Homesickness

[TheFrenchCut]

Could it have more to do with:
- there are more afl teams (across the country too) than ever before
- there is more money in playing afl than ever before
- there are greater opportunities for player movement than ever before

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Maybe it's mental health. Maybe it's toughen up and start adulting.

I imagine the homesickness for a guy like Walla would be much more intense than it is for most. He seems to be going alright.

It's not just about comparing the situation of each person on a blank canvas. Walla may not be the slightest bit prone to mental issues and may cruise through the pressure.

Everybody is different and reacts differently. All I'm saying is that for those who do experience mental health issues - and that's a good percentage of the population - the pressure cooker, public environment of AFL football could be very likely to draw out issues.

Having the close support network of family would be one of the first things a health professional would look at: these things are very hard (often impossible) to tackle on your own. And we're taking about young men who usually don't have families of their own, at least not yet.

And before anybody goes with the "this stuff is out of control, every second person claims it"... it wouldn't be the case in all "go home" situations, and how many are there total anyway each year? 5? 10? Out of 600 odd players?

 

[Lore]

It's not just about comparing the situation of each person on a blank canvas. Walla may not be the slightest bit prone to mental issues and may cruise through the pressure.

Everybody is different and reacts differently. All I'm saying is that for those who do experience mental health issues - and that's a good percentage of the population - the pressure cooker, public environment of AFL football could be very likely to draw out issues.

Having the close support network of family would be one of the first things a health professional would look at: these things are very hard (often impossible) to tackle on your own. And we're taking about young men who usually don't have families of their own, at least not yet.

And before anybody goes with the "this stuff is out of control, every second person claims it"... it wouldn't be the case in all "go home" situations, and how many are there total anyway each year? 5? 10? Out of 600 odd players?

There are 811 players including rookies... I think. I might've missed counting a couple due to pre-season retirements. So the fraction is tiny. Add another hundred or so with two new teams and you get another one or two a year that are homesick...?

 

[avignon]

In the 90's there was a young SA boy who cried on his way from Tullamarine and never stopped crying until he returned to SA. Upon his return, it didn't work out for him and he retired. Ladhams?

 

[ghostdog]

It's not just about comparing the situation of each person on a blank canvas. Walla may not be the slightest bit prone to mental issues and may cruise through the pressure.

Everybody is different and reacts differently. All I'm saying is that for those who do experience mental health issues - and that's a good percentage of the population - the pressure cooker, public environment of AFL football could be very likely to draw out issues.

Having the close support network of family would be one of the first things a health professional would look at: these things are very hard (often impossible) to tackle on your own. And we're taking about young men who usually don't have families of their own, at least not yet.

And before anybody goes with the "this stuff is out of control, every second person claims it"... it wouldn't be the case in all "go home" situations, and how many are there total anyway each year? 5? 10? Out of 600 odd players?

I don't disagree with you regarding individual contexts. I get that. I'm probably one of many who've been drawn in by the media coverage of it and find it frustrating.

My point re: Walla is simply to say that his circumstance must surely be one that has been extremely challenging, yet he seems happy and healthy and to have slotted in well. I know he has been living with a very supportive kind of surrogate family, but it would be interesting to know what they have done to help smooth the way.

Also to what extent clubs invest in help from health professionals in terms of constructing the living environment/circumstances that will most easily help them to adapt. I guess that could even go so far as matching psychological profiles of players with host families or housemates.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I think all 1st and possibly 2nd round picks should have to sign min 3 year deals with the team having the option on a 4th year. Kids will be 22-23 and a bit more mature when making decision.

I think at the moment it’s agent driven.

And it’s not an Aussie thing. Lots of young kids go overseas to try their hand at baseball, soccer, basketball etc. Most wait it out.

 

[bomberman500]

Think with the current trend of throwing a shitload of money at kids with potential sitting on rookie deals 'homesickness' is being pushed as a reason to void a contract or force a move home.

honestly a 'homesick' Melbourne kid should be happy with 9 clubs.

