A Project It'd Be Cool To Get Your Input On...

[GilG]

Freo brothers and sisters: In a few days, I'll be heading to Melbourne for Grand Final Week. But this year I had planned to go regardless of whether our beloved team made it. That would've been the cherry on the cake.

No, there's a bigger reason.

After countless attempts to interest American sports editors in a piece about American involvement in Aussie Rules, I finally was able to convince a very fair-minded, prominent American sports editor for a major Stateside sports website that it'd be a great feature story to profile the four American players (Eric Wallace, Patrick Mitchell, Jason Holmes and Mason Cox) currently under contract to AFL clubs -- and all playing in state leagues in an attempt to become the first born-and-bred Americans to play in an AFL Premiership Season game. The editor would tell me that in the '80s he was an exchange student with a host WA family and is actually schooled in the great Australian game.

I've already been doing phone interviews here with Aussies and Americans and once I hit Melbourne, my reporting and interviewing will take me to the Collingwood, North Melbourne (and hopefully, St. Kilda) club headquarters, west to Ballarat for a visit to the North Ballarat Roosters, south to Sandringham for a visit to the Zebras and also to Punt Road Oval, where two additional American recruits, fresh from the AFL's U.S. scouting combine, will begin their training journey, with expert Aussie coaches.

Although I've done a ton of legwork and have had very courteous help from the AFL, VFL and individual clubs and am very confident in how this story will turn out, you all have helped get me to this point, with your insights. You've seen and helped my footy knowledge grow and being that you all are so knowledgeable, I'd love to know if you guys and gals have any questions you'd like me to put out there, for anyone.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions for how I could make this piece the best it can be? Do you know any footy people in Melbourne I'd be wise to reach out to? What are answers you'd be interested in getting in such a story, from both the American hopefuls and Aussies?

It'd be great if you can respond to this thread and if there are contact details of people you know, but would like to keep private, just go ahead and send me a direct message.

Cheers!

GilG

 

[Reginald Perrin]

Is there any chance you could throw in a septic reference?

The main thing that would interest me would be the differences between training levels and methods and/or club culture experienced by the players, particularly anything they thought was quintessentially Aussie. None of the bad stuff though, like setting fire to short people or drinking until the last one in the circle passes out.

I was going to be in Melbourne for GF week too, but now I'm going to be in Tasmania for Christmas.

 

[freofc1994]

Gil as we converse often on twitter i'll hit you up there too. I would make a point of speaking with Kevin Sheehan. He has some excellent insight into the draft process and what the clubs are looking for. Obviously i'd like to know how the back ground of the players (i'm assuming they come from American football or basketball) would help them prepare for AFL.

 

[Seppo]

Awesome work GilG lookforward to seeing the final product.

Other than "Shifter" Sheehan as mentioned, try and get a hold of Emma Quayle. She is one of the best in the business especially around drafting.

 

[GilG]

Gil as we converse often on twitter i'll hit you up there too. I would make a point of speaking with Kevin Sheehan. He has some excellent insight into the draft process and what the clubs are looking for. Obviously i'd like to know how the back ground of the players (i'm assuming they come from American football or basketball) would help them prepare for AFL.

Already have Kevin Sheehan lined up for an interview in Melbourne. All four US players (plus two more coming to Melbourne to audition for AFL clubs) are former college basketballers. The piece will fully explain why it's from that sport where Americans are being recruited.

 

[GilG]

Awesome work GilG lookforward to seeing the final product.

Other than "Shifter" Sheehan as mentioned, try and get a hold of Emma Quayle. She is one of the best in the business especially around drafting.

Yes, Emma is on my target list. So is Paige Cardona.

 

[freofc1994]

I'm assuming it's the height and hand eye co-ordination. Do college basketballers go through a NBA combine like the NFL holds or are they drafted purely on the conference performances and NCAA tournament performances

 

[footyfix]

I seem to remember when Nathan Buckley had his "gap year" when he retired from playing he did an extensive fact finding tour of several US sporting teams and in particular NFL teams. I'm stretching my limited memory here but I remember reading an article he wrote that said something along the lines of how much stronger the US teams were in terms of tradition, culture and history but that Aussie rules was 10 years in front of them in terms of sport science and technology. This was the year before he went back to Collingwood as an assistant so not exactly a recent article but I found it fascinating at the time. So I'm wondering if that is still true or has the gap shortened or lengthened in either of those areas.

 

[GilG]

I seem to remember when Nathan Buckley had his "gap year" when he retired from playing he did an extensive fact finding tour of several US sporting teams and in particular NFL teams. I'm stretching my limited memory here but I remember reading an article he wrote that said something along the lines of how much stronger the US teams were in terms of tradition, culture and history but that Aussie rules was 10 years in front of them in terms of sport science and technology. This was the year before he went back to Collingwood as an assistant so not exactly a recent article but I found it fascinating at the time. So I'm wondering if that is still true or has the gap shortened or lengthened in either of those areas.

It's VERY odd Buckley would say American football clubs were "ahead" as far as culture and tradition, considering the first Australian professional footy clubs predate American ones by 34 years. Does "ahead" mean players self-promoting and putting their needs ahead of their respective clubs?

 

[footyfix]

No I think he meant that they take themselves more seriously and the tribalism and history was more ingrained. Along the lines of how Americans take their patriotism to another level, that sort of fanaticism. I'm probably not explaining it right. I'll try to find the article. He couldn't have written that many.

 

[footyfix]

OOps, so he's written a book. Regardless, my question is, is there much of a gap in the application of technology and sport sciece with American football teams as opposed to Aussie teams. Leave it at that. Any help at all?

