Tassie draft hopeful has big shoes to fill
There are literally no footy shoes in his home state big enough for gun young ruckman Oliver Dean but, despite that, he is ready to take the big step into the AFL at next month’s draft.
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AFL draft hopeful Oliver Dean literally has big shoes to fill.
The 17-year-old, 201cm ruck’s feet are so large he has to source size 17 footy boots from interstate, then have them stretched at a Launceston shoe shop.
The Devils and North Launceston youngster believes he put his best foot forward after he and fellow Tasmanian Nathaniel Sulzberger (North Hobart) were invited to the State Draft Combine in Melbourne on Sunday.
Participants were put through a range of testing and Dean was happy with his results after improving the pre-season markers he set.
Now he is hoping the shoe fits when recruiters assess his value before next month’s draft.
“I’m a size 17, so it’s pretty tough (to find them),” he said.
“I found a few pairs at the start of the year from a shop in Adelaide. I bring them in and get them stretched in Launceston.
“I’m probably a size 18 in footy boots, because they seem to be a bit smaller. I’ve got real skinny feet too so I can only fit into Asics footy boots.
“I like to say it’s why I can’t run very fast, but I don’t think that’s an excuse.”
Dean, who turns 18 next week, hopes the versatility he’s shown in his handful of TSL games with the Bombers can help him get noticed.
He played four senior games this year after nine in 2023, where he has spent most of his time providing an aerial target up forward.
“Nowadays you need to be able to play ruck and forward,” Dean said.
“There’s not many people who just play in the ruck. Adding that to my game is going to help my chances of being picked up, whether that’s this year or the years to come.
“I’m still learning, apart from at North I haven’t played up forward a heap, so I’m getting used to leading patterns and running patterns.
“Being able to compete when the ball hits the ground when I’m up forward is the next thing to work on.”
Dean has a slender frame and is working hard to stack on as much weight as possible, as quickly as possible.
He was a member of the AFL Academy this season, and the experience of being lead ruck against bigger and more experienced rivals has helped his development.
“I’ve already put on a couple of kilos over the off-season. I’m just eating everything every day, meat and eggs and anything with protein,” he said.
“Being tall obviously helps. It’s a low percentage of kids over 200cm which is pretty handy, but I’ve just got to work on a few things that will help my (draft) chances.
“It’s good training with the best boys from around Australia, and top quality coaches like (former Collingwood star) Tarkyn Lockyer,” he said.
“Playing against VFL sides is a cool experience, I had to change up a few things and have different strategies because they were bigger and stronger than me.
“It’s going to be hard to put on kilos quickly, so I have to find ways to use my strengths against theirs.
“I have to use my run and jump and my athleticism, work them around the ground and see if I can impact in other areas.”
Two Tasmanian AFLW draft aspirants were also selected to attend draft combines.
North Hobart’s Mackenzie Williams participated in the national combine, while Ulverstone’s Lucy Thompson featured in the state combine.
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