Jay Polkinghorne Drafted to Geelong

Norwood forward Jay Polkinghorne has been Drafted to Geelong with Pick 44 in the 2024 AFL Draft.

Polkinghorne, who two months ago played in Norwood’s Reserves Premiership, was selected by the Cats with their first pick of the Draft on Thursday night, November 21.

Polkinghorne said several Geelong players had already got in contact, wishing him well for his career in the navy blue and white hoops.

“Lots of the boys have reached out, Dangerfield, Bailey Smith, Jezza Cameron, there’s 10-15 that have spoken to me and said they are glad to have me there,” he said.

“Tom Stewart was the first call, and when he said ‘hey this is Tom Stewart’ I was in shock.

“I can’t wait to get over there.”

The 191cm forward from the rural town of Penong on Norwood’s Regional Zone of the Eyre Peninsula was surprised to be taken so early in the Draft.

“I am over the moon,” Polkinghorne said.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen, especially that early, it’s surreal. I can’t explain it, I’m just so happy.

“We weren’t doing very much last night because I wasn’t even planning for it to happen, we were just having dinner and my name was called out.

“I knew the Cats had some interest, but I didn’t think they’d take me with their first pick and when my name got called out I stood up and couldn’t even talk. It was one of the coolest moments.”

Polkinghorne said he couldn’t wait to learn the tricks of the trade from four-time All Australian forward Jeremy Cameron.

“I look up to him,” Polkinghorne said.

“What he’s done in the game has been amazing, just training with him there will be so much to learn.”

Being from a small remote town 475km west from Port Lincoln and 70km west of Ceduna, Polkinghorne said Geelong was the club that suited him most.

“When I met with Geelong they mentioned that it’s a good destination for someone from the country, it’s still a big city but also has that smaller town feel,” he said.

“You can drive 20 minutes and be in the country and there’s fishing spots around close by.

“I get over to Geelong on Sunday, meet the players and get stuck into training on Monday.”

Polkinghorne overcame a pre-season knee injury that lingered around to keep him out of the National U18 Championships. He returned to football for Norwood in Round 5, playing six U18 matches and five Reserves matches for the Redlegs.

He kicked 15 goals from six U18s matches in 2024, and looked right at home at Reserves level, kicking eight goals from five matches.

Polkinghorne’s best outing for Norwood’s U18s in 2024 was against South Adelaide at Norwood Oval in Round 12, when he booted four goals from 16 disposals and took a mark of the year contender in wet conditions.

He kicked a goal in every match this season, and finished strongly with 17 disposals, eight marks and two goals in the successful Reserves Grand Final against Sturt at Adelaide Oval.

Polkinghorne was the second Norwood player to be taken in the 2024 Draft, after fellow high-flying forward Ned Bowman was Drafted to Sydney with Pick 26.