TALENTED cricketer Will Sutherland has been selected in Vic Metro's squad ahead of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, heightening expectations he will line up in the national carnival.
Sutherland is in the midst of making a decision about his sporting future, with cricket and football both legitimate options to pursue.
The 195cm youngster is the captain of the under-19 Australian cricket team and looks to have a promising future in that field, but the AFL has in recent months shown its interest in the teenager after his impressive run of school football form.
The League recently approached him and offered the tall forward/midfielder the opportunity to train with Vic Metro's squad in the lead up to the national carnival. He took them up on that and has been picked in the 39-player squad, which was released on Wednesday.
It remains unclear when Sutherland may play for Metro, having not trained for as long as his teammates, but it is a positive sign for the AFL. Vic Metro begins its carnival on June 18 and runs through to July 5.
Sutherland is the son of Australia's most senior cricket official, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.
Recruiters who have watched him play at school level for Scotch College in Melbourne believe the athletic and long-kicking prospect could be a top-five pick if he chooses to follow the football pathway.
Some have also suggested he may be the best tall in this year's pool, with some key-position hopefuls dropping down the pecking order as the season has gone on.
Despite not playing in the TAC Cup with the Sandringham Dragons, which has approached him across the past two years to be a part of its program, Sutherland can still play for Metro during the championships.
Metro, which won last year's division one title, is considered favourite to take out the 2017 campaign.
Vic Country released its squad for the carnival this week as well, with 12 Geelong Falcons players in the 41-man list. Two of those Falcons are familiar names, with Cassidy Parish (younger brother of Essendon's Darcy) and Tom McCartin (brother of St Kilda's Paddy) set to feature for Vic Country.
