Alex Condon (Future Cat B Candidate?)

[76woodenspooners]

Not really sure if the point of you taking a swing at Fly. Frampton is our fullback anyway. Mcstay unlikely with his injury history to be asked to do much ruck.

Condon was considered a first round pick at the time and played for WA as an under 18. If he hits the ground running who knows how quickly we might see him in the seniors. Early 2027 is a possibility.

Not taking a swing at all.

When Cameron and Cox weren’t available - and Begg and Steene were - Fly opted to take Frampton out of the backline and move him to Ruck instead.

 

[Jen2310]

Not taking a swing at all.

When Cameron and Cox weren’t available - and Begg and Steene were - Fly opted to take Frampton out of the backline and move him to Ruck instead.

Because fly doesn't like to throw not ready kids to the wolves.

 

[Gone Critical]

A good result for us in that he might end up with us and not in the NBA.

I have no doubt even if he joined us mid year that we’d be unlikely to see him at AFL level until 2028. He’ll need time to relearn the game.

I think its very common for people to believe it takes longer than it does for players to step up to AFL after they arrive at the club. With Condon, if he joined us mid year and is a very good prospect who has played the game already, late 2026 would be possible. If he didnt play in 2027 I would be worried.

Cox who had never played debuted earlish in his 2nd season and played 11 games that year. Most of the remaining games.

I would hope Condon will be better than Cox and if he is early games will be on.

 

[GCPie]

The game today showed why Haugh (with a solid double double) is the pick of the mock drafts to be the only Gator drafted this year.
It looks like Alex's will miss being drafted this year and the only question left is if he wants to graduate a Gator.

 

[sr36]

Because fly doesn't like to throw not ready kids to the wolves.

Hard to say as we haven't had likely kids.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Not taking a swing at all.

When Cameron and Cox weren’t available - and Begg and Steene were - Fly opted to take Frampton out of the backline and move him to Ruck instead.

That was 2024 and Steene also had injuries that year and was clearly not ready . Begg got a couple of games and is now delisted. We were pretty light on for options… even Ash Johnson was used at times..Frampton was the obvious best choice at the time and did a good job.

You literally mentioned Flys integrity. Of course you were taking a swing.

 

[zhoung]

Auburn beat Florida by 9 points (76-67)

Alex's stats: 37 mins - 1 point, 9 rebounds, 1 assist
0-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, 4 TO, 1 steal, 3 blocks

 

[zhoung]

Depends what he's plating up. It would want to be better than his basketball

Nah, the best basketball players in the world play NBA, with 60 chosen each year.
He’s clearly a talent but maybe not talented enough.
We have 27 million people and draft 50-70 a year, they draw from 500 million plus (guess based on US 330 million probably much higher) and all of a sudden he’s no good?
If he doesn’t make it and ends up at the Pies we’ll have all the other clubs supporters bitching and whinging even though we started this journey years ago.

 

[Apex36]

It took Parker around 3 months to re learn the game and get his fitness up to scratch.. so if he comes mid year, its not out of poportion he could play some vfl before the of the season and prepare for a full pre-season in 2027

Parker is a good example given he was rated as an early selection in his draft year much like Alex.

I’d imagine if he comes home mid-year then he’d have a block of conditioning, and be in the VFL side within around 6 weeks.

 

[manicpie]

Parker is a good example given he was rated as an early selection in his draft year much like Alex.

I’d imagine if he comes home mid-year then he’d have a block of conditioning, and be in the VFL side within around 6 weeks.

Do you think he's a realistic chance of coming mid year? You're right, baring injury, he could play later in the year

 

[sr36]

Depends what he's plating up. It would want to be better than his basketball

He's bloody good at basketball Manic. But to get drafted in the AFL, you've got to be top 60 prospect in Australia rather than a top 60 prospect in the world like in the NBA draft.

 

[manicpie]

He's bloody good at basketball Manic. But to get drafted in the AFL, you've got to be top 60 prospect in Australia rather than a top 60 prospect in the world like in the NBA draft.

He could return to Australia and play basketball, or does he have to choose football because we're paying him?

 

[TradeDraft]

He could return to Australia and play basketball, or does he have to choose football because we're paying him?

He could but Signed with us as a Cat B so that would not go down well.

Though IF he does not make it with us he can play Basketball Afterwards like Tom Wilson Did

 

[sr36]

He could return to Australia and play basketball, or does he have to choose football because we're paying him?

No idea what his contract would be, but I'd assume he'd still have the option to play basketball in a lower league in the states, in Europe or in Australia - but sounds like it's NBA or footy for him. Must be very money focussed - rather than a preference for one of the sports.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

No idea what his contract would be, but I'd assume he'd still have the option to play basketball in a lower league in the states, in Europe or in Australia - but sounds like it's NBA or footy for him. Must be very money focussed - rather than a preference for one of the sports.

