Marlon Neocleous height, school, stats, inside relentless pursuit of an AFL career

Scouts have spent much of the year lauding Marlon Neocleous’ professionalism and diligence.

And when you speak to the Gippsland Power and Caulfield Grammar prospect, it’s easy to understand why he’s held in such high regard by AFL clubs.

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Neocleous is a creative, clever and speedy half-forward who makes good decisions and connects his team between the arcs. He looms as a night two draft prospect, with an array of suitors between Picks 28 (Brisbane) and 50 (Carlton).

A big reason behind his successful journey to next week’s AFL draft is an obsession that extends well beyond the football field.

Neocleous is determined to learn everything he can about becoming a better AFL footballer – on and off the field.

“A lot of the stuff I do helps me on and off the track,” Neocleous told foxfooty.com.au.

“It’s something I’m really interested in. I could say all the things I do behind the scenes are to become a better footballer, but it’s also about becoming a better person, looking after myself and feeling good about myself.”

Neocleous loves the one-percenters. He journals every night, stretches as part of a disciplined recovery routine and watches plenty of vision. He’s also been meeting with a psychologist “for a long time” to help with his mindset.

“I do it all because I love it,” he said.

Neocleous takes inspiration from North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel and how “precise and invested” he is in his approach to diet. Neocleous is “not one to snack on junk food”, instead aiming to consume “whole foods and things that come from the ground” whenever possible.

“As much as it’s going to help you recover, it’s also going to help your energy and make you feel good about yourself,” he said.

Foxfooty.com.au asked Neocleous to break down what a typical week looked like for him in the middle of his draft year.

Sunday: “After a game, I’d do a lot of recovery. I’d go to the sauna and then do some hot-and-cold recovery afterwards. That’s down at Pulse8, my local gym. After that, I’ll go down to the beach to do some mobility and walk around on the water, just to get moving. Then I’ll normally chill out. Obviously, I’m in Year 12, so I’ve got to study, and I’ll hit the books.”

Monday: “More of a light jog, having a kick and doing a bit of touch with the boys. It’s something we do pretty much every night because we’ve got the oval in our backyard, which is handy.”

Tuesday: “Normally training for school from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Once that’s done, I’ll head into the boarding house for about 30 minutes to chill out then head back out to the oval to do my own individual stuff like speed work – Steve Lester has helped me with that this year – and my craft. I’ll get someone out there to throw me ground balls or can some footys for me.”

Wednesday: “Whether we’re going back home for Gippy or staying at school, I’m trying to get another session in. That means more touch and some gym work, because I’ll probably be a bit more recovered by then. I work closely with my strength and conditioning coaches back home and at school.”

Thursday: “Training in the afternoon, with team selection and everything.”

Friday and Saturday: “Before a game, the work is pretty light. It all depends on how I’m feeling and how I pull up on Saturday morning. It’s about getting the ball in my hands and feeling confident going into the game.”

Neocleous’ interest in the finer details of professional athlete life began as early as bottom-age Under 16s, but he’s “really dived into everything” over the past two years.

“I’m pretty self-driven. I watch a lot of things and see what people do in their daily lives on YouTube,” he said.

“I’m always trying to learn, even from the way Caleb Serong speaks after a Grand Final … It’s something small that I like to dive into and see how people go about things.”

SACRIFICE BEHIND OPPORTUNITY

While Neocleous is self-driven, he determined to repay his family, who’ve invested so much in him.

Neocleous made the daunting journey from Traralgon to metropolitan Melbourne in 2024, moving to Caulfield Grammar to board.

His family initially applied for a Year 10 scholarship for Neocleous. The application was unsuccessful … but he went anyway.

“They sent me to Caulfield on a full-fee (basis),” he said.

“I still remember sitting down with Mum and Dad. I knew the money and that it was a lot to go there. They were like: ‘If you really want to go and you think it could benefit you, we’re happy to send you.’ Luckily enough they sent me.

“I’m so privileged to be in such a good position. I’m in a much more privileged position than many others, and I don’t take that for granted. Every time I go into school, I’m trying to do my best. I know what’s got me here, and I’m trying to make the most of my opportunity.”

Neocleous subsequently received a scholarship for his final two years of high school, which “definitely helped take a bit of the burden off”.

But he said he’d be “forever grateful” for the sacrifice his mother Kate and father Gavin made to help him chase his AFL dream.

Kate is a senior staff member at the Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault, while Gavin runs his own plumbing business. Neocleous speaks to his parents every night – and they “don’t miss a game” he plays.

“They’re always there for me, no matter how well or badly I play, they’re always going to love me and reassure that to me,” he said.

“My brother (Harvey) has been through the process as well. He didn’t get to AFL level, but he played VFL and through Gippy. He’s the same as Mum and Dad. They’re so invested in what I’m interested in. They don’t care what happens, they’re going to love me no matter what. I think that’s the best advice and reassurance you can get.

