with Mypolonga in the River Murray league and represented South Australian Country last year. Tom Hitchens and James Tidemann have also been put on the Swans’ VFL list. Tidemann, from North Shore Bombers, played one VFL game for Sydney last year and Hitchens, from Sydney University, turned out for the Swans’ Academy side in the Coates Talent League.
The Casey Demons’ outstanding off-season has continued with the signing of Jesse Craven. From Tooradin-Dalmore, Craven won Gippsland Power’s best and fairest last season as a 19-year-old and also made his VFL debut for the Demons. “He was the first bloke picked in our side last year. Heart and soul, competitive, tough, does everything right,’’ Power talent manager Scotty McDougal told CODE Sports.
Box Hill Hawks have contracted Tom Farrer, who captained the Old Scotch APS team last year. The inside midfielder will have the Cardinals as his home club.
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Originally published as ‘It’s all clicked’: VAFA premiership star Jack Polkinghorne joins Carlton VFL
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