Matt Whitlock presented Uncle Col Walker with a Roos Indigenous jersey.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Matt Whitlock is in the thick of his second pre-season at North Melbourne, and the buzz of living life as an AFL player is still as strong as the day he was drafted.
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The Shepparton product was out and about in Echuca-Moama earlier this week as North Melbourne rolled into the border town as part of AFL’s off-season community camps program.
Kids flocked to get a photo with, get a signature from, or receive a handball off one of their favourite players - and Whitlock knows how important these visits are.
After all, it wasn’t so long ago that the roles were reversed.
“I think it's so special for the community,” Whitlock said of the community camps.
“I remember when I was just a little kid, and you got the AFL teams coming down, and it was one of your favourite days of the year.
“Now being the player, it's so special for the kids, I know how much it means to everyone and the community as well.”
Whitlock was even closer to home earlier in the year, as the Roos’ community camp took them to Shepparton, but it’s a different feeling for the North Melbourne tall heading into his sophomore year.
“I feel like your first year, you’re just trying to find your feet, but now being in year two, being able to form some bonds with a few of the boys, these camps are always good for that sort of stuff,” he said.
Whitlock was taken at pick 27 by North Melbourne in the 2024 AFL Draft, enduring a nervy first round until he was eventually taken in the final pick of night one.
The 19-year-old made his AFL debut in a fourth round loss to Sydney, and featured once more in 2025 as he kicked his first major in the top flight during a penultimate round win over Richmond.
After a solid year one in blue and white, Whitlock will be looking at gaining valuable game time in 2026 in an attempt to carve out a role in a rebuilding Roos list.
But for now, he is relishing the chance to give back to the Goulburn Valley community before the real heads-down work begins.
“It's pretty special to be back home, to get to see family and friends,” Whitlock said.
“(I) get to reflect on all the memories here, a lot of good times in Echuca, it's such a great town, so it's very special.”
