Hawks father-son hope Calsher Dear among late AFL draft state combine call-ups

A terrific grand final outing has seen Hawks father-son prospect Calsher Dear earn an AFL draft state combine invitation. PAUL AMY tells his story, tinged with sadness, and reveals the other call-ups.

Paul Amy

@paulamy375

2 min read

September 28, 2023 - 11:00AM

Calsher Dear (R) of the Sandringham Dragons celebrates kicking a goal during the Coates Talent League Boys grand final against Eastern Ranges at Ikon Park. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

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Calsher Dear saved his season’s best for last.

The son of the late Paul Dear and Hawthorn father-son prospect has been called up to the AFL draft state combine after his fine performance for Sandringham Dragons in their Coates Talent League grand final victory over Eastern Ranges at IKON Park, Carlton on Sunday.

Playing as a forward and relief ruckman, the 18-year-old had 13 disposals, three marks, 14 hit-outs, four inside 50s and booted two goals.

Dear, 194cm, finished the CTL season with 21 goals from 15 games.

He also played five matches for the Beaumaris Under 19s in the Victorian amateurs, slotting 41 goals, including a bag of 14 against Parkdale Vultures and nine against Old Haileybury.

Calsher Dear kicks a goal for the Dragons during the Coates Talent League Boys grand final. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Dragons talent manager Mark Wheeler said the club was thrilled with Dear’s contribution to the premiership.

“That was kind of what we knew he could do, and he put it together on the big stage,” he said.

“We’re really pleased for him.

“He’d had a bit of a knee knock but through the finals he was getting better with each game.

“What he did in the forward line and then go in the ruck and win his own ball in the middle and nearly kick a goal, there was a bit of Nic Naitanui style about it.’’

Wheeler added: “He’s given himself every opportunity to be drafted, hopefully father-son, which would be a fairy-tale. But he’s now put himself in contention with other clubs too.’’

Late Hawk Paul Dear with his wife Cherie. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Paul Dear in action for Hawthorn against North Melbourne in 1996.

Wheeler said Calsher and the Dear family had endured a difficult 12 months.

Paul Dear, a powerful forward who played 123 games for Hawthorn and won the 1991 Norm Smith Medal, died in July, 2022, after a long fight with cancer.

An AFL recruiter said Calsher’s performance in the grand final was excellent.

“He jumped at the ball and obviously enjoyed the freedom of playing in the ruck … it allowed him to get around the ground and show his mobility,’’ the scout said.

“I think he impacted the game more consistently across four quarters than what he had previously, when he played a quarter here, a quarter there, 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there.

“He’s a little bit of an unknown. He’s been able to catch it and kick goals at school level and for Beauie, and has done it a bit in the Coates league, but the consistency hasn’t quite been there for him.

“So it looks like he’ll have upside potentially in a full-time program. What he turns into, no one is really sure at the moment.’’

Beaumaris senior coach Josh Bourke said Dear had “Charlie Curnow-like athletic attributes’’.

He played one senior game for Beauie this year, kicking five goals.

“Ability to do it in the air, ability to do it on the ground, he likes contact, he likes to pressure and tackle … he’s a pretty raw prospect but full of talent,’’ Bourke, a former head coach of Sandringham Dragons, said.