Matt Rendell was right

[Damon_3388]

It does seem to be the case that we're seeing slightly fewer indigenous players coming through and fewer being taken as very early draft picks.

Recent trends would skew toward the opposite being true. An unprecedented three Indigenous players (Jarrod Pickett, Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrod Garlett) were selected in the first round of the National Draft last year, for example.

 

[DAWESOME!!]

Recent trends would skew toward the opposite being true. An unprecedented three Indigenous players (Jarrod Pickett, Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrod Garlett) were selected in the first round of the National Draft last year, for example.

Happy to be corrected.

 

[big78sam]

I agree non indigenous players leave as well it just seems that we've had a far higher percentage of indigenous players leaving the system. About 9% of players on afl lists are indigenous so we should see 10 times the number of non indigenous players leaving all other things being equal. As I said in the op I'm not sure the solution and the effect this has on recruiters but thought it was worth a thread to discuss.

I do think rendell was hung out to dry but that's for another thread.

 

[Defacto]

Josh Simpson didn't leave by choice. He was put on probation and ultimately de-listed. He was pretty keen to stay on the list.

he wanted a foot in each door. basically he was given an ultamatium by family and local community elders, choose the missus and kids or the "white mans" game

freo did everything they could, but he wanted to stay at freo, without being at freo. how can you manage that?

 

[Defacto]

the real issue facing west australian football, is not an indigenous issue. its not white nor black or perceived issues with assimilation or cultural. its the fact that the path way to AFL football from regional areas is being eroded. the WAFC do not currently have the resources to correctly mentor regional football through out the state, especially very remote areas. funding has stagnated but theyre expected to do more than their counter parts in Victoria, who have to cover a much smaller and more accessible area

that is going to hurt "white" kids and indigenous kids

 

[Roo Lives Again]

I can't think of a significant amount let alone dozens. Assuming this is the case, how does it compare in percentages?

Yes, he's named one whereas the Op listed many. not exactly backing up his point of view. Nathan Ablett was a bit of a different type of human I reckon.

 

[Roo Lives Again]

Brad Moran from the Crows left to pursue a different career path a few years back too. Some just lose their passion for footy and pursue different career paths.

Brad Moran was a fringe player who was never going to have much of a career....he left before he was asked to leave

 

[The_Reaper]

Recent trends would skew toward the opposite being true. An unprecedented three Indigenous players (Jarrod Pickett, Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrod Garlett) were selected in the first round of the National Draft last year, for example.

Jarrod Pickett and Jarrod Garlett grew up in Perth.

Like Dayle they're not experiencing the cultural clash that Rendell was talking about.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

On the non-indigenous side, there have been others who have decided being an AFL player isn't for them: Kyle Martin from Collingwood did so at the end of last season. Wasn't there a guy playing for West Coast who left because he preferred to pursue being a doctor (I want to say Tom Swift but am probably wrong).

It does seem to be the case that we're seeing slightly fewer indigenous players coming through and fewer being taken as very early draft picks.

Fairly stupid rookie list salary rules in Martins case. It's as full time as a senior listed player. I don't think you can do it for too many years compared to $40k+ to play local footy on top of a full time day job.

 

[PowerbaII]

Brad Moran was a fringe player who was never going to have much of a career....he left before he was asked to leave

Yep, but he's still in the minority of players to do so even for fringe players. His business interests took priority in the end.

 

[Damon_3388]

Jarrod Pickett and Jarrod Garlett grew up in Perth.

Like Dayle they're not experiencing the cultural clash that Rendell was talking about.

I know that, just pointing out that nobody is shying away from drafting Indigenous kids.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Rendell was 100% right when he said (I think) "All things being equal, you take the Caucasian player over the indigenous player" They have a higher chance of not adapting

 

[Go the Guts]

Sadly Stephen Trigg bowed down to the AFL's pressure to sack Rendell. In the current age of political correctness, the professionally outraged will latch on to anything that is seen as remotely racist and won't back down until the reputation of that person is ruined, without giving them a chance to explain themselves. It's quite sick really.

EFA. Between overseeing this Rendell fiasco and sacking him, and then the Tippet saga, Trigg nearly stuffed this club. So glad he's gone.

 

[Mattrox]

Dayle Garlett is irrelevant. He grew up in Perth. His issues are completely different to what Rendell was talking about.

There is a pretty apparent culture shift between remote indigenous communities and living in one of the big cities.

