View Full Version : Anybody know anything about Nathan Foley
He's one of the 'boys' in Hi 5 isn't he?
Originally posted by Lidge
He's one of the 'boys' in Hi 5 isn't he?
:D :D
"hand's in the air,let's do it together" Hi-5 :p
bulletproof
16 Dec 2003, 10:17
Luke's last gasp draft chance
D-DAY: Luke Buckland and mate Case Tully at training last night. The 17-year-old will learn today if he is picked up by an AFL club for the 2004 season. Photo: REG RYAN
Tuesday, December 16
September:
Lead-up to draft camp
I ran everyday leading up to the AFL Draft Camp with Col and Ben Darrington. Col's my old basketball coach and he's always worked with me on my fitness and I boxed three times a week.
I worked hard on my fitness, you don't want to look bad alongside the 70 or so elite young footballers that will be there.
I don't usually get nervous before games, but knowing that there would be all these AFL coaches and recruiting managers watching you, it's a bit hard not to. School took a back seat all year, but even more so at this time.
October:
AFL draft camp, day 1
We arrived Wednesday morning and had an introduction. The main focus was on being yourself and putting in as much as you can.
I knew a couple of guys from Vic Country and there was a real bond and respect between the boys because we had won the under-18 national championships. It was really weird, you would have our boys sitting in one corner and Vic Metro sitting in the other, it was almost like the schoolyard.
The first day wasn't physically demanding, but you had the coaches and recruiting managers grilling you with questions.
AFL draft camp, day 2
Everyone was just worried about the beep test and the 3km run, which was the following day. I did better than expected in the beep test.
Two weeks earlier I ran a 12.2 and I ended up running a 14.4, so all the training must have kicked in at the right time and it was probably a bit of adrenaline too, seeing Sheedy, Bomber Thompson and Gary Ayres on the sidelines. The evenings were allocated for meetings. Each club had 20 official meetings, but there were plenty of unofficial ones too.
I only had two official meetings, with Richmond and Sydney.
Both totally different, the Sydney one was pretty intense whereas the Richmond one was more like a casual chat. At one stage I had about three (unofficial meetings) in a couple of minutes, which was quite exciting and the nerves turned into confidence.
AFL draft camp, day 3
I found out Ryley Dunn, who was drafted by Fremantle, had an interview with Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams and he was quite different to say the least.
A lot of the players were almost scared of Williams. On the Friday skills session - which was taken by AIS coach Terry Wheeler and a Melbourne assistant - Williams came out onto the ground with a whistle and kept a close eye on the players while the other coaches sat in the stands. The skills session was really intense.
The end of that day came down to mental strength as much as physical strength. I got a cramp in the warm up to the 3km run on Friday afternoon after putting everything into the skills session. It was a tough way to end the camp, but I think it's quite deliberate so that the recruiters and coaches get a good idea of a player's mental state.
I was pretty pleased with how I went and it was a great experience - if someone had have told me two years ago when I was playing basketball that I would be at the draft camp running round with all these AFL coaches, I would've laughed at them.
October/November - Lead-up to National Draft
Things quietened down considerably. Clubs aren't allowed to talk to you during exams, so you're always trying to reassure yourself that there's interest.
There were six weeks between the draft camp and draft day, but it felt much much longer - everyone was talking about it and there were some phantom drafts on the internet, sometimes you made it and other times you didn't, it's hard to ignore.
I knew I was a longshot because nobody contacted me, only Geelong the day after exams. It was hard dealing with all the expectation because people assume if you go to the draft camp, you're an automatic selection, but that's not the case. Last year only about 50 of the 70 that were at the draft camp were recruited.
November 22:
National Draft Day
I had it all planned on draft day. I told mum I'd wake up, play golf and then come home and celebrate getting drafted by having a barbecue with mates - that was the ideal scenario. The signs weren't good when I woke up though.
It was pouring down rain so I couldn't play golf and I didn't get drafted.
That afternoon, once the draft had concluded, my manager Anthony McConville called me and began planning for the pre-season and rookie drafts. Even though I didn't really expect to get drafted, it was pretty disappointing not to hear your name read out.
I had my two best mates over, Casey Tully from Falcons and James Hattam, who plays for the Geelong Amateurs and got me into footy.
Casey's been a great friend and he was the one that really pushed me at the Falcons this season.
When the draft finished it was almost treated as a death, but I told them it wasn't the end of the world and that I had plenty of development left in me.
I've been told I need to improve my running style, and I'm too skinny to play AFL, so I need to put on a bit of eight.
