Hawthorn premiership player Rick Ladson says AFL clubs would be "mad" not give country football star Jack Geary a shot at the big time next season.
Media have reported that Geary, a teammate of Ladson's at Bendigo Football League club Golden Square, is on the radar of AFL recruiters.
The 23-year-old "beast" is the only bush footballer chosen to play for the VFL's International Rules side against Ireland at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
Ladson said if recruiters weren't looking at Geary, then they weren't doing their jobs.
"You don't come across them too often, the ones like Jack, that have the running capacity, the strength, the speed and the skill level to go with it," Ladson said.
"His leadership quality, for a young guy, is something I haven't seen too often either in my time down in Melbourne.
"(Recruiters) aren't doing their jobs if they're not looking at him, put it that way."