And not everyone is able to or in the end even wants to overcome it.



How many players from remote indigenous communities actually have made it?

Nathan Djerrkura was on Geelong's list for years trying to break into the 1sts. Would have made best 22 at many other clubs.

Eventually went home due to responsibilities to his community. Injuries possibly helped the decision.

He gave it a good shake. May not have made it in a "superstar" sense. But left the NT for Scotch College after year 10 and was in the AFL system for a number of years (6 I reckon).

His background was from a remote community. But his late father was a wise man and as a young man Nathan had an old head on young shoulders.

 

[Tex Support]

Rendell was right and left to rot by Steven Trigg before he ended up at Collingwood. He should still be our head recruiter.

It's not that simple. He rocked a lot of boats...

Brilliant recruiter though.

 

[mayne man]

The non-Indigenous guys don't quit they do it differently. They do a Colin Sylvia and keep turning up to training and phoning it in knowing the club can't sack them just for not trying really really hard. The Indigenous guys lose passion and have somewhere else to go so cut deals and go.

There's also a bias because Indigenous players are often more talented at their best, so you take a punt on more of them knowing if you get it right you might have a player who can do rare things.

The non Indigenous player who comes from a troubled home community with a lot of other things going on in his life doesn't even get picked up because more than likely he doesn't have the talent to make the risk reward worth it.

at freo Sylvia, simpson and walters all got the same treatment

 

[J_Moore]

Rendall was certainly right to observe that indigenous kids from remote communities often struggle with the cultural shift required to play full-time professional footy.

Rendall was not right to suggest the solution to that problem might be an explicitly racist recruiting policy.

 

[tenderwarrior]

A young indigenous player quits and it is 'cultural', pure and simple..

... any other player quits and they are homesick (Flynn), pursuing other interests (Swift), lack of desire (Ablett), making a lifestyle choice (Martin) or have a mental health issue (Clark, Hogan).

 

[J_Moore]

Rendell was 100% right when he said (I think) "All things being equal, you take the Caucasian player over the indigenous player" They have a higher chance of not adapting

It's a stupid and pointless hypothetical that achieves nothing by being raised. All things are never equal.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

It's a stupid and pointless hypothetical that achieves nothing by being raised. All things are never equal.

But he's right. Probably hurt a few feelings saying it but it's 100% true

 

[Underdog]

Rendall was certainly right to observe that indigenous kids from remote communities often struggle with the cultural shift required to play full-time professional footy.

Rendall was not right to suggest the solution to that problem might be an explicitly racist recruiting policy.

Rendall didn't share his opinion publicly. He shared it privately to the appropriate department in order to highlight and work on a very real issue. He was then sold out by the AFL.

Being a recruiter is about making decisions based on evidence, opinions and percentages. Its pretty naive to think they're not going to consider ALL factors and I'm talking about ALL recruiters.

Rendall shared his insight so that something can be done to remove that as a factor.

 

[Underdog]

It's a stupid and pointless hypothetical that achieves nothing by being raised. All things are never equal.

You're taking the term 'equal' too literal.

Equal in this context refers to two players who they can't split. They likely have very different strengths and weaknesses, they just can't decide who's the better prospect.

 

[DangerSloane]

Brad Moran from the Crows left to pursue a different career path a few years back too. Some just lose their passion for footy and pursue different career paths.

Brad Moran sucked so bad.

He luckily made an app that makes some money.

 

[Balony_pony16]

It's something I have noticed with Richmond, we just don't recruit indigenous players anymore. I'm not sure if its just that there are none worthwhile with the picks we have had, or that we stay clear now as we have had a poor recent record with indigenous players.

Shane Edwards is our only indigenous player, and he grew up in your typical Australian household, not a remote community. Its a shame, as I would love to see some more indigenous players running around in a Richmond jumper..

Richmond needs to do more..

lions are the same... we recruited Christensen to be our "Token Black Guy" post McGraths retirement. And in fact our lack of indigenous programs cost us signing Ryder who went to Port (great indigenous program)

 

[mike123]

I pretty sure its because more indigenous people are from remote areas than white people. Its not the recruiting of indigenous people that's the problem its picking kids from remote areas.

Dayle Garlett was just a dickhead.

Timmy Sumner probably just looked at how talented the Gold Coast line up, Matera wasn't picked and GC forward line on paper still looks dangerous.