1. Clubs do a pretty good job of only picking kids who are physically and mentally resilient. Look at the number of true bolters taken each year (very few) compared with the number of talented kids who get on a state league list and are then asked to do a year or two at that level to show they have the talent. A decent example I think is Liam Ryan who clearly every AFL club would've rated after his first WAFL year and I'm sure they all knew they could be passing on a gun who went pretty high in the next years draft.
AFL players aren't normal. They are generally physically well developed and ready for the workload. And I think it should be said that by and large they are pretty good people too.
Every club does a lot of physical and psych testing to work out if the kids they will draft are up for it and I'd say overwhelmingly they are. Obviously AFL doesn't pan out for some, but I'd say most guys even if they last 1 or 2 years come out healthy. With the largest danger being concussion more than purely mental health, happiness or career opportunities.
2. Theoretically raising the draft age could give kids a more normal school environment by delaying everything by 1 year but there's not any evidence that will be true. Parents and schools are pushing AFL as a career and developing these kids strongly at 13-17 anyway, I'm not sure that will change. Their exams year might be less stressful but the league does try to clear the calendar to give them a fair go at sitting exams and clubs look for players who can do both.
3. Without a more professional (even paid) system for 18-19 year olds the delay of a year will cost these kids money and development. Some might even look for other spots. Some might lack structure and waste the year that is designed to help them.
Overall I'd say the draft age is fine at 18 but there needs to be a lot more investment in 19-21 year olds both those who miss the draft and those who get cut from clubs. Boosting the opportunities for those guys to get in to or back in to the AFL world and to do well if they are on the outside should be an aim.
VFL Reserves, increasing the juniors kept in the elite system at 19, creating a special footy and tertiary studies program. There's ways to help the guys on the fringes of AFL footy at that youthful age when they are investing a fair bit in trying to make it.
AFL players aren't normal. They are generally physically well developed and ready for the workload. And I think it should be said that by and large they are pretty good people too.
Every club does a lot of physical and psych testing to work out if the kids they will draft are up for it and I'd say overwhelmingly they are. Obviously AFL doesn't pan out for some, but I'd say most guys even if they last 1 or 2 years come out healthy. With the largest danger being concussion more than purely mental health, happiness or career opportunities.
2. Theoretically raising the draft age could give kids a more normal school environment by delaying everything by 1 year but there's not any evidence that will be true. Parents and schools are pushing AFL as a career and developing these kids strongly at 13-17 anyway, I'm not sure that will change. Their exams year might be less stressful but the league does try to clear the calendar to give them a fair go at sitting exams and clubs look for players who can do both.
3. Without a more professional (even paid) system for 18-19 year olds the delay of a year will cost these kids money and development. Some might even look for other spots. Some might lack structure and waste the year that is designed to help them.
Overall I'd say the draft age is fine at 18 but there needs to be a lot more investment in 19-21 year olds both those who miss the draft and those who get cut from clubs. Boosting the opportunities for those guys to get in to or back in to the AFL world and to do well if they are on the outside should be an aim.
VFL Reserves, increasing the juniors kept in the elite system at 19, creating a special footy and tertiary studies program. There's ways to help the guys on the fringes of AFL footy at that youthful age when they are investing a fair bit in trying to make it.
