Harry Sheezel

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Harry Sheezel
Harry Sheezel 100822.png
Sheezel in August 2022
Personal information
Full name Harry Sheezel
Nickname(s) Sheez, Cheezel
Date of birth (2004-10-13) 13 October 2004 (age 20)
Original team(s) AJAX, Sandringham Dragons
Draft No. 3, 2022 national draft
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club North Melbourne
Number 3
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2023– North Melbourne 67 (25)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2025 season.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Harry Sheezel (born 13 October 2004) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for North Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected with the third pick in the 2022 AFL draft. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Early life

Sheezel is Jewish. He attended Mount Scopus Memorial College, one of the country's leading Jewish schools, where he learnt to speak Hebrew. [5]

Sheezel played as a junior at AJAX Football Club and for the Sandringham Dragons.[ citation needed ] He was named in the Under-18 All-Australian team after kicking eight goals and averaging 15 disposals from four national championships. [6] He also finished with the 36 goals in the 2022 NAB league season, the most in the league, including four or more in a game five times. [6]

AFL career

Sheezel became the first Jewish player drafted into the AFL since 1999 when North Melbourne selected him third overall in the 2022 AFL draft. [1] He was the subject of antisemitic online abuse on social media after The Age published coverage of Sheezel and his predicted selection. [3] [7] Radio host Neil Mitchell called on the AFL to condemn the comments. [8] He entered the AFL as a medium forward and had been described as a "competitive, skilful, agile, clean, and driven" player. [6]

Sheezel made his AFL debut in round 1 of the 2023 season against the West Coast Eagles. His 34-disposal game saw him earn nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award. [9] Following his debut, Sheezel signed a two-year contract extension with North Melbourne. [10] Sheezel won the 2023 AFL Rising Star Award, polling 54 out of a possible 55 votes. [11]

Sheezel also won the Syd Barker Medal, North Melbourne's Best and Fairest award, in his first season in the AFL, [12] becoming the first player since 1986 to win an AFL Best and Fairest award in their first season, excluding expansion teams. [13]

In the penultimate round of the 2025 AFL season against Richmond at Bellerive Oval, Sheezel equaled the record for the most disposals in a game in VFL/AFL history with 54. [14] Sheezel won his second Best and Fairest award in 2025, tying with Tristan Xerri as joint winners. [15]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2025 season. [16]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2023 North Melbourne 32336357265622125670.10.315.511.527.05.42.93
2024 North Melbourne 321141330296626133800.70.115.714.129.86.33.815
2025 North Melbourne 323812341333674133990.30.514.814.429.35.74.30
Career672519102889419223912460.30.215.313.328.65.83.618

References

  1. 1 2 Jaeger, Carla (26 November 2022). "History making: Harry Sheezel shapes as the first Jewish AFL draftee this century". The Age. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  2. ↑ Geleit, Lachlan (23 November 2022). "Top-five draft prospect would "love to be a Bomber", excited for meeting with Brad Scott". www.sen.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 Jaeger, Carla (28 November 2022). "'Revolting': Young AFL draft hopeful subjected to antisemitic online abuse". The Age. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Atkinson, Cody (27 November 2022). "How the data is predicting which player will end up at your club in the AFL Draft". ABC News . Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "The top-10 prospect hoping to inspire Jewish community". afl.com.au. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Ben, Waterworth (21 October 2022). "North appears to have set their sights on Harry Sheezel - a freak forward who ticks all the boxes. This is why". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Leonard, Owen (28 November 2022). "AFL Draft 2022: Harry Sheezel subjected to anti-Semitic abuse on social media". The Herald Sun . Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Mitchell, Neil (27 November 2022). "Neil Mitchell calls on AFL to condemn disgusting comments about Jewish draft prospect". 3AW . Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Sheez, he's good: Roos young gun snags Rising Star nom". AFL. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "North extends Sheezel contract; Goodwin bans Demons from bumping". The Age. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "FULL VOTES: North young gun named Rising Star for 2023". AFL Media. 30 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Sheezel wins 2023 Syd Barker Medal". North Melbourne Football Club. 16 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Super Sheezel joins rare air with incredible club honour in dream debut season". Fox Sports (Australia). 17 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Sheezel equals all-time disposal record as Roos cruise past Tigers". afl.com.au. 17 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Young gun, star ruck tie for Syd Barker Medal". AFL Media. 13 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "AFL Tables - Harry Sheezel - Stats - Statistics". afltables.com. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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