Uncovering the home truths of draft selection

[medusala]

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/11/21/1163871406096.html

AFL clubs have become so intent on recruiting players of impeccable standing that at least one has bravely gone where few human agencies ever dare — into the bedrooms of teenagers.

"One coach said he got a really good sense of a player's character when he visited his family and got to have a look at the player's bedroom," Dr Chris Hickey, senior lecturer in education at Deakin University and co-author of a study into AFL professionalism, said.

"Apparently, he could tell a lot about the boy by the way he kept his bedroom."

Coaches and recruiters observed what work likely recruits did around the house, whether they did other work, how they spoke to their parents, how the parents themselves spoke and acted. They took into account socio-economic factors: suburbs, schools, family status.

They interviewed junior coaches, teachers and principals.

One club official told the authors of the study about a potentially difficult player presently on an AFL list.

"Everyone knows he can play football, but to be honest, once you've met the old man, you just don't want to go there," he said. "It's a shame, but the reality is that you don't want to bring people in that have the potential to stuff up your club."

Observed a seasoned player: "The way things are going, we'll only recruit private schoolboys in the future."

......

Interesting, given that Hawthorn probably more so than any other club has been accused of favouring a certain background for its players.

[xyakks]

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/11/21/1163871406096.html

AFL clubs have become so intent on recruiting players of impeccable standing that at least one has bravely gone where few human agencies ever dare — into the bedrooms of teenagers.

"One coach said he got a really good sense of a player's character when he visited his family and got to have a look at the player's bedroom," Dr Chris Hickey, senior lecturer in education at Deakin University and co-author of a study into AFL professionalism, said.

"Apparently, he could tell a lot about the boy by the way he kept his bedroom."

Coaches and recruiters observed what work likely recruits did around the house, whether they did other work, how they spoke to their parents, how the parents themselves spoke and acted. They took into account socio-economic factors: suburbs, schools, family status.

They interviewed junior coaches, teachers and principals.

One club official told the authors of the study about a potentially difficult player presently on an AFL list.

"Everyone knows he can play football, but to be honest, once you've met the old man, you just don't want to go there," he said. "It's a shame, but the reality is that you don't want to bring people in that have the potential to stuff up your club."

Observed a seasoned player: "The way things are going, we'll only recruit private schoolboys in the future."

......

Interesting, given that Hawthorn probably more so than any other club has been accused of favouring a certain background for its players.


Best indicator would be to look under the bed to see what sort of things they kept under there. :p

[Pessimistic]

I am always sceptical about personell selection.

You can guage the success or failure of the minority of candidates you actually employ.

You cannot guage anything about the majority you reject.

A footy club takes 1/16th of the available players - it kind of bears my first statement out.

for 99.99999 of all draft slections there would be a later taken player who turned out better.

[burner1]

I am always sceptical about personell selection.

You can guage the success or failure of the minority of candidates you actually employ.

You cannot guage anything about the majority you reject.

A footy club takes 1/16th of the available players - it kind of bears my first statement out.

for 99.99999 of all draft slections there would be a later taken player who turned out better.

Not sure what your getting at. You sure can see what happens to the players you reject - you see them play in other teams and against your teams.

Furthermore a footy club doesnt take just 1/16th of the avaiable players - theres hundreds who nominate and only a small percentage who get picked up. Furthermore clubs show how they rate players by the order they pick them up. There someones analysis showing that the success rates or each round of draftees with the success rate dropping each round. Indeed its far more than a random lottery - theres whole teams of people from each club assigned to get the picks right. The difference in personal selection can be seen from the difference in clubs that have made poor selections in a period of time ie essendon compared to a club like WC whos done fairly well in recent years.

Yes its always uncertain but your trying to take well judged risks. Just because a better player may be picked later doesnt mean its a better selection - it may have just been a risky pick that came off. Furthermore theres a big difference from picking a total spud with early picks and a better than average player. If you contiually get the better than average player then your going to do well compared to other clubs over time.

Getting the right people into the club is paramount - its uncertain - but every effort must be made to get it right.

[medusala]

I am always sceptical about personell selection.

for 99.99999 of all draft slections there would be a later taken player who turned out better.

I think the point is to avoid a certain type of player who though talented has issues which prevent them from fulfilling their potential. Its not just Angwin, Lawrence, Rioli, Cupido etc at other clubs Hawthorn has had its own share.

Allan Jeans was often accused in certain circles of having a strong preference for private school kids and IIRC he had a run in with Darren Millane who obviously didnt fit in with the type of person he was after.

[frankc]

I think the point is to avoid a certain type of player who though talented has issues which prevent them from fulfilling their potential. Its not just Angwin, Lawrence, Rioli, Cupido etc at other clubs Hawthorn has had its own share.

Allan Jeans was often accused in certain circles of having a strong preference for private school kids and IIRC he had a run in with Darren Millane who obviously didnt fit in with the type of person he was after.

Gee if this is the case, his strategy sure worked. Mabye clarkson should take not.

[Robber Baron]

Clarkson has not made a mistake yet. All the kids he selected are still there. The only ones he let go were the ones that Shcwab picked us. Our future is in great hands with Pelchin and Clarkson. They will pick us some more guns.

[Hawk Dork]

There is probably one who didnt fit in who did OK
Gary Ablett

[philhawk]

I think analyzing the personality and psych profile of draftee's is more important than ever in todays drafting.

Players can be as charming as they like in interviews, so it takes good recruiters more effort and time to go out of their way and find out about these players. Even talking to friends, teachers and asking other people what they think about the draftees could be important in finding whether they have a 'greedy' personality - which could pose contract problems for the club later down the track.

I remember Mick Malthouse also commmenting on how, when he was at West Coast and recruited Michael Gardiner with Pick 1, he saw in Gardiners Pre-draft profile mentioning how Gardiner was expelled from his school, yet he decided to not heed that (though he wish he did).

It's funny, but look how things fared down the track.