VFL move on agenda for draft hopeful

He’s given himself an outside chance of draft selection with a stellar TSL season. And a Tassie AFL gun is helping push Oscar Van Dam’s cause as he eyes a VFL move.

Oscar Van Dam in action for North Launceston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A VFL move looks likely for potential draft bolter Oscar Van Dam, with a Tasmanian AFL star helping push his barrow after an stellar TSL season with North Launceston.

The 19-year-old’s move to the midfield has springboarded the quick, big-bodied midfielder onto AFL team’s radars, with some clubs showing interest after a brilliant start to the year at the Bombers.

It prompted Van Dam, who had previously played half-back or wing before this year, to play a few Coates Talent League games with Tasmanian as an over-ager to stay on the radar.

His name was on the initial draft nominees list released this week, and Van Dam revealed he has received strong VFL interest from Box Hill and Casey.

Van Dam spent time in pre-season training with Casey, coached by former Bombers mentor Taylor Whitford, this year.

Box Hill is led by another former North Launceston coach Zane Littlejohn, but an endorsement from Kangaroos young gun Colby McKercher has also put him on North Melbourne’s radar.

“They asked Colby if there was anyone from down here looking to come over. He gave them my number, they looked at some film and Tom Lynch, Kangaroos coach) contacted me and basically said they’d be keen if I came over,” Van Dam said.

“I’ve been looking at my options to go over. I’ve been talking to a few VFL clubs and if everything stacks up lifestyle wise over there, I probably will go and give it a crack.

“I’ll also pop over and do some training somewhere soon with pre season starting.”

Van Dam has proven he can win his own ball, but also now has the power and speed to get on the outside and be more damaging.

He said the midfield move was first raised by Bombers coach Adrian Smith a couple of years ago when he was an assistant.

Van Dam was a consistent standout in North Launceston’s unbeaten run to the flag.

“I had a few good games at North at the start of the year, and that started to spike some interest from a few (AFL) clubs I think,” Van Dam said.

“Jeromey (Webberley, Devils coach) said I was more than welcome to come back and put my name on the radar more.

“They don’t come to you (to express interest), they go to the coaches like Jeremy and Brad (Cox-Goodyer, former North Launceston coach).

“I was a bit shocked to be honest and I wasn’t expecting it at all, but it’s good to see people were still watching the TSL.”

Van Dam said off-field factors forced him to abort his quest to play VFL with Casey last year.

“At exit meetings last year they said to work on a few things, power and size were big things for me,” he said.

“I went back and had a decent pre season, and made the decision I was going to try and move to the mainland.

“I went there for close to two months in January, that was big for my improvement with how professional it was over there.

“But there was some trouble trying to get a place to live, I was staying at a Airbnb for the whole time I was there. It was a big sum of money being spent and nothing was transpiring with housing, so I had to pull the pin.”

Van Dam is also a strong tackler and prides himself on being a two-way player.

“Being a midfielder these days you have to win the ball on the inside but also spread from the contest. That’s what will hold me in good stead moving into higher level football, being able to do both,” he said.

“I’m quite a defensive minded person, I’ll do whatever I can to win and it’s something I pride myself on.

“Last year at Devils I tried playing midfield a couple of games, but predominantly I was a winger of halfback the last couple of years.

“This year Smithy was big on me transitioning into the midfield. It goes back to 2022, he told me we’re going to try and transition you into a midfielder because he thought my decision making and poise with the ball was really good.”

North Launceston teammate Oliver Dean and North Hobart product Nathaniel Sulzberger are tipped to be Tasmania’s main hopes this year after they were invited to draft combines.

But Van Dam isn’t giving up hope.

“I’m probably not going to get a chance in the draft this year but you never really know,” he said.

“It only takes one person to give you a shot.”