November/December:
Training with Geelong VFL
I found out I'd be training with Geelong's VFL side a week after the national draft. I've been pretty relaxed because I knew quite a few people.
There's another six Falcons boys and Ron Watt's been fantastic.
It's been fitness based, with a bit of skills work in between.
I haven't really thought about whether I'll make the cut at VFL level if I'm not drafted.
On the positive side, I've put on 2.5kg since the draft camp.
December - Lead up to pre-season and rookie drafts
I'm not holding my breath for the pre-season draft, there's not many picks and my main chance is the rookie draft.
My feelings are similar to the last draft only this time there's not as much build up.
The rookie draft's almost a mystery. My manager told me most rookies don't get approached by the club prior to being picked.
It's always good to know there's another chance coming up, it's not just the end of the road and it's something to keep you focused.
I've continued training with Geelong three times a week and I've been playing cricket for Geelong Premier so that's kept me fit and kept my mind off it.
Today my fingers will be crossed.
There's no nerves like there were in the last draft. If I get picked up it's a bonus, if not I'll just try and work harder and work towards getting drafted next year.
bulletproof
16 Dec 2003, 10:18
And an Old one on James Allen.
Thursday, November 20
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
IF JAMES Allan isn't drafted on Saturday, it won't compare to the devastation he felt when his surgeon told him he required a knee-reconstruction early this year.
Intent on guiding the Falcons to the finals and resurrecting his AFL hopes, Allan received a cruel blow on the eve of the TAC Cup season when he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in an intra-club game, requiring a knee-reconstruction.
Last year, having made the under-18 All-Australian team and attended the national draft camp in Canberra, he had `AFL class' written all over him, but was not one of the 69 players selected in the national draft.
After a season of frustration, in which he hasn't been able to kick a footy, Allan is realistic when it comes to his draft prospects this time round.
``Realistically I'm probably not going to get drafted and I know that, so I'm hoping to get a pre-season (with an AFL club) and if that all goes OK hopefully get on a rookie list,'' Allan said.
``The VFL's a pretty good option now and I've taken advice from a few people who know who they're talking about and they rate the VFL pretty highly now and players are getting picked up from there, so that's a pretty good option for me.
``I haven't really made a decision, but Werribee and Geelong are both close to home so those two will probably be thereabouts.''
Studying Arts Commerce at Deakin University, Allan now appreciates that there's more to life than football.
He also admits a big difference approaching the 2003 draft compared to last year's.
``It was pretty hard to concentrate on exams (last year) but it takes your mind off footy. Last year I did my exams and I didn't do that much study because I was just thinking about footy, a bit too much probably and after I didn't get drafted dad said I hope you're results are alright,'' he said.
``Last year I felt I had a pretty good season, I didn't build myself up to get drafted but I thought I had a bit of a chance and once I didn't get drafted I was disappointed but I thought there's next year but then the injury happened.
``Since I've been doing rehab and now I don't have any expectations of getting drafted at all really, I'm just hoping someone gives me a chance for a pre-season or hoping to get on a rookie list.''
Allan has resumed straight-line running and has been told by physios that he'll be able to commence full-scale training after Christmas, setting his sights on a round one return in 2004.
If his positive attitude and commitment are a yardstick, Allan definitely deserves a crack at the big time.
catta29
16 Dec 2003, 19:13
Well he played onball for the falcons and was named as first rover for the U/18 TAC team of the year. People said his lack of height prevented him from being drafted directly to a club. He's very quick and hard at it and has got a great work ethic.
Actually it would have been interesting to see whether Geelong did pick him up as a rookie but Richmond got him the pick before.
holdencaulfield
16 Dec 2003, 19:47
Happy we have given James Allen A chance . Not as happy as Mick Turner would be i dare say.
BigCat1
16 Dec 2003, 21:09
James Allan is a gun. I hope his knee hasn't held him back to much. He is twice the player Shannon Brynes was in the 2002 TAC cup and that can only be a good thing.
33 possies and a goal a game from a 17 yr old. ;) Can't wait to see him play in the hoops next season.
geelong_falcons
20 Dec 2003, 21:16
He played for the Falcons:D
ScouseCat
21 Dec 2003, 20:31
Originally posted by BigCat1
James Allan is a gun. I hope his knee hasn't held him back to much. He is twice the player Shannon Brynes was in the 2002 TAC cup and that can only be a good thing.
33 possies and a goal a game from a 17 yr old. ;) Can't wait to see him play in the hoops next season.
Is he the one who's size was a concern and the reason nobody had drafted him already??