Also the 'cry wolf' scenario were actual homesick kids in the future like Adam Saad will be put down as trying to force a move.

Personally I think a rookie contract period of 3-4 years should be mandatory for all kids getting drafted.
In that the player has a trade/no-trade clause. Once he waives his right to no-trade then the club can send him wherever they get the best deal.

After that period, up to the 8 year mark (start of FA) the current rules apply, then after 8 years players have freedom of movement at the end of each contract up til they retire

 

[ant555]

Living away from your kids is another thing completely though.

Not really. Kids, Sisters , Mums and dads it is all family. Who is to say the parents do not play a role in it as well. Homesickness could come from parents not handling their child going interstate at a young age.

 

[Eleven 38]

Given that most of the homesickness is gold coast and Brisbane players if they afl gave them extra salary cap space I reckon the homesickness would be halved and we wouldn't be talking about it, because only the players that are really homesick wpuld be going home.

 

[bombreys]

Think with the current trend of throwing a shitload of money at kids with potential sitting on rookie deals 'homesickness' is being pushed as a reason to void a contract or force a move home.

honestly a 'homesick' Melbourne kid should be happy with 9 clubs.

Also the 'cry wolf' scenario were actual homesick kids in the future like Adam Saad will be put down as trying to force a move.

Personally I think a rookie contract period of 3-4 years should be mandatory for all kids getting drafted.
In that the player has a trade/no-trade clause. Once he waives his right to no-trade then the club can send him wherever they get the best deal.

After that period, up to the 8 year mark (start of FA) the current rules apply, then after 8 years players have freedom of movement at the end of each contract up til they retire

This is the key part for me. Really, if the powers that be are all about creating an even playing field across the competition, players shouldn't be able to say "trade me, I'm homesick" and then follow that up with "I only want to go to club XYZ, because they're offering the most money".

I also agree that rookie contracts should work as they do in the NBA. First round picks sign four year deals - the first two years are guaranteed, and years three and four are both team options. After the end of the fourth year, that player becomes a restricted FA.

 

[bomberman500]

This is the key part for me. Really, if the powers that be are all about creating an even playing field across the competition, players shouldn't be able to say "trade me, I'm homesick" and then follow that up with "I only want to go to club XYZ, because they're offering the most money".

I also agree that rookie contracts should work as they do in the NBA. First round picks sign four year deals - the first two years are guaranteed, and years three and four are both team options. After the end of the fourth year, that player becomes a restricted FA.

only difference is kids will be 22 when they hit FA... no college option here. I reckon 6 for RFA, 8 for UFA and say 4 rookie years where your contract can be traded like American sports

 

[bomberman500]

Given that most of the homesickness is gold coast and Brisbane players if they afl gave them extra salary cap space I reckon the homesickness would be halved and we wouldn't be talking about it, because only the players that are really homesick wpuld be going home.

Brisbane and Sydney did have that... and won 3 flags, then Brisbanes got cut and sydneys renamed to 'Cost of Living'

 

[Old Campaigner]

A big part of why it seems to be an issue in the AFL and not so much in other sports is that we seem to draft kids into an elite environment at a much younger age than other codes around the world.

I don't follow US sports closely but they have a huge college sport system that doubtless provides a more gradual introduction to the world of an elite athlete and ensures that by the time they are drafted into a interstate club they will already have some experience and maturity. Compare that to AFL clubs who are obliged by the system to throw these kids in the deep end at a much younger age.

Raising the draft age and creating an under 20s comp or using the state league colts would have a number of benefits I think, including reducing the homesickness problem.

 

[bomberman500]

A big part of why it seems to be an issue in the AFL and not so much in other sports is that we seem to draft kids into an elite environment at a much younger age than other codes around the world.

I don't follow US sports closely but they have a huge college sport system that doubtless provides a more gradual introduction to the world of an elite athlete and ensures that by the time they are drafted into a interstate club they will already have some experience and maturity. Compare that to AFL clubs who are obliged by the system to throw these kids in the deep end at a much younger age.