 

[coldlunch]

top work, Gil.

an interesting angle may be to speak to one/some of the Australian born basketball converts and get their perspective on how and what skills translate.
and if you're feeling super ambitious, you could try speak with or at least make mention of Patty Mills as an example of a player going the other way.
he might be a good tie-in, given his reasonably high profile in the US right now and his footy background + Crows fanaticism. seems like a guy who would be more than keen to give a few words to help out too.

 

[Pusswah]

Visit Jim's Greek Tavern in Collingwood.

When the waiter asks tell him what meats you like and go with their judgement on what they bring out.






Wear your big pants.

 

[Bicco]

How about a simple question, like what is the one skill hardest to master. Usually it's either kicking on the opposite foot or ( I know this of Kiwi's) bouncing the ball.

 

[Okinakashi]

I'd like to know how the US boys compare to similar age Aussies? I imagine that these blokes have had some kind of semi-pro basketball background and wonder how it compares to the Aussies who've come through the u16, u18 state squads. Especially from the US perspective.

I remember when Luc Longly first played NBA, there was a lot of talk that he was lazy etc, but he was just a lot more relaxed and it was seen as a poor attitude. I think there's similar rumours about some of the other young Aussie basketballers in the US.


Anyway, just a thought. Can't wait to read the article.

 

[such is fyfe]

sports science should be a key focus. FSU adopted the Australian designed Catapult GPS/workload monitoring systems on their way to last years natty.

Take a look at this article http://sportsdiatribe.com/2014/06/02/aussie-rules-football-borrows-from-nfls-spread-offense/ on sports tactics.

 

[GilG]

top work, Gil.

an interesting angle may be to speak to one/some of the Australian born basketball converts and get their perspective on how and what skills translate.
and if you're feeling super ambitious, you could try speak with or at least make mention of Patty Mills as an example of a player going the other way.
he might be a good tie-in, given his reasonably high profile in the US right now and his footy background + Crows fanaticism. seems like a guy who would be more than keen to give a few words to help out too.

GREAT idea! Wow. I hadn't thought of that. Wonder if he might me at the Granny. I'll get in touch with the Spurs. Thanks VERY much for that. Onya, coldlunch!

 

[GilG]

How about a simple question, like what is the one skill hardest to master. Usually it's either kicking on the opposite foot or ( I know this of Kiwi's) bouncing the ball.

LOL! Took me YEARS to get bouncing the ball right. Just recently got it down. On right hand, thumb below and left of the laces, remaining four fingers form the right side of the "V," gently caress the footy with the palm and ever so slightly and calmly flick wrist down and she'll bounce right back to you. My experience with the footy was like the Na'vi in "Avatar" learning to ride the flying ikran by bonding with them!

 

[GilG]

sports science should be a key focus. FSU adopted the Australian designed Catapult GPS/workload monitoring systems on their way to last years natty.

Take a look at this article http://sportsdiatribe.com/2014/06/02/aussie-rules-football-borrows-from-nfls-spread-offense/ on sports tactics.

Thanks for this! Always wondered what company designed the GPS thingy for AFL clubs -- unheard of in U.S. (at least until what you reference here). Very helpful! Thanks!

 

[Pusswah]

gently caress

[barry white] Ohh baby [/barry white]

 

[Taylor]

I'd like to know how the US basketballers compare with the Australian players in terms of athletic results (agility testing etc) and then how the US athletes here compare to those sticking with the NBA.

I'm wondering if there is an even greater physical leap possible.

 

[JamFrank]

I'd be interested to know what the American player's first impressions of watching AFL were, both televised and live. Did they appreciate how challenging a game it would be to play the first time they saw others playing? Did they find it entertaining, or just confusing?

Also, see if you can get them to explain the holding the ball rule to you

 

[Freodoc]

I'd be interested to know what the American player's first impressions of watching AFL were, both televised and live. Did they appreciate how challenging a game it would be to play the first time they saw others playing? Did they find it entertaining, or just confusing?

Also, see if you can get them to explain the holding the ball rule to you

May get some clarity / consistency

 

[theGav56]

Interesting that it is primarily basketball players. With a few AFL players heading to the states, mainly as kickers, I would have thought there could be more interest in players from collision sports who may fit in. Then again the rugby guys have not had a major impact in the afl despite being awesome athletes familiar with a similar type of ball.

 

[GilG]

Interesting that it is primarily basketball players. With a few AFL players heading to the states, mainly as kickers, I would have thought there could be more interest in players from collision sports who may fit in. Then again the rugby guys have not had a major impact in the afl despite being awesome athletes familiar with a similar type of ball.

What I'm hearing so far is that AFL clubs like the size and the agility of former US college basketballers to convert to ruckmen -- and as a bonus, could be used up forward or down back. Clubs reckon they can develop and build their endurance through all the running and teach them how to kick. From what I know about the Grand Canyon-sized disparity between skills of Aussies who've grown up playing the game and raw Americans, it'd be highly unlikely to see any born-and-bred American imports be midfielders, unless footy ever became played as widely here as it is in Oz, with American kids starting out almost from the womb, kicking.

American converts also are racing the clock against Aussie competitors, as when our boys finish college basketball careers, they're 22 at the youngest, trying to learn a sport they likely never heard of until a few months before and going against the cream of the crop 18-year-olds. Sepos (see, I got in a septic tank reference and can laugh at ourselves!) also are at a disadvantage because they're learning to play a position that's traditionally one that takes a few years to develop, anyway.

Don't forget, American athletes have to adapt to a different sporting culture and assimilate into a country where despite no language barrier and similar mainstream culture and how welcome they're made to feel, they are foreigners who must adjust.

Bottom line, it's a long shot.

Dozens over the last three years have gone to the AFL American combines and we're still waiting and hoping for our first son to get a game.

I have to believe AFL clubs wouldn't waste a spot on a novelty act, so I'm hoping the first player to get a game will do so on his merits.