By David Nagel
Tooradin-Dalmore premiership star James Trezise is now officially on an AFL list after being selected by Richmond at pick 13 in Wednesday night’s 2023 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
The rise to prominence of the stylish 188cm left footer has been swift, with the 20-year-old having played all eight games for Richmond VFL this season.
The Cranbourne local wasn’t even eligible for the draft until a recent rule change relaxed eligibility criteria.
Eligibility was amended to allow players from the WAFL, SANFL, TSL or VFL – who have played a minimum of three matches during the 2023 season by the close of nominations on Wednesday 24 May – to be eligible to nominate.
Previously, only players who nominated for the previous National Draft were eligible in the mid-season intake, with only few exemptions accepted.
Trezise was then part of an exclusive list of 11 Rookie Draft prospects that underwent medical testing by the AFL ahead of the draft…a strong indicator of the players that were on the radar of AFL clubs.
Trezise is an excitement machine who had a huge impact in helping Tooradin-Dalmore break a 25-year premiership drought last year.
The former Casey Grammar and St Francis Xavier student moved to the Seagulls after playing his junior football with Berwick all the way through to 2018.
He followed his junior coach at Berwick, Jason Hill, across to Tooradin for the start of the 2019 season and finished fifth on the league goal-kicking list – with 27 goals – in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) thirds.
He missed his final year of juniors in 2020 to Covid, before playing 10 games in the seniors in the Covid-reduced season of 2021.
He then played all 20 games for the Seagulls as a high-half-forward last year, kicking 26 goals including several spectacular efforts.
He would often run deep into defence and torch his opposition on the way back with his elite speed and endurance.
Trezise, currently studying the last year of a Bachelor of Business Degree, has transformed from an exciting forward to an intercepting half-back for Richmond this year.
In his last five games, against Carlton, Casey Demons, Gold Coast, Geelong and Essendon, he has averaged 19 disposals, six marks and more than four tackles.
Richmond believe he will be able to make a seamless graduation onto the club’s AFL list.
“In such a short amount of time, his dedication to his football has been second to none and consequentially his improvement has been rapid,” a Richmond recruiter said.
“His competitiveness, defensive intent and big vertical power has seen him used across a number of positions in his eight VFL games this season.
“He has predominantly settled as a back, averaging 16 disposals, five marks and five tackles including a 29 disposal, 10 mark game against Geelong in Round 8.
“At only 20 years old with enormous upside, we are incredibly excited to bring James into the club in a full-time capacity, an opportunity he thoroughly deserves.”
West Coast had first pick in the draft and selected Drouin boy Ryan Maric.
Rowville’s Clay Tucker and Wandin’s Caleb Poulter were also picked.
DRAFT SELECTIONS
Pick 1: Ryan Maric (West Coast Eagles)
Pick 2: Robert Hansen Junior (North Melbourne)
Pick 3: Clay Tucker (Hawthorn)
Pick 4: Matt Coulthard (Richmond)
Pick 5: Pass (GWS)
Pick 6: Harry Arnold (Sydney)
Pick 7: Mitch Hardie (Geelong)
Pick 8: Ethan Stanley (Fremantle)
Pick 9: Jaiden Hunter (Essendon)
Pick 10: Caleb Poulter (Western Bulldogs)
Pick 11: Quinton Narkle (Port Adelaide)
Pick 12: Brandon Ryan (Hawthorn)
Pick 13: Jimmy Trezise (Richmond)
Pick 14: Pass (GWS)
Pick 15: Jack Buller (Sydney)
