Footy has won another battle over cricket with one of the country’s best teenage cricket prospects Pat McKenna nominating for the AFL draft.
Just two months after McKenna led the Australian Under-19 team to Sri Lanka, the left-handed batsman has put his whites away.
With Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Fremantle all reportedly circling the Victorian product, the 18-year-old has even surprised officials and teammates at his local football club.
At 186cm and 76kg, McKenna played a number of positions for Gisborne in the Bendigo Football League, kicking 45 goals for the senior side in 18 games.
He won’t be the only talented cricketer whose name is listed for next Thursday’s draft but the fact he’s held such a key underage role is a concern for Cricket Australia.
Cricket has always had a major struggle to keep its top all-round youngsters in the game as the football codes have heightened appeal due to the far greater quantity of professional contracts and the much longer time it usually takes to break into the top ranks.
“We respect Pat’s decision,” said Cricket Australia’s team performance manager Pat Howard.
“He’s a terrific kid and a terrific athlete.”
Should McKenna miss out at next week’s draft, he’s expected to spend 2015 playing in the TAC Cup with the Calder Cannons.
Both CA and the Australian Cricket Association boss Alister Nicholson said McKenna would be welcomed back with open arms if his AFL dreams turned to dust.
Rating career opportunities for cricketers at “unprecedented levels” due to the introduction of the Big Bash League, Nicholson said cricket would always hold an advantage of national representation.
Howard and Nicholson also trumpeted the decision of another former Australian U19 captain, Mitch Marsh, to stick with cricket despite pressure to nominate for the draft, as well as Victorian trio Alex Keath, Seb Gotsch and Matt Short.
“They’re all making their way at either international or state level which is pleasing and reflective of the many opportunities elite cricket presents,” Howard said.
