‘Always a pretty sporty kid’: Shepparton’s Matt Whitlock to seize his pro chance with both hands

It’s hard to believe, given his development heading into a draft-age year, that Australian rules hardly rated a mention at one point.

Now on the precipice of achieving a dream that countless young boys and girls have aspired to nationwide, hearing your name called out by an AFL club at the national draft, the future seems far more predictable than the past.

“I was always a pretty sporty kid growing up, whether it was basketball or tennis, things like that,” Whitlock said.

“Eventually, I started to take footy more serious when I was around 12 or 13.

“On the back end of this year, it’s become pretty surreal that this could be my life for the next few years.”

At this crucial juncture in Whitlock’s life, as well as throughout his most pivotal year to date from a developmental standpoint, there’s the elephant in the room to address.

For as long as he and twin brother Jack have been viewed as such highly-touted prospects, they have been treated as something of a package deal.

Naturally, that fosters its share of closeness between them, but Matt laid out gratitude towards the wider Whitlock clan for helping him reach this exciting new chapter.

“We’re a really strong family and a pretty big family,” Whitlock said.

“Mum’s one of six and everyone comes down and watches on the weekends, so I’m pretty lucky for that.

“Having a strong friendship group along the journey really helps as well. A big part of this year is where you can easily get ahead of yourself, so I really just like to live in the moment.”

For kids — nay, burgeoning young adults — Whitlock’s age, the rigours of academic life are often more than enough stress on their own.

Compound that with everything that accompanies would-be draftees in their final years of preparation, between swapping through rep teams most weeks and starting to receive professional guidance and scrutiny all the same.

Beyond that, the media commitments, of course — and yes, there is an element of self-awareness about this.

Regardless, it’s safe to say taking time to distract yourself from it all is paramount to surviving the unique landscape of an AFL prospect’s world.

“I feel like part of that is just having that strong family connection,” Whitlock said.

“It’s a pretty big thing for footy and also in Year 12 doing VCE, but I’ve been getting to the golf course in the past year or so.

“It’s something different with a few mates and it’s fun and easy too, so I really enjoy getting out there.

“It helps take your mind off because it’s such a hectic time, so that allows me to have some fun and forget about everything.”

It has proven to be a bumper crop for the region in 2024, with not only the twins, but Shepparton Swans’ Oliver Warburton and former Benalla junior Joe Berry set to fancy their chances.

Having the connection between one another off-field has proven to be just as important as making moves on it; in last Thursday’s News, Shepparton United’s Riley Onley detailed his own bond with these boys.

Whitlock benefits all the same from the bonding between peers brought on by the sport.

“I went to the same school as ‘Warby’ until about eighth grade,” Whitlock said.

“I don’t see him as much now, but we still connect through places like Vic Country and he’s in a good position to get drafted.

“I see Joe every second or third weekend and he’s one of my closer mates.

“It’s special how footy brings those folks together and it’s good to have a strong connection with all those boys.”

That said, you can never deny a simmering rivalry between brothers, whether either would want to admit it or not.

Matt wouldn’t give his sibling too much ground when asked which of the two had enjoyed a better year on the park.

“I’d probably say myself,” he said.

“He’d probably say him, but stats-wise, I reckon I’d just get him. It’s pretty tight, though, as we’ve both had good years.

“I’m a pretty competitive person and I don’t like to lose, but having a twin, we’d one-on-one in pretty much everything.

“It’s all fun, though, and I enjoy having him there with me.”

Looking at the current indicative draft order, there is obviously a vast array of possibilities as to where Whitlock may land if his first-round projections come true, though Richmond has a significant chance with a raft of high picks.

AFL draft guru Callum Twomey listed Whitlock as likely to fall at pick 23 in his much-vaunted Phantom Guide, released on Monday night, which would land him at the Tigers based on those projections.

He won’t concern himself with such matters to an obsessive extent, though, and keeps grounded in sticking to the plan of continuously honing his craft — whatever corner of the country that may take him to.

“I just want to be the best version of myself,” Whitlock said.

“I just wanted to keep on improving and that’s what I can control at this moment.

“Making my debut would be a very special moment, but forming new connections and building bonds with a lot of new people would be pretty special.

“I don’t really want to live with my brother my whole life, but sharing a field would be pretty special.

“It’s more realistic that we’d be separate, but that’s not a bad thing either.”