Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
VFL/AFL: 12650th player to appear, 5835th most games played, 2287th most goals kicked
Collingwood: 1148th player to appear, 492nd most games played, 187th most goals kicked
When Tom took the spectacular mark on Saturday, and his immediate reaction, the smile that burst on to his face and stayed there, with his teammate applauding him, was a great moment in football.The number of players overlooked by "talent scouts" is getting a little embarrassing. Geelong has Tom Stewart and Tim Kelly who are probably in the first half dozen picked. St. Kilda are crying out for players with a bit of the spark and it's not surprising that they drafted two "mature age" indigenous guys, and these two are doing something that the rest of the list doesnt seem capable of doing - showing a bit of zip. As far as I'm concerned, I wouldnt be waiting for a mid year draft to rookie slightly older indigenous players into the team. It seems to me that the people doing the selection of players are fixated on 18 year olds. They need to get out a bit more and half a look at a few seniors games. I just remembered Marty Hore who is basically replicating his VFL form. The thing about Brody is that he is spectacularly unspectacular - he marks what he should mark and he kicks goals that he should kick. He is always engaged in helping out when a lot of other players are twiddling their thumbs. Get more old blokes in...
The number of players overlooked by "talent scouts" is getting a little embarrassing. Geelong has Tom Stewart and Tim Kelly who are probably in the first half dozen picked................ It seems to me that the people doing the selection of players are fixated on 18 year olds.
Nicely put.If we’d recruited Checkers in the Dark Ages of 2014-7, and he was doing then what he’s doing now, we’d all be drooling. But to some extent we take him for granted. An ‘embarrassment of riches’ up forward? Maybe not quite, but he is a very talented player amongst other very talented players. And he’s as tough as teak. Love him.
I think you're being a bit harsh on the recruiters and your logic is a bit frayed. You're criticising them for not having drafted these blokes as 18 year olds and then also criticising them for being fixated on 18 year olds.
Why can't we celebrate these success stories without taking a pot shot at others. Maybe the recruiters got it right. Maybe these guys wouldn't have survived and thrived if added to an AFL environment at 18 years of age. We'll never know.
Has exceeded, battles hard, does the basics, great pick up. Might struggle hanging onto him as he is worth more than what he is most likely earning.
No I'm not saying that. I mightnt have explained myself clearly. I think they are overlooking 25 year olds in the draft in order to draft 18 year olds. Mihocek might have been just an ordinary kid at 18. For some reason I think of Ben Crocker as an example. However, Mihocek proved in the VFL that he could match it with AFL listed players. He also demonstrated a commitment to self improvement and just rocking up season after season. You dont get any of that proof from an 18 year old. I would have preferred for Ben not to be drafted at 18 and see if he has the same commitment to self development and just plain old commitment to footy, and specifically allow himself to develop a game style and smarts which would allow him to match it with AFL players. In the end, there's a strong chance that he will be delisted at some stage and will never get another chance. You only have to look at Jye Bolton. He was considered good enough to be drafted as a kid, but didnt have a clue another than his footy skills. After 2 Sandover medals, you would think he would have been a certainty for something in the last couple of drafts. Look at Tim Kelly. No doubt that his personal life impacted on recruiters but I cant believe west coast or fremantle didnt put him a rookie list. Is he going to poison the whole club if he doesnt turn up at training?
I think recruiters dont look enough outside the under 18 system.
I think they should change drafting rules regarding age. We churn through kids way too quickly before they are close to being physically or emotionally developed. I'd like to see a situation where clubs can take 1 18 year old (only so we don't miss out on any years of freakshow kids like Stephenson), 1 19 year old and anyone else must be 20+.
I think they should change drafting rules regarding age. We churn through kids way too quickly before they are close to being physically or emotionally developed. I'd like to see a situation where clubs can take 1 18 year old (only so we don't miss out on any years of freakshow kids like Stephenson), 1 19 year old and anyone else must be 20+.
Best value recruit of his type just about ever
Shame we can't pay him more. Already had a better career than Tom Boyd
Make it under 19 comp and not under 18. Afterwards kids can play in local and state leagues. I reckon football in general right across the senior leagues would benefit. Without seeing any data, I suspect that the drop off rate is really high for under 18 kids who don't get drafted. If you went with my suggestion, you'd get less kids dropping off because they'd still have a decent shot at getting drafted if they improved. Thus better local and state leagues. Those who got drafted later would be better prepared physically, mentally and emotionally. Thus I wouldn't be surprised if it also resulted in better mental health outcomes. You'd still probably have 36 teenagers selected every year. Its just that the other 30 draftees would be in their 20s and better prepared.To do that they would have to set up a genuine u21 system with pay or too many kids would fall by the way side. Our culture is much more different then US college system.
The number of players overlooked by "talent scouts" is getting a little embarrassing.
Isn’t it already and under 19s comp?Make it under 19 comp and not under 18. Afterwards kids can play in local and state leagues. I reckon football in general right across the senior leagues would benefit. Without seeing any data, I suspect that the drop off rate is really high for under 18 kids who don't get drafted. If you went with my suggestion, you'd get less kids dropping off because they'd still have a decent shot at getting drafted if they improved. Thus better local and state leagues. Those who got drafted later would be better prepared physically, mentally and emotionally. Thus I wouldn't be surprised if it also resulted in better mental health outcomes. You'd still probably have 36 teenagers selected every year. Its just that the other 30 draftees would be in their 20s and better prepared.
Isn’t it already and under 19s comp?
I think they should change drafting rules regarding age. We churn through kids way too quickly before they are close to being physically or emotionally developed. I'd like to see a situation where clubs can take 1 18 year old (only so we don't miss out on any years of freakshow kids like Stephenson), 1 19 year old and anyone else must be 20+.
Why? We used to have the same sort of rule, with only one 17 year old. We diidn't see any legal action then. We didn't see this occur when we stopped drafting 16 or 17 year olds at all.It would end up in the courts with class action restraint of trade case against the AFL and destroy the fragile peace we currently have on drafting and trading. I'd rather see some allowance made for clubs to rookie 1 or 2 mature age players in much the same way they can list Cat B rookies.