Shepparton’s Jack is a Whit-e hot-lock ahead of Wednesday night’s AFL National Draft

While that feeling of the unknown could weigh heavy on a young mind, the 18-year-old is just grateful that his lifelong dream is set to be realised at the AFL National Draft on either Wednesday (first round of the draft) or Thursday night (rest of the rounds).

The Whitlock name has been crashing packs, taking big clunks and kicking goals in the Bears’ colours since Jack was playing under-14s for Shepparton-Notre Dame.

From playing local junior football Whitlock progressed through the various development, academy and state squads that most football prodigies do.

In his early teens, Whitlock realised that the possibility of turning his passion into a career was becoming more and more realistic as his talent rapidly progressed.

Whitlock was touted as one of the best junior key position footballers in the country heading into the 2024 season.

After a hot run of form for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League, Whitlock was rewarded with a place in the AFL Academy side that took on VFL club Coburg in April.

He kicked two goals as a forward-ruck in the Academy’s 26-point loss.

Playing a sport where representing your country is rarely seen, Whitlock said he was proud to pull on the Australian guernsey this year.

“Pretty surreal, not many people get to represent an Australian guernsey — it was pretty wholesome,” Whitlock said.

“That was an unreal experience.

“Got the call up late for the first game, which was pretty cool.

“It was a great opportunity to play against some VFL players and train and be a part of a group at that level and see how they go about.”

During the national championships across June-July, Whitlock continued to impress as a tall marking option.

His best performance as a forward came in the one-point grand final loss to Vic Metro when he kicked 2.1, had 13 disposals and took seven marks.

Whitlock also showed his talent as a ruck on a sloppy Claremont Oval surface against Western Australia when he collected 18 disposals, seven hit-outs, five clearances and four marks.

Back at his home club, Shepparton was in the midst of a breakout year as the Bears lost one match during the home and away season and announced themselves as one of the teams to beat.

Having wrapped up their Bushies commitments, Whitlock and his equally talented twin brother Matt were on the cards for selection in Shepparton’s preliminary final against Rochester.

Across the road in the Murray league, potential 2024 first-round prospect and Moama product Jobe Shanahan played for the Magpies in their preliminary final, while Geelong’s 2023 first-round draft pick Connor O’Sullivan played for Albury in its grand final last year.

However, Whitlock said a few conversations with people in the AFL industry helped him realise the right course of action.

“There was a chance (I would play against Rochester),” he said.

“Everyone wants to come back and play for their local club, especially when it is a senior final.

“At the end of the day, I had some chats with people and made some phone calls and it was probably the best choice to not rush it, play the long run.

“(The Bears) were good and supportive, didn’t push us (him and Matt) to play, they let us make our own decisions.”

Despite commitments to the Bushrangers, Vic Country and academy sides, Whitlock was still a common sighting at each Bears home game this season — standing at nearly 200cm tall meant he wasn’t hard to miss.

Watching from the Deakin Reserve stands and listening to the change room debriefs after the match, Whitlock’s love and passion for Shepparton was evident despite all the distractions that come with being a potential draftee.

Whitlock said he was eager to repay the support the Bears had shown him as he rose through the junior football ranks.

“(Shepparton has) done a lot for us, so I thought it was my turn to give something back by coming down to support,” he said.

“With Bushies, it was hard for me to get down here a whole lot, I could only really train about once a week.”

Although the young gun didn’t get to feature in a Shepparton guernsey this year, Whitlock did play two games of senior football for the Bears in 2023.

Both were victories against eventual finalists late in the season — one against Kyabram and the other playing Seymour.

Whitlock said he loved the challenge of competing against grown men as a 17-year-old.

“It was a cool experience; a lot bigger bodies,” he said.

“The two games we played we won both of them in upsets, which was pretty cool to be a part of.

“It’s a good environment in country footy.”

Following the end of exams and his secondary education, Whitlock celebrated in a subdued, but in his own words “wholesome” manner with a family dinner.

AFL clubs like draftees to take six months off from studying in the first year at the highest level; Whitlock said he had eyes on starting university at some point after that.

The young gun is set to step into the high-pressure world of AFL in the coming days and, if he is to add studying for a university degree in the next couple of years, having an avenue or hobby to help release stress will be important.

For Whitlock, he says that’s golf.

“I have been playing a lot of golf every week,” he said.

“Now that the season has ended, I have probably been playing three times a week.

“Usually, during the season on a Friday arvo before we play on a Saturday or Sunday I will head along to the driving range and hit a couple of balls then practice my short game on the greens.

“It has given me something to do outside of school and footy, which can be a bit of a rush.

“(Golf) helps me slow down a bit."

Whether Whitlock’s name is called out on Wednesday or Thursday night, the Shepparton product will have to put his goal of cracking a 20-handicap on the back burner.

But for him, that will be no problem whatsoever, because the towering Bear is set to live out his lifelong dream.

No matter whether that is as a towering Tiger, a soaring Swan, a galloping Giant or some other form of mascot alliteration.