CRICKET has won the battle of the codes for Will Sutherland, with the talented teenager choosing to pursue the sport ahead of what looked a promising AFL career.

The 17-year-old, who has captained Australia's under-19 cricket side, was faced with a difficult decision as his football stocks began to rise this year.

His performances at school level for Scotch College saw him added to Vic Metro's under-18 side and in three games he impressed at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and some recruiters had him pegged as a possible top-five pick at this year's draft.

However, in a blow to clubs searching for a key position talent, the 195cm Sutherland has chosen cricket as his priority and will focus on that sport. His father, James, is Cricket Australia's chief executive.

"This was an incredibly tough decision. Most of the advice that I received was to just follow my passion," Sutherland said in a statement released by his management group Estrella Sports.

"That sounds easy enough, but not so much when my passion is for both sports. I really loved my experience in the recent Under 18 National Championships when representing Vic Metro and this only made the decision more difficult.

"When it came down to it, my love and passion for the game of cricket just won out. I've thoroughly enjoyed representing my state and country in the under-age ranks and the prospect of potentially being able to continue this at the senior level is very much my dream.

"I'm excited and relieved about this decision and will now look to focus on completing my year 12 studies."

AFL officials were informed about Sutherland's choice.

The League's national and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan said the youngster had the tools to make the top level.

"He did show us a fair bit in those national championships games with his performance up forward in that winning Vic Metro side. At 195cm he certainly has the attributes [for an AFL career] but that's the choice that we knew would come one day," Sheehan said on Channel Nine.

"It's good that it's made sooner rather than later."

With invitations set to be sent in coming weeks to draft hopefuls to attend October's NAB AFL Draft Combine, Sutherland's decision needed to be made swiftly after the conclusion of the under-18 championships.