AFL clubs are understood to be expressing interest in Victorian cricketer Will Sutherland five years after the 22-year-old decided to pursue a career away from football.
Sutherland signed a multi-year rookie deal with Cricket Victoria in 2017 in deciding on a bat and ball over a Sherrin, with the East Melbourne-born dual sports talent opting not to nominate for the AFL Draft.
Now plying his trade with the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, Sutherland has continued to hone his crafts in first-class cricket, playing 18 matches at the level and making a further 29 T20 appearances.
Sutherland was selected into the Vic Metro squad for the 2017 AFL Under-19 Championships as a tall forward/midfielder and made his prospects in football known when showcasing his skills with Scotch College to emerge as a potential first-round selection.
The Victorian all-rounder is now reportedly receiving rekindled interest from AFL clubs, with Sutherland - the 2021 Young Bradman Cricketer of the Year - yet to break into national selection discussions for Australia.
According toย SEN'sย Sam Edmund, Collingwood are among the AFL clubs expressing interest in looking to potentially lure Sutherland back toward football as a Category B Rookie.
There has been no indication of mutual interest in a code switch from Sutherland however, with the Victorian likely to continue placing his priorities toward cricket.
"I really loved my experience in the recent Under-18 National Championships when representing Vic Metro and this only made the decision more difficult," Sutherland said in 2017.
"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."
AFL clubs are permitted to sign players as a Category B Rookie if they have not been registered with an Australian football competition for the previous three years.
