Casey Scorpion Oscar McInerney, all 204cm of him, is attracting interest from AFL clubs

“Mate, I think we’ve got one,’’ senior coach Justin Plapp said after one of the practice matches in March.

“Big bloke ... 203 (cm) or something like that … wanna see him. He’s bloody exciting. ’’

Six months on, the big bloke, Oscar McInerney, stands as one of the VFL’s best draft prospects.

For some time the 22-year-old has been touted as an AFL rookie chance. Now there is even talk he will go in the national draft, reflecting the fact that good young ruckmen are as rare as invitations to 100th birthdays.

It’s been a startling rise for McInerney, who took his first senior strides at Montrose in the Eastern league.

He started the season as one of many VFL hopefuls. He ended it with a grand final appearance for the Scorpions, an invitation to the state combine (where he was sized up as 204cm) and the A Todd Medal as the VFL Development League best and fairest.

“Been amazing,’’ he said. “I joined on at Casey just wanting to play the best footy I could. Whether that was going to be Development League footy or seniors, I didn’t know. Just wanted to have a crack. Now, it’s just gone so fast, speaking to AFL clubs. Yeah, been a whirlwind experience. Phenomenal.’’

McInerney played junior football for Croydon. But he took a break in 2012, concentrating on his VCE and overcoming stress fractures related to a growth spurt.

He resumed at Montrose in 2013, first in the under-19s. When he moved on to the seniors he was coached by former Hawthorn and Carlton midfielder Brett Johnson.

“I was lucky to have an involvement with ‘Johnno’. He’s been amazing for my development,’’ he said.

VFL recruiter Brad Wilson first made contact with McInerney, initially on behalf of Casey. Soon after Wilson transferred to Box Hill and sought to entice him to the Hawks, but former Scorpions football manager Jack Henty intervened and coaxed him to Casey.

“They’d started their pre-season two or three weeks before Box Hill so I thought I’d train there for that time and then make a decision,’’ McInerney said.

“But I loved it at Casey from the word go. Good bunch of blokes, really professional atmosphere, high standards.’’

At that point McInerney could not have imagined the growth in his game.

He made his senior debut in Round 3, running into Williamstown’s Nick Meese, a 197cm man as immovable as The Himalayas. For a rookie built along the same lines as a lamp post, it was a rugged entrance to the VFL.

McInerney went back to the reserves, where in the next few weeks he was regularly named in the best players.

Development League matches had never been watched by so many AFL recruiters. One or two scouts were frustrated McInerney wasn’t in the seniors, but, backing up Jake Spencer, he broke back into the Casey team for the late rounds and three finals.

He was most impressive in the preliminary final, when he went forward to kick two goals against Williamstown.

McInerney was at Etihad Stadium for the VFL grand final against Footscray and for the state combine a fortnight later.

“To walk on it for the grand final and then for the combine two weeks after that, crazy,’’ he said.

He saw both experiences as the culmination of a year in which he’d become stronger, fitter, wiser and smarter.

“You’ve got all the coaches and resources … if you want to learn, it’s all there for you,’’ he said.

McInerney has spoken to a “few’’ AFL clubs. One visited him at home and recorded their interview.

“That’s pretty intimidating when they rock up and do that, stick the video recorder in your face,’’ he said with a laugh.

“I treated it like a job interview. I graduate from my accounting course at the end of this year so I figure it will be the exact same pressure when I’m applying to an accounting firm.’’

All this draft talk leaves McInerney unfussed.

Whatever transpires, he figures he’s in a “pretty good place in my life’’.

“If it happens, it happens. If not I’ll pursue my accounting and keep playing at Casey and striving to play the best footy I can,’’ he said.

“Obviously it’s a dream for kids to play AFL. But you’ve also got to look after yourself for the long-term. You’ve got to be realistic.’’

If McInerney does get drafted, the whispers about his ability will have grown into roars.

CASEY SCORPIONS GM MATTHEW YOUNG ON OSCAR McINERNEY

“For a kid of his size to come into the club and even into the competition and perform the way he did, it surprised a lot of people considering how raw he was when he got here.

“Once he got into the system and he worked through what was required to play at this level, his progression and his work ethic went through the roof.

“He was the standout ruckman of the Development comp and when he came into the seniors he was able to be a good back-up ruckman and even snag a vote in the Liston Trophy.

“His strengths are his ball handling, his ability to take a one-grab mark and his skills below his waist. That can be difficult for big men. But a few of the things he did this year with his quick hands and pick-ups off the ground made you go, ‘Ohh, look at that’.

“From a size point of view there aren’t many blokes like him around. That’s why he’s drawn such a lot of interest.’’