Brett Kirk’s son, Indhi Kirk, gets snapped up by Sydney Swans in AFL rookie draft

A familiar and famous name has been called out by the Sydney Swans during the AFL’s rookie draft on Wednesday.

Indhi Kirk, who made his debut for the Sydney Swans VFL team last year and was part of the wildly successful Allies outfit this year, has been officially anointed by the Swans as a Category B rookie.

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Kirk is of course the son of Sydney great and premiership hero, Brett Kirk.

The 19-year-old played as an over-ager this season with the Swans Academy team, and like Brett, he is considered a tough-as teak midfielder.

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Brett Kirk also started his AFL journey as a rookie for the Swans, before carving out a glittering career that included Sydney’s drought-breaking premiership in 2005.

After his 241 games, two club best-and-fairest awards, and an All-Australian blazer, Brett then had a stint as an AFL commentator on Channel 7 and created a memorable viral moment that is still a huge hit with fans.

Brett also had an interesting rookie journey, recruited as a mature-ager before being turned away, then returning only to be turned away again before finally latching on to a Swans list spot.

He then made his AFL debut for Sydney in 1999 and soon became the face of the club and the posterboy for their famed ‘Bloods’ culture.

Brett Kirk had amazing knack of blanketing some of the game’s biggest stars and – proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – Indhi Kirk led the Talent League averages this year for tackles (8.2 per game).

At 181cm, Indhi also lead that league’s inside-50 count (6.8) and averaged 23.8 disposals and 3.6 marks from five appearances.

“Indhi joins us as a 19-year-old Category B Rookie. During the 2023 season Indhi has worked diligently at adding strength and size to his frame whilst also improving his football craft,” Sydney’s veteran recruiting boss Kinnear Beatson said.

“He played well in our Academy team that competed in the Victorian Coates Hire League, as well as playing very well during the AFL National U18 Championships where he played as a hybrid midfielder for the undefeated Allies team under the guidance of new Swans Assistant Coach Mark McVeigh.

“Indhi also more than held his own whilst playing in the Swans Reserves team in the VFL.”

In other rookie shocks, delisted Port Adelaide player Riley Bonner was picked up by St Kilda, former Hawthorn player Emerson Jeka was snapped up by Geelong, and delisted Kangaroo Jack Mahony was taken by Gold Coast.

Gold Coast also picked up Werribee star Sam Clohesy after he won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal (the best young player in the VFL).

The Clohesy selection means it is the 17th consecutive year the winner of the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal has been added to an AFL list.

Pre-season Draft

1. Hawthorn – Chad Wingard (re-listed)

2. Gold Coast – Sam Day (re-listed)

3. St Kilda – Riley Bonner (de-listed by Port Adelaide)

Category B Rookies

Sydney – Indhi Kirk

West Coast – Coen Livingstone

Brisbane – Bruce Reville

Greater Western Sydney – Nathan Wardius

Melbourne – Kynan Brown

Rookie Draft

Round 1

1. West Coast Eagles – Loch Rawlinson (Sturt SANFL)

2. North Melbourne – Finnbar Maley (Northern Bullants VFL)

3. Hawthorn – Cooper Stephens (re-listed)

4. Gold Coast – Sam Clohesy (Werribee VFL)

5. Fremantle – Odin Jones (West Perth WAFL)

6. Richmond – pass

7. Geelong Cats – Emerson Jeka (Hawthorn)

8. Essendon – Vigo Visentini (Sandringham Dragons)

9. Adelaide – Will Hamill (re-listed)

10. Western Bulldogs – Lachie McNeil (re-listed)

11. Sydney Swans – Sam Reid (re-listed)

12. Melbourne – Jake Melksham (re-listed)

13. Port Adelaide – Xavier Welsh (East Perth WAFL)

14. GWS Giants – Adam Kennedy (re-listed)

15. Carlton – Matt Carroll (Sandringham Dragons)

16. Collingwood – pass

Round 2

17. North Melbourne – pass

18. Gold Coast – Will Rowlands (Norwood SANFL)

19. Fremantle – pass

20. Adelaide – James Borlase (re-listed)

21. Western Bulldogs – Taylor Duryea (re-listed)

22. Melbourne – Kynan Brown (father-son, Category B rookie)

23. Collingwood – pass

Round 3

24. Gold Coast – Jack Mahony (North Melbourne)

25. Western Bulldogs – pass

26. Melbourne – pass

27. Collingwood – pass

Round 4

28. Gold Coast – pass

Round 5

29. Gold Coast – pass