Raising the draft age and creating an under 20s comp or using the state league colts would have a number of benefits I think, including reducing the homesickness problem.

maybe... my opinion is clouded somewhat coz I left home at 17 to go get yelled at for pennies on the dollar to what these guys get. Id go play in the Pilbara if it was to play AFL.

Also the NRL has just scrapped its U/20, not sure on the reasons but

 

[Lore]

A big part of why it seems to be an issue in the AFL and not so much in other sports is that we seem to draft kids into an elite environment at a much younger age than other codes around the world.

I don't follow US sports closely but they have a huge college sport system that doubtless provides a more gradual introduction to the world of an elite athlete and ensures that by the time they are drafted into a interstate club they will already have some experience and maturity. Compare that to AFL clubs who are obliged by the system to throw these kids in the deep end at a much younger age.

Raising the draft age and creating an under 20s comp or using the state league colts would have a number of benefits I think, including reducing the homesickness problem.

They move away for college too, it's a rite of passage for them to do that though, and lots and lots of them do. I guess if they then go into national sport they've already been out of home for three or four years, they have a car and a license and know how to pay their bills and buy groceries on a shoestring budget. I guess they learn to be an average fish in an average pond while they're there too, and they're also surrounded by people in the same situation, a whole freshman year group. One of the things that seems to be standard at American colleges is that they're generalists for far longer as well, they don't specialise their degrees until later on, so they're a big cohort for longer, and they have to do public speaking and extra curriculars and a lot of the skills for success seem to be taught in those places.

Here most people live in the greater Melbourne (or Sydney, or Adelaide etc.) regions, and pretty much go to a local school, then a local uni or local tafe or local job. You drive and take public transport to get there.... unless you're a country kid. I don't think country kids are paying their way and looking after themselves at a boarding school hours from home though. Most of the expenses would be part of the tuition. There are a few of us who start out in suburbia and move out of home at 18 to go to uni, it depends on your luck and motivation, but the vast majority don't.

In Francis' case, he's a country kid who went to school in the city - I might be mixing him up with other people, but didn't he live with his aunt or something while he was finishing off his schooling and playing U18s? He would already have plenty of friends and family in Adelaide, which would make that as much like home as the place he actually grew up.

An 18 year old landing in the AFL system after high school comes with all the typical things you would expect of someone who has never been an adult outside of that system. The clubs basically have to teach them all the stuff that the colleges teach the Americans, and they have to do it quickly. I guess that's why the club house exists? The draftees might have only two others from their draft year at the same club, and they may or may not have similar experiences too, which would make it more difficult to make friends.

 

[ant555]

I don't disagree with you regarding individual contexts. I get that. I'm probably one of many who've been drawn in by the media coverage of it and find it frustrating.

My point re: Walla is simply to say that his circumstance must surely be one that has been extremely challenging, yet he seems happy and healthy and to have slotted in well. I know he has been living with a very supportive kind of surrogate family, but it would be interesting to know what they have done to help smooth the way.

Also to what extent clubs invest in help from health professionals in terms of constructing the living environment/circumstances that will most easily help them to adapt. I guess that could even go so far as matching psychological profiles of players with host families or housemates.

For a start the McDonalds knew Walla before he came down. Secondly he very nearly went home a number of times but being a part of a family he had known for a number of years before he came kept him going.

 

[ghostdog]

For a start the McDonalds knew Walla before he came down. Secondly he very nearly went home a number of times but being a part of a family he had known for a number of years before he came kept him going.

So, in your view, how does Walla's success translate into a solution for the club when we look to interstate players in the future?

 

[ant555]

So, in your view, how does Walla's success translate into a solution for the club when we look to interstate players in the future?

It does not. The circumstances where unique to Walla.
All you can do is find a good place for them to live and be comfortable. Get their family over as often as possible and support them as best you can. There will be cases where players will want to go and it is just how it is.
I can say there are a lot of cases not reported where players have wanted to go home in their first couple of seasons but have adjusted in the end. Cyril Rioli wanted out of Melbourne several times before he was drafted.