Why it took North Melbourne recruit until now for AFL opportunity

Tom Blamires' AFL selection was a matter of when, not if, according to Frankston Dolphins VFL coach Jackson Kornberg.

Blamires became the latest SSP signing, with North Melbourne finalising their 2026 list on Wednesday, adding the most recent Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medallist, continuing a 19-year trend.

But the new Roo's journey was unlike most, having been overlooked for the draft and cut from state-league clubs, proving his resilience was key.

"It's a really good story, not only Frankston but the VFL," Kornberg told Zero Hanger.

"He's a kid that got cut three years ago, wasn't drafted out of Dragons, went to VFL the year after, got cut, went to local, was a train-on, came back, and after three years, won a best and fairest with (Frankston), Fothergill (Medal), and now is an SSP player.

"It's a great story. And just because it doesn't happen straight away, it can still happen if you work hard and have a bit of resilience.

"But everyone who knows him would say he belongs at AFL level."

Blamires and Kornberg's relationship goes way back to his time at Coates Talent League club Sandringham Dragons.

The Dolphins coach believes the 23-year-old has the attributes to slot straight into the top-flight competition, which is clearly the reason why North Melbourne locked him away.

"I think he's work rate is elite. It's AFL level," Kornberg added.

"He's ability to get from contest to contest. His decision making with the ball. They're the main things.

"I think playing as a running defender or wing or mid at AFL level, he'll be able to showcase that."

But Kornberg delved into the reason as to why it took Blamires until now to get his AFL opportunity.

"In a lot of teams Tommy has played in, he's played with a lot of top end talent," he said.

"You look at Dragons, and we had 13 drafted [in 2021] at Sandy. He was playing with a lot of AFL-listed players. He was being overshadowed.

"But I think in the last 12 months, I think he has been doing the overshadowing."

The lucky No.19

Blamires' AFL signing placed him among two special groups.

He was the 19th consecutive player to join an AFL club after being named the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medallist (most promising young player in the VFL).

But a further deep dive into Blamires showed that he was also the 19th member of the 2021 Sandringham Dragons squad to be picked up by an AFL club.

The 23-year-old played alongside top draftees in Finn Callaghan, Josh Sinn and Mitch Owens, as well as guns Will Ashcroft and Harry Sheezel. The latter two were bottom agers.

But over the years, the number has climbed toward 19 via the MSD and SSP.

2021 Sandringham Dragons to the AFL

1. Finn Callaghan (GWS) - Pick 3: 2021 AFL Draft
2. Josh Sinn (Port Adelaide) - Pick 12: 2021 AFL Draft
3. Mitch Owens (St Kilda) - Pick 33: 2021 AFL Draft
4. Blake Howes (Melbourne) - Pick 39: 2021 AFL Draft
5. Marcus Windhager (St Kilda) - Pick 47: 2021 AFL Draft
6. Dante Visentini (Essendon) - Pick 56: 2021 AFL Draft
7. Luke Cleary (Western Bulldogs) - Pick 61: 2021 AFL Draft
8. Luke Nankervis (Adelaide) - Pick 4: 2021 Pre-Season Draft
9. Jack Peris (St Kilda) - 2021 Cat B Listing
10. Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) - Pick 2: 2022 AFL Draft
11. Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne) - Pick 3: 2022 AFL Draft
12. Charlie Clarke (Western Bulldogs) - Pick 24: 2022 AFL Draft
13. Angus McLennan (St Kilda) - 2022 Cat B Listing
14. Jacob Edwards (North Melbourne) - Pick 1: 2021 Mid-Season Draft
15. Max Heath (St Kilda) - Pick 7: 2021 Mid-Season Draft
16. Hugo Hall-Kahan (Sydney) - Pick 11: 2022 Mid-Season Draft
17. Kye Turner (Melbourne) - 2022/23 SSP
18. Caleb Lewis (Gold Coast) - Pick 14: 2025 Mid-Season Draft
19. Tom Blamires (North Melbourne) - 2025/26 SSP

From Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal to the AFL

2006: Jason Davenport (Geelong) – Geelong
2007: Shane Valenti (Sandringham) – Melbourne
2008: Robin Nahas (Port Melbourne) – Richmond
2009: Michael Barlow (Werribee) – Fremantle
2010: Michael Hibberd (Frankston) – Essendon
2011: Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants) – St Kilda
2012: Dean Towers (North Ballarat) – Sydney
2013: Kane Lambert (Northern Blues) – Richmond
2014: Nic Newman (Frankston) – Sydney
2015: Adam Marcon (Williamstown) – Richmond
2016: Luke Ryan (Coburg) – Fremantle
2017: Bayley Fritsch (Casey) – Melbourne
2018: Josh Corbett (Werribee) – Gold Coast
2019: Jake Riccardi (Werribee) – Greater Western Sydney
2020: Not awarded
2021: Charlie Dean (Williamstown) – Collingwood
2022: Ethan Phillips (Port Melbourne) – Hawthorn
2023: Sam Clohesy (Werribee) – Gold Coast
2024: Sam Davidson (Richmond) – Western Bulldogs
2025: Tom Blamires (Frankston) – North Melbourne