“I think the reason I do it is because I’m trying to prove my support system right, and that’s all of them.”

‘THIS IS A BIT UNIQUE’

Neocleous certainly needed that family support to help him navigate the challenges of his draft year.

He first noticed discomfort in his back during pre-season but “didn’t really know what it was”.

Then, while sitting in a car on the way to Marvel Stadium to represent Vic Country at the national championships, Neocleous was hit with a spasm.

“I felt it in the car and thought: ‘This is a bit unique, I’ve never experienced this before,’” he said.

“I was trying to get it real loose and mobile, but I just couldn’t get it going. I pulled out 10 minutes before we ran out.”

Neocleous subsequently pulled out of Country’s next two matches against Western Australia and South Australia, halting the early-season momentum he’d developed.

He returned for the final game of the carnival against Vic Metro but struggled to find his rhythm after “a two-week block where you’re not doing much”.

“It was difficult. I think I’d had one little run before it,” he said.

“For two weeks, I did a lot of lying around because I couldn’t really move. It had a big impact. I was just happy to be out there.”

Neocleous said he was at 70 per cent for the rest of the season, adding the “last four or five games were more of a struggle to get through”.

Given his meticulous approach to preparation and recovery, the back injury was all the more puzzling and frustrating. He’s been told it might’ve been an impact injury around the national championships, given that’s when the spasms began, but can’t recall any specific incident that caused it.

He believes he’s now past the worst of it.

“We’ve got a diagnosis now and I’m in the recovery phase. Hopefully, I’ll be ready to go for pre-season,” he said.

THE FOOTBALLER BEHIND THE PROFESSIONALISM

The back spasms came during a season that also featured some significant individual highs, including a standout performance for Vic Country after teammates Cody Walker and Noah Williams went down with injury.

The Traralgon product finished with one goal from 21 disposals, 11 score involvements and five clearances to inspire Country to a 13-point win over the Allies in Blacktown.

“Obviously, Cody and Noah going down was big, as they’re our two captains. I felt like it was my time to step up,” he said.

“I got called into the midfield and was more than happy to go in there. My start wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either, so I was just happy to get in there, change the speed on the ball and create momentum for us. I felt like I did that.”

Neocleous also caught the eye at centre bounces for Caulfield Grammar in the APS competition and played a key role in Gippsland Power’s Talent League premiership, booting 12.7 and averaging 17.5 disposals, 4.5 marks and 4.5 tackles across eight games.

“Individually I felt like I was finding some form and hitting the scoreboard a bit more,” he said of his finish to the year.

“I felt like I was playing midfield all the time at school, but I was able to go forward as well, have a fair bit of the football but also hit the scoreboard and set others up.

“I worry more about my score involvements than touches and stuff like that. When I come out of a game with high score involvements, I know I’ve done my job, so I was pretty happy with that.”

Neocleous also made the most of a late call-up to the Australian Under 18 team to take on Richmond’s VFL side in April, booting a clever goal to go with 19 disposals and nine marks.

Months earlier, he starred on the MCG stage, booting three goals from 23 disposals in the Under 17 Futures game on 2025 AFL Grand Final day.

“Oh that was elite. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing footy,” Neocleous said.

“I remember seeing my parents at the gates and I was just jumping up and down. It was pure joy the whole day. I was looking around the ‘G when I was out there, thinking: ‘This is sick.’

“Being able to play on that day in September and get a taste of what it could be like next year was very special.”

‘WOULD LOVE TO BE HALF THE PLAYER’

Neocleous during his top-age years often played as a midfielder. But at 168cm, he knows his size would mean he’d likely need to establish himself as an AFL small forward before earning opportunities in the midfield.

Caulfield Grammar football director and Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel, as well as Neocleous’ manager, Julian Petracca of CDG Sports, have consistently highlighted to clubs in recent months that Neocleous has scope to be an effective high half-forward and link player at AFL level.

“I’m pretty hard-working. I like to get up and down the ground, help transition the ball with the mids and deliver the ball,” Neocleous said.

“Murphy Reid is someone who does that well. I might not be as good as him yet, but I definitely look at the way he delivers the ball, as well as Gryan Miers. But I also want to be someone who can play close to goal and turn an opponent inside out.”

Neocleous said seeing a player like Hawthorn star Nick Watson – who he’s been compared to in recent years – gave him great “reassurance and confidence” that he could impact at AFL level.

“‘Watto’ has been doing some great things this year and since he was drafted,” he said. “I think it shows what a small player can do at the next level and how damaging they can be.

“I’d love to be half the player Watto is. He’s a great player and he’s going to continue to be like that, but to be compared to him is pretty surreal.

“It’s very reassuring seeing him and Isaiah Dudley in the league at the same height as me as well. There’s no excuse for me not that I can’t be at that level or get drafted.”

Once he gets his back right, Neocleous is prepared to do “anything it takes” to make the next step.

“Whether that’s dropping a few kilos or becoming a better runner, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get on a list and become an AFL player,” he said.