Clurey's skills hard to resist

2012 AFL Draft: Pick Me - Tom Clurey

PRESENTED with chewing gum, Tom Clurey couldn't make it stick.

The key defender was bamboozled when, in his first interview with an AFL club, Essendon officials handed Clurey a pack of gum and asked him to sell it back to them at Etihad Stadium last month.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch highlights of Clurey and get our expert analysis in the video player above

Unable to use his aerobic power or pinpoint skills on his non-preferred left foot, Clurey stumbled to find an answer to the imposing band of 10 Bomber officials and moved on.

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Luckily for Clurey, his footy aptitude and consistency - and not his marketing nous - is why experts are tipping he will be snapped up inside the first 30 picks at next week's draft.

AFL Draft,Tom Clurey,country boy from Shepparton,running across hay bails on his farm, Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"As a key defender he hasn't been cleaned out, he's never had a bag of goals kicked on him,'' Murray Bushrangers region manager Andrew Carson said.

"He can play on key forwards and he can play as a key forward. He's so reliable and he's got elite decision making skills.''

Clurey's endurance is already at the top level, with the 192cm target burning rivals at draft camp.

"He ran a 15-1 in the beep (test) and if the AFL caps rotations in (2014) or change the sub rule it'll make him even more damaging with that big tank,'' one recruiter noted.

Clurey, who lives on a 600-acre farm filled with canola crops and sheep in the remote town of Katamatite, put his powerful fitness levels down to his active childhood.

"I was always out kicking the footy with my brothers or riding bikes or skateboards or anything with wheels. I didn't spend much time inside watching TV,'' he said.

AFL Draft,Tom Clurey,country boy from Shepparton,on his motorbike, Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"I think I can have an impact next year. I've had so many injuries that having that full-time environment will help me become stronger now and stay fit.

"On the small or medium forwards I back myself in to mark it and I feel a lot more comfortable.''

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Clurey grew up neighbours with North Melbourne's Sam Wright and remains best mates with younger brother Joey.

"He (Sam Wright) has told me that talent will only get you so far so it's how hard you work,'' Clurey said.

AFL Draft,Tom Clurey,country boy from Shepparton,diving into local swimming channel on his farm, Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Carson praised Clurey's ability to cut sides up with his rebound from defence, while his stocks rose with impressive negating roles on hot 2013 prospect and spearhead Tom Boyd.

TOM CLUREY

AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 193cm
WEIGHT: 83kg
FROM: Murray Bushrangers
POSITION: Centre half-back
DRAFT RANGE: 15-30
IN THE MIX: Pies (18), Crows (20), Saints (25), Hawks (29)
PLAYS LIKE: Sam Fisher

Tom Clurey of the Bushrangers in action during the TAC 1st Elimination Final match between theMurray Bushrangers and Geelong Falcons at Visy Park in Melbourne. (Photo: Darrian Traynor/AFL Media) Source: Herald Sun

 

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