Top draft prospect Archie Perkins has told interstate AFL clubs that he wants to play his football in Melbourne.
Perkins has been touted as a potential top-10 draft selection who can play through the midfield and as a forward.
The Sandringham Dragons product was asked whether he had notified non-Victorian clubs of his desire to remain in his home state in 2021.
“Yes, I have. I hope they take that on board,” Perkins told SEN Mornings.
“I get that they’re doing what’s in the best interests of their footy club, but I just think personally that I’m not ready for that in this stage of my life.
“I feel like it would impact me too much and I don’t think it would be in their best interests as a footy club to have me there because I wouldn’t be 100 per cent with it, and couldn’t really commit myself 100 per cent as opposed to staying here.
“I would be ready to go and fully committed. I just don’t think I’m ready for that and I wanted to be honest about it.”
Perkins has been interviewed multiple times by both Hawthorn and Essendon ahead of tonight’s AFL Draft.
Tune in at 6:30pm AEDT on Wednesday, December 9 for the AFL Draft on SEN, powered by Tyrepower.