Poyas was instead selected by Richmond, and in 2003 was listed as a rookie by the Demons, after Gutnick stepped down.

“I think I can use myself to be a positive role model for kids to hopefully make the AFL more often,” Sheezel said. “The Jewish community loves sport, and they’ve got a lot of good, young, talented footballers coming through.”

Ronnie Lewis, president of the Ajax Seniors Football Club (Sheezel’s local club), said that Australia’s relatively small Jewish population - around 0.4 per cent of the population - is a likely cause of the small number of Jewish players to come through the league.

“We’re not overly tall as a group of people, so typically we don’t produce a lot of ruckman and key midfielders. Maybe that’s counting against us as well,” Lewis says.

Aside from his scoring abilities, Lewis said it’s Sheezel’s knowledge for the game, and sense for where the ball is going that sets him apart.

“[His knowledge] is very special. He’s great in the air, and he’s great on ground. He’ll be very dangerous to defend in the forward line. Overtime, you’ll see him slide probably into the midfield.”

Sheezel likes the idea of chasing perfectionism - something that is, at all times, slightly out of reach.

“That’s the beauty of [footy]. If there was something you could achieve, it wouldn’t make it exciting, it wouldn’t make it different, it wouldn’t make footy was it is,” Sheezel said.

He analyses many players’ style on the field, and takes a keen interest in how they develop their game through their careers. Along with Toby Greene, whose playing style Sheezel has been likened to, the youngster pays particular attention to Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee.

“[Rozee] was a forward early on in his career, and he’s recently moved into the midfield. I’ve tried to see how smoothly he’s done that, and tried to learn from him - and hopefully implement that down the track,” Sheezel said.

He’s a Hawthorn supporter, but perhaps in a sign of Sheezel’s sensibility towards his career, he has been distancing himself as a fan as recruitment to other clubs loomed.

“I’m hoping it’s gonna be North Melbourne. That might change, but [it looks likely] from what I’ve been hearing,” Sheezel said.