WILL Sutherland has taken up the AFL's offer of training with the Vic Metro under-18 squad as the talented sportsman moves closer to making a decision on whether to pursue cricket or football career.
Sutherland, who some scouts believe could be the best tall in this year's draft pool should he choose to follow the AFL pathway, is the captain of the under-19 Australian cricket team and considered one of the country's most exciting prospects in that field.
However, the AFL has approached the 17-year-old in recent weeks about his interest in football and on Tuesday night he took the opportunity to train with Vic Metro at Ikon Park. It is unclear if he will continue to train with the squad.
The League has been careful not to place any pressure on Sutherland, who is the son of Cricket Australia's chief executive officer James Sutherland. Sutherland's mother Heidi is on the board of AFL Victoria.
They extended an invitation to train with the state's representative squad and he remains a chance to play in the upcoming NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, which begin next month.
Sutherland would be able to play in the national carnival despite not playing at TAC Cup level with the Sandringham Dragons.
His form at school level for Scotch College has caught the attention of AFL clubs, with many scouts at his games in recent weeks to catch a glimpse of him in action.
Sutherland is an athletic tall forward who marks well above his head, can move well around the ground and is a skillful kick. He has also shown he can play in a midfield role.
He isn't the only promising sportsman at APS level in Victoria who faces making a choice between the competing sports, with Victorian under-19 cricketer Nathan Murphy last week kicking seven goals for Brighton Grammar in its win over Geelong Grammar.
Murphy spent some time playing against Jarrod Brander, another elite dual sportsman who bowled at 130km/hour before focusing on his football career. Murphy was asked to train with the Dragons' TAC Cup side over summer but didn't pursue it strongly.
Neither player was named in Vic Metro's 47-man squad for the championships, which was released this week, but players can be added in compelling circumstances.
Metro, which won last year's division one title, will start its carnival in round two of the championships against Western Australia at Domain Stadium on June 18.