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‘Scary, annoying’: Dual-sport gun torn over ‘generational’ AFL potential… and Brisbane Olympics
One of the most curious and tantalising football talents in this year’s draft pool remains undecided on whether he’ll nominate for the AFL draft — seven weeks out from the event.
Dual-sport young gun and Swans Academy player Mason McGroder on Thursday said he remained torn over pursuing a dream to represent his country at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics or challenging himself to become “a generational talent” in the AFL. Get the expert take on AFL Grand Final Day with FOX FOOTY’s pre-match, half-time and post-match coverage, plus full and mini replays available from 6PM AESTWHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit.
For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.has such a highly-rated male AFL prospect left a decision on their sporting career so late in their draft year. And even Sutherland, nine years ago, had decided to pursue a cricket career by July. While Sutherland was weighing up two ball sports, McGroder is considering a full-time footy career or, literally, jumping into athletics.
After playing rugby league until he was 11, McGroder gave footy a crack at a school carnival known as the Paul Kelly Cup. Then-Swans Academy coach Nick Davis was watching the carnival and spotted McGroder, quickly identifying a big football talent. The Swans premiership winner lured McGroder to the SCG for a tour then quickly signed him up to the club’s Academy — and “I’ve been playing ever since.
” McGroder, on the footy field, is a speedy and physical backman with a high vertical leap and a determination to beat his opponent then “try to make a big statement on the offence”. He describes himself as an “impactful” defender, with the size and pace to “keep up with either” tall or mid-sized forwards.highlighted by a silver medal in the long jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Portland, Oregon.
It was his second long-jump medal at the event after he claimed a remarkable bronze in 2024 … as a 15-year-old.on Thursday at the national draft combine, McGroder said his perspective on both sports “has changed like a million times this year”.at the MCG.
“There’s so much information and news that comes from either side — like day-to-day, literally. “I’ve been told a million times to write a pros and cons list, but I’ve just been going off the feeling and support I’ve had. ” The AFL has yet to confirm the date for when aspiring players must nominate for this year’s national draft. But last year the nomination cut-off date was exactly seven days before the draft’s first round.
“There’s no real official deadline yet, but it’s definitely coming close,” he said. Asked if one sport was showing more urgency for a decision, McGroder said: “Not so much the athletics. There’s definitely a big want from colleges for me to head over and there’s still lots of contact going on there with potential opportunities over there and experiences.
“Footy, I think there’d probably be more of a push. You’ve got the deadline with the draft coming up, so there is a bit more urgency required. I guess with me playing less footy than a lot of these boys, the commitment sort of needs to be there for footy. Source: Instagram McGroder’s silver in August came after he qualified for the Under 20 final with a personal-best jump of 7.83m, before bettering that mark with a brilliant 7.96m effort.
It was just 1cm short of gold medallist Daniele Inzoli of Italy in one of the tightest finals of the championships.
“I thought I’d be happy there to go and compete,” he said. “But then I think it really might have been the session before we left from LA to go to Oregon where I had a great training session and jumped a PB in training. “I just knew I was ready to go and then to be able to come away with a silver — just 1cm away from gold sucks — but that silver I’m still pretty proud of.
” McGroder said “10 to 15” US colleges had reached out — primarily via his parents and/or athletics coach Matt Wade — about the prospect of moving to America to significantly enhance his athletics career. Some made contact by phone, while he also met with several face-to-face in Oregon during this year’s World Championships.
Adding to the US allure, McGroder got a taste of college life in the two weeks before Worlds, staying at campuses and living in dorms, which he described as a “super cool experience”.
“I could basically go to any college I want — apart from an Ivy League School — on a scholarship which would be great. But if I were to go down that path, it’s just about finding the right support program, coaching staff and potential shoe deals,” McGroder said.
“It’s extremely tempting. Especially with the home Olympics in 2032 coming up, that’s a big pulling factor for the athletics … Even before that as well, whether it’s the LA Olympics or world championships.
“I know my potential I could have in both, which is scary and almost annoying to think about that I have to neglect one. But wearing that green and gold and the Olympic rings, it’s extremely tempting. ”“I guess I’ve sort of flown under the radar due to the athletics,” he said.
“But I see my potential as sort of unmatched just due to both my athletic capabilities and the way I could learn as a footballer. “I don’t think it’d take me too long to be able to fit into a professional environment. I could be playing footy hopefully in my first year.
”He’s already had a home visit from the Swans — who would have first call on him on draft night, should he nominate, as he’s tied to their academy — while Fremantle plans to visit in the next week. He’s also had calls from Essendon and West Coast but expects more will reach out in the coming weeks outside of the combine format.
Asked who was more intimidating to meet with out of AFL clubs and US colleges, McGroder said: “Definitely the AFL clubs.
“The college chats are basically them trying to entice me to come. It’s almost vice versa for the AFL club where I have to express why I think I’d be the best fit for them.
“At the end of the day, I don’t really get a choice with footy. But college I could go anywhere in America. ”It comes a year after the Swans had the draft points to take academy graduates Harry Kyle and Max King , but opted not to match the Western Bulldogs’ bid on Lachlan Carmichael .
McGroder said it hit home there was a chance he could play for any club in the country when he saw Carmichael move interstate after years at the Swans Academy.
“It definitely was something that I thought a fair bit about, which is almost deterring me away from the footy,” he said. “But I think after the college experience and going over to World Juniors, it opened my eyes up that there’s a bigger world out there than just Sydney. McGroder competes in the 2km Time Trial during the AFL National Draft Combine Testing at George Knott Reserve on October 1, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.
McGroder said he was stoked with his “pretty successful” 2026 campaign, declaring: “There’s not much that could’ve gone much better, really. ” He said he’d achieved his goals in both sports, making the Allies squad for the Under 18 national championships and performing strongly at the Under 20 World Championships. On top of that, McGroder played in three of the Swans Academy team’s six undefeated Coates Talent League games.
McGroder said it “sort of sucked” having to end his Allies campaign after one game — he missed the team’s first match due to injury — but stressed he’d always planned to switch to athletics mode after the Allies’ second or third game to prepare for Oregon.
“We sat down at the start of the year with my athletics coach and the Swans and all those guys to just sort of map out what it all looked like in a perfect world. “I was planning on playing the third because I had missed the first one due to injury but it was like an extra 10 days later which would have cut my training abilities for the athletics well short to be able to prepare.
”McGroder said the Swans academy and Australian Athletics had “both been super supportive” and understanding of his desire to do both sports throughout 2026. He said the fact his athletics coach Matthew Wade was a Geelong product who played footy as a junior and understood the AFL landscape had been significantly helpful.
“That’s been the great thing, being able to continue to do both of them to such a high level at this age,” he said. “I might have to do a bit more longer stuff for the footy and put on a bit of weight, but it definitely doesn’t completely contrast from the athletics because I’m still running and jumping.
” McGroder will be hoping to show off those athletic traits on Saturday when he participates in combine testing at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.
“I almost compare myself to Harry Kyle from last year. He was definitely a bolter, landing at Pick 14. He was picked up on his athletic capabilities and his lack of footy. Asked what he’d like the AFL world saying about him in five years’ time — should he pursue a footy career — McGroder paused for several seconds then said: “Best case … generational talent. ”
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