Sounds to me like someone that wants to play at the elite level of whatever sport he plays.

If he was money focused he could attract a far better salary in Europe or even the NBL than he would in the AFL initially.

 

[Dtennent94]

Sounds to me like someone that wants to play at the elite level of whatever sport he plays.

If he was money focused he could attract a far better salary in Europe or even the NBL than he would in the AFL initially.

I’m sure NBL players don’t feel like they’re not playing an elite level sport.

I think Condon realises if he’s not in the NBA, then AFL will be most lucrative (especially as a Cat B with no real restriction on earnings and at Collingwood with lots of extra earning opportunities if he makes himself known).

 

[Jen2310]

I think he loved footy as much as basketball, so if basketball didn't work out, he would love to come home and play in front of his family and friends.
Clearly someone that wants to play at the top level. so if it didn't happen in basketball, then might as well try crack his first love of footy.

The recruiting dept that convinced him to choose us (doubt it was that much of a choice) is a bit different now than it was in 2023.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I think he loved footy as much as basketball, so if basketball didn't work out, he would love to come home and play in front of his family and friends.
Clearly someone that wants to play at the top level. so if it didn't happen in basketball, then might as well try crack his first love of footy.

The recruiting dept that convinced him to choose us (doubt it was that much of a choice) is a bit different now than it was in 2023.

Aren't his family and friends in Perth?

 

[Jen2310]

Aren't his family and friends in Perth?

Yeah, but I meant in the country, not overseas.
Easier to fly to perth, or from perth to melb than the US.

 

[35Daicos]

Aren't his family and friends in Perth?

His father played (Reserves) for Hawthorn, and then in the VFA, before heading to WA. So there's probably a few relatives in Victoria.

 

[sr36]

If he was money focused he could attract a far better salary in Europe or even the NBL than he would in the AFL initially.

Nah. He signed with us miles out - it doesn't count in the cap - he won't be on base wage. And starting salaries and n those leagues are a lot lower than AFL base wage.

 

[Harry O]

His father played (Reserves) for Hawthorn, and then in the VFA, before heading to WA. So there's probably a few relatives in Victoria.

And was a big pies fan as a kid

 

[Jen2310]

And was a big pies fan as a kid

their whole family I believe.

The 211cm giant grew up a mad Collingwood supporter and, despite his elite basketball pursuits, a unique five-year deal with the Pies that he signed in 2024 ensures a flicker of hope remains that he will one day don the black and white.

That contract becomes void the moment the 20-year-old is drafted by an NBA team.

“We love the Pies, Alex’s little brother and his sisters love Collingwood and that’s all my doing — good parenting, I call it,” Damien, who grew up in the country Victorian town of Warragul before moving to WA at 22 and winning a trio of WAFL premierships, laughed.

“Alex has a big print of Scott Pendlebury in his room that I bought him when he was a kid, he’s friendly with (gun midfielder) Nick Daicos and (coach) Craig McRae’s been good to him and to us.

“If Alex turned around and said ‘I’m quitting basketball and coming to play with Collingwood’, I’d be doing backflips. But he’s doing so well over there, he’s got some great opportunities.

“Collingwood fully understands and we’ve got a great relationship with the club.”


Dad acknowledges the remarkable opportunity his son’s prodigious talent and physical gifts have afforded him.

“It’s not a bad fall back position if basketball doesn’t work out, is it? Play in front of 80-90,000 at the ‘G,” he said.

“We’re very lucky.”

www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-v-nba-alex-condon-walks-elite-unique-sporting-tightrope-after-return-to-ncaa-champions-florida/news-story/6c7a184f236514c4a10fd5429bcd46fc?fbclid=IwY2xjawPlc6BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsNWdraFF1UFpZc3VUV1R4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHocm84iZoTqD4ERhLpLJJa1puIHMSRd0jOb7rrvnQ195FpzMTbvKGivBXSB__aem_PgWxfSuj7yjWrTzJ55Fyxw

 

[Apex36]

Do you think he's a realistic chance of coming mid year? You're right, baring injury, he could play later in the year

Unless he’s hell bent on finishing his degree in the US I don’t see why he’d stay beyond the draft. Assuming he’s not drafted his best course of action career wise would be to come straight back to Australia, get in the AFL program and transfer his degree to a Melbourne based uni.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Nah. He signed with us miles out - it doesn't count in the cap - he won't be on base wage. And starting salaries and n those leagues are a lot lower than AFL base wage.

I don’t think he’d be on a starting salary in those leagues. He’d command a middle to higher salary.