Carlton are interested in adding the highly-rated young Australian basketball player Matthew Owies to their list for 2019, and are poised to take him as a category B rookie selection in this year’s AFL draft.

Matthew Owies is making the switch from basketball to footy. Credit:University of Hawaii

Melbourne-born Owies recently moved back to Australia after living in the United States since 2016, playing college basketball with the University of Hawaii and most recently Seattle University.

It is also understood that Geelong have registered their interest in Owies, who showed promise as a footballer in his younger years.

Standing at 185cm tall, Owies played APS school football at St Kevins College until year nine - mostly as a midfielder and a part-time forward – before he switched his focus to basketball.