AFL: Sheezel to accept more responsibility after Rising Star nod

Rising Star winner Harry Sheezel wants to emulate All-Australian Nick Daicos’ sublime second year in the AFL, declaring he doesn’t want to be a one-year wonder for the Kangaroos.

After taking out the award for the league’s best young player on Wednesday night, Sheezel said his North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson had been quick to make the comparison to Daicos when he speaking about his plans for the season which involved the teenager playing off half-back.

The output of Daicos, who was the Brownlow Medal favourite before a knee injury ended his home and away season early, became the blueprint for 18-year-old Sheezel this year and will again in 2024.

“Clarko actually mentioned (Daicos) the first time he mentioned moving to halfback, and said, ‘look what he’s done in his first year’,” Sheezel said on Thursday.

“It kind of ended up being pretty similar to his first year, but his second year has been incredible, so if I can go anywhere near that, it would be pretty cool.”

The second year has typically been a tough season for many of the league’s top talents, but Daicos, who won the Rising Star in 2022, defied that to earn his maiden All-Australian selection.

Sheezel isn’t sure whether his on-field role will change next season. but the North Melbourne prodigy says he wants to step up and help leave the backline amid a number of expected personnel changes.

The Kangaroos will be without retired club great Jack Ziebell in defence next season, while free agent Ben McKay looks increasingly likely to depart as several clubs vie for his signature.

Sheezel said Ziebell and Roos co-captain Luke McDonald had been valuable mentors in the back half, and he hoped to use what he had learnt to improve his leadership next season.

“Ziebs was great, he’s played everywhere on the ground, he was really versatile, which is kind of what I see myself being like, a versatile player, and he just gave me a lot of confidence back there to do my thing and play with freedom,” he said.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much, and I’m not too sure where I’ll play or who will be down there, but I’m definitely working on my leadership and trying to drive the group … if that happens, it happens.”

The 18-year-old said he had fallen in love with the role of defensive playmaker, in which he averaged 27 disposals and five rebound 50s.

“I wasn’t really too sure what to expect at the start of the year, but it worked out pretty well in the end,” he said.

“I love the role now, you get a lot of freedom back there and just enjoy it.”

Sheezel said first-year teammate and close friend George Wardlaw would be a big favourite to follow him with the 2024 Rising Star award.

The bullocking midfielder is eligible again despite his nomination this season, as he played less than the maximum 10 games due to injury.

“I was saying that last night, 100 per cent he’ll win it next year.”

Preparing to look on in September, Sheezel said the Demons were his tip for the flag.

“I think Melbourne … they were really good the two times we played them earlier in the year,” he said.

“They smashed us (in round 7) and in Hobart they fought back and got us in the end.”

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