By Jonty Ralphsmith
Two local boys were last night selected in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
Phillip Island’s Zac Walker was taken by childhood club Western Bulldogs at pick 12, with Gold Coast taking Casey-listed Dingley local Caleb Lewis with their second selection, pick 14.
An athletic, intercepting specialist, Walker’s rise has been rapid; he made his Coates League debut only 59 days prior to the Dogs pouncing on him.
An under-16s Power Gippsland Power representative, Walker missed Gippsland’s list in 2024 after being a train-on player in 2023, with question marks over his kicking necessitating him to toil at local footy before being given an opportunity.
By taking out the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition rising star under the tutelage of former AFL-listed coach Cam Pedersen, he built an irresistible case
The 19-year-old’s first two games for the Power set a high benchmark, taking 10 marks in both clashes to put his name firmly on the map.
“It’s a testament to a kid who wants to work on his craft and get better,” Gippsland coach Rhett McLennan said.
“He never whinged about not making a list, he just asked what he needed to do, and he did it with us and away from us at his home club.
“It’s a great advertisement for persistence and process over goals.”
Walker nominated an 18-month contract so will be with Western Bulldogs until at least the conclusion of 2026.
Having never previously played at VFL level, and given Gippsland’s geographic difficulties cause them to train together only once per week, he’s likely to be a longer-term development player for Luke Beveridge’s squad.
“The god-given stuff and stuff he does well is really tough to teach,” McLennan said.
“His ability to impact and to stop possession chains from the opposition is a natural thing that he’s got.
“He knows how to take the ball at its highest point, he knows how to attack a contest with full energy and the other thing we didn’t see much of this season but he definitely has, is genuine legspeed.
“He’s got his kicking to a stage where it’s good enough to not hold him back.
“It’s still a work in progress but the scope is a lot better.”
The rapid progress took even those within the program by surprise given his limited prior exposure, but his belief and ability to lean on his senior footy experience at Phillip Island put his name on the map quickly.
The region’s rich footballing pedigree, strength of local senior competition and clubs’ willingness to showcase young talent at firsts level is a point-of-difference for Gippslanders.
“I think it’s a huge benefit and the people you have at your disposal at local football clubs who are willing to invest time into people like Zac,” McLennan added.
“I don’t think it should be lost on his story that Cam Pedersen, Beau Vernon, Jamie Taylor and the guys at the Phillip Island Football Club had a massive impact on his development and welfare with the time they put in.
“It’s a really good advertisement for how football clubs can be a really positive environment – if you’re willing to do the work, there’s people there with knowledge willing to put in the time.”
Walker’s selection continues Gippsland’s excellent ability to produce Mid-Season draftees, after Ryan Maric and Tom Hanily across the past two years.
Lewis, meanwhile, was into his second season on Casey’s list when selected, but has played just four games, with his 66 goals for local club Dingley in the Southern Football Netball League proliferating his stocks.
A former Footscray VFL player whose pathways journey started at powerhouse Sandringham Dragons, there has been widespread belief for a month that Lewis would be taken by the Suns to provide support to Ben King and Jed Walter.
“He’s a forward that can leap high and take the ball at its highest point and his physical attributes allow him to impact when the ball is on the ground as well,” Casey coach Taylor Whitford said.
“He can cover the ground well and the way Gold Coast play will suit him.
“It’s a good opportunity for him and the hard work starts now for him.
“We’ve worked hard with his habits off field to build consistency – he’s become settled and is really matured with the way he tackles his day-to-day.”
Roan Steele, a former Casey player who has come runner-up in the club’s last two best and fairests before moving to Perth to play in the WAFL this year, was picked up by Collingwood with pick 8 on Wednesday night.
“He’s a star,” Whitford said.
“Roan will take to the AFL lifestyle like a duck to water because he’s an ultimate professional and he has been for a couple of years and he’s been working hard for an opportunity.
“He’s a super runner.
“He blows the GPS up which lends itself to playing multiple roles – he could play as a winger/halfback or they could use him through the mid-forward layer.”
Their selections follow Jai Culley winning a list spot at Melbourne in the Supplemental Selection Period earlier this year, and three players representing the Young Guns last month.
“We stopped training and got the phone out to watch Caleb’s pick go through and I told them about Roan as well and the smiles on their faces…we almost couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the night.
“It shows firsthand the success story – players play VFL footy to get drafted and to show them that it potentially isn’t too far away if you do the work helps us immensely.
“Both of those boys are relatively local as well so to show you can come to Casey and gain that opportunity is outstanding.”
Tom McCarthy, whose stocks soared after playing for Highett in Division 2 of the SFNL and has played excellent footy for Richmond VFL, was taken with pick to West Coast.
