BREAKING: Liam Hetherton’s AFL journey takes a pivotal turn as he has been officially selected by the Sydney Swans as a Category B Rookie during the Pre-Season Draft held on November 21, 2023. This selection comes after the 18-year-old key forward was previously overlooked in the National Draft on November 20.
Hetherton, a product of North Albury, faced significant setbacks this season, being ruled out of both the National Championships and the AFL Draft Combine due to a back injury. Despite these challenges, he showcased his talent by scoring 11 goals in just three matches for the Murray Bushrangers earlier this year.
Chris Keane, the Sydney Swans’ head of list strategy, expressed confidence in Hetherton’s potential, stating, “We believe Liam has all the attributes to become a very good AFL player. He missed the majority of the season through injury but showed enough promise through the early parts of the year.” The Swans are eager to bring Hetherton on board, viewing him as a developing tall to enhance their roster.
In a busy draft day, fellow Murray Bushranger Riley Onley was also in the spotlight, being selected at pick number three in the Rookie Draft by Melbourne. Onley, who has also faced injury challenges this year, earned All-Australian honors after his performance at the under-18 titles, underlining his potential as a future star.
Adding to the excitement, Harry Dean from Lavington was picked third in the AFL Draft under the father-son rule on November 19, where he proudly received his Carlton jumper from his father, Peter Dean, a two-time premiership player.
This latest round of selections marks a new chapter for Hetherton and his peers, with fans eagerly anticipating their contributions to the teams and the league as a whole. As Hetherton joins the ranks of the Sydney Swans, his journey reflects resilience and the pursuit of dreams in professional sports.
Stay tuned for more updates on Hetherton’s progress and other draft-related news.
