Harry Sheezel

Harry Sheezel
Personal information
Full name	Harry Sheezel
Nickname(s)	Sheez
Date of birth	(2004-10-13) 13 October 2004 (age 19)
Original team(s)	AJAX, Sandringham Dragons
Draft	No. 3, 2022 national draft
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s)	Medium Defender
Club information
Current club	North Melbourne
Number	3
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2023–	North Melbourne	25 (3)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 2, 2024.
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star: 2023 Syd Barker Medal: 2023 AFLPA Best First Year Player: 2023 22under22 team: 2023
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Harry Sheezel is an Australian rules footballer who was selected with the third selection in the 2022 AFL draft by North Melbourne. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Personal life

Sheezel became the first Jewish player drafted into the AFL since 1999 with North Melbourne's third overall pick at the 2022 NAB AFL Draft. ^[1] Sheezel was the subject of antisemitic online abuse on social media after The Age published coverage of Sheezel and his predicted selection. ^{[3] [5]} Radio host Neil Mitchell called on the AFL to condemn the comments. ^[6] Sheezel went to school and graduated from Mount Scopus Memorial College. He is involved in the Jewish community.

Football career

Sheezel’s youth career started at AJAX Football Club; he then moved to Sandringham Dragons for the final year of his youth career. He currently represents North Melbourne in the AFL. Sheezel plays as a medium forward and has been described as a "competitive, skilful, agile, clean, and driven" player. ^[7] He considers himself "composed" and a "good decision-maker [with] good skills" with good goal sense. ^[7]

He was named in the Under-18 All-Australian team after kicking eight goals and averaging 15 disposals from four national championships. ^[7] 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. ^[7]

2023

Sheezel made his debut in Round 1 against West Coast Eagles. His 34-disposal game saw him win the Round 1 nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award. ^[8] Following this, Sheezel signed a 2-year contract extension. ^[9] In Round 5 against the Brisbane Lions, Sheezel kicked his first career goal from 50 metres out.

Sheezel won the 2023 AFL Rising Star award, after an outstanding season. He polled 54 out of a possible 55 votes.

References

1. Jaeger, Carla (26 November 2022). "History making: Harry Sheezel shapes as the first Jewish AFL draftee this century". The Age. 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. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
3. Jaeger, Carla (28 November 2022). "'Revolting': Young AFL draft hopeful subjected to antisemitic online abuse". The Age. 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 . Retrieved 28 November 2022.
5. Leonard, Owen (28 November 2022). "AFL Draft 2022: Harry Sheezel subjected to anti-Semitic abuse on social media". The Herald Sun . Retrieved 28 November 2022.
6. Mitchell, Neil (27 November 2022). "Neil Mitchell calls on AFL to condemn disgusting comments about Jewish draft prospect". 3AW . Retrieved 28 November 2022.
7. 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. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
8. "Sheez, he's good: Roos young gun snags Rising Star nom". AFL. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
9. "North extends Sheezel contract; Goodwin bans Demons from bumping". The Age. Retrieved 21 March 2023.