List Mgmt. NGA, Father son watch

[PeterSalt]

Don't think so, and if so why didn't they just draft him in the 2020 National Draft when he was available then we don't get to pick him as a category B rookie?

I thought the power had had 2 opportunities to pick him up and just passed

Their fanbois carry on like they've been completely shafted, yet the club has never bothered to pick him?

 

[Mutineer]

I thought the power had had 2 opportunities to pick him up and just passed

Their fanbois carry on like they've been completely shafted, yet the club has never bothered to pick him?

Correct Powa could have done exactly what the Kangaroos did with Hugh Greenwood when the Suns delisted him with the intention re-draft him but nope no interest. It's a Big Footy fallacy that Powa has ever had any interest in Borlase.

 

[Crow till I die]

From the sounds of things Port District is his junior club which is in WWT zone which is Port's Zone he plays for Centrals due to his father playing for Centrals, he has been playing in Adelaide's NGA side in Under age match ups due to centrals being one of Adelaide's NGA zones.

All we know is it's very messy and a lot of rules would need to change in order for him to be draft eligible. Nobody knows exactly what the deal is and it's in the AFL's hands to decide who's academy he's in, provided they accept his indigenous heritage and on top of that if they allow Metro SA players to be draft eligible

I know a certain way they can get access to him..finish bottom next year

 

[Crow till I die]

I wonder if port are playing the long game with Cochrane. Make a lot of noise about trying to get him to their NGA because he 'wants' to go there because he really wants to be at port. So they probably know its a real longshot but by broadcasting it to the world and cochrane 'wanting' to go to ports NGA and 'wanting' to play for them, beware any side drafting him at the top end when Port don't get NGA and draft access to him. Has JHF mk2 written all over this one

 

[Boak10]

I wonder if port are playing the long game with Cochrane. Make a lot of noise about trying to get him to their NGA because he 'wants' to go there because he really wants to be at port. So they probably know its a real longshot but by broadcasting it to the world and cochrane 'wanting' to go to ports NGA and 'wanting' to play for them, beware any side drafting him at the top end when Port don't get NGA and draft access to him. Has JHF mk2 written all over this one

Smart man!

Port been all over this for over a year now.
All current indications indicate it is a good chance, however as you suggested, worst case scenario he ends up at Port after (or before) the end of his first contract.

 

[radiojake]

Isn't the point of indigenous NGA programs to give kids from indigenous backgrounds who may need a bit more support to make it compared to metropolitan kids on scholarships?

As someone who has also only recently begun to discover the truth about my grandmother's history (taken from Broken Hill as a young girl, put in an Adelaide orphanage and "adopted out" before running away at 14, joining the navy and "passing white" her whole life) , I wouldn't feel comfortable to claim to be indigenous as I certainly never grew up black - I think this is a way more common story than many would realise and I think it's important to try to reconnect with that history as much as possible, but I really don't see how these programs are meant to be used for kids in this situation

Certainly just as ridiculous as the Borlase - Egyptian loophole

 

[steve9798]

I'm assuming Norths Ben Francou is yet another F/S option for Port?

 

[Mutineer]

Mitch has made Shifter Sheahan's top 75 draft prospect list published in today's Hun..

MITCHELL STEVENS​

Club: Victoria Country/Gippsland Power/ Heyfield FC/Sale Catholic College
Height: 184.8 cm
DOB: 15/08/07
An emerging medium defender, Stevens is capable of playing on a range of forwards given his competitive edge, strength in the air and commitment to the task at hand. A damaging kick and very good decision maker, he thrived after being switched from the forward line to defence last year and averaged 12 disposals across 16 matches for Gippsland. He also impressed in an under-17 Futures match for Vic Country against NSW-ACT, gathering 16 disposals. Stevens has continued to progress with his development in the early part of 2025 and averaged 18 disposals and seven tackles across the first three matches for the Power in the Coates Talent League. He is the son of Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens

Age

50

Ht

194cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

4.3

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.6

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.4

3star

G

2.0

5star

, who was drafted to North Melbourne before being traded to Adelaide where he played 101 games and was a premiership player in 1998. That leaves Mitch eligible to join the Crows under father-son rules this year

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Mitch has made Shifter Sheahan's top 75 draft prospect list published in today's Hun..

MITCHELL STEVENS​

Club: Victoria Country/Gippsland Power/ Heyfield FC/Sale Catholic College
Height: 184.8 cm
DOB: 15/08/07
An emerging medium defender, Stevens is capable of playing on a range of forwards given his competitive edge, strength in the air and commitment to the task at hand. A damaging kick and very good decision maker, he thrived after being switched from the forward line to defence last year and averaged 12 disposals across 16 matches for Gippsland. He also impressed in an under-17 Futures match for Vic Country against NSW-ACT, gathering 16 disposals. Stevens has continued to progress with his development in the early part of 2025 and averaged 18 disposals and seven tackles across the first three matches for the Power in the Coates Talent League. He is the son of Mark Stevens, who was drafted to North Melbourne before being traded to Adelaide where he played 101 games and was a premiership player in 1998. That leaves Mitch eligible to join the Crows under father-son rules this year

101 games from Mark. Good list management at the time.

 

[Cromulant]

Another medium defender probably isn't ideal in the list management scheme of things, but he does look a likely type does young Mitch.

 

[WeeBlake]

Isn't the point of indigenous NGA programs to give kids from indigenous backgrounds who may need a bit more support to make it compared to metropolitan kids on scholarships?

As someone who has also only recently begun to discover the truth about my grandmother's history (taken from Broken Hill as a young girl, put in an Adelaide orphanage and "adopted out" before running away at 14, joining the navy and "passing white" her whole life) , I wouldn't feel comfortable to claim to be indigenous as I certainly never grew up black - I think this is a way more common story than many would realise and I think it's important to try to reconnect with that history as much as possible, but I really don't see how these programs are meant to be used for kids in this situation

Certainly just as ridiculous as the Borlase - Egyptian loophole

I am all for footy better supporting young Aboriginal players.

But this ridiculous system where every couple of years a random club wins the lottery after only spending $2 on a ticket is unfair and undermines the draft.

 

[Mutineer]

Another medium defender probably isn't ideal in the list management scheme of things, but he does look a likely type does young Mitch.

Wouldn't pigeon-hole him as "just" another medium defender yet, his talents look suited to inside/outside mid/winger to my eye, good turn of pace, excellent foot skills and not frightened to lay a tackle and mix it with the big boys.

 

[dogs105]

101 games from Mark. Good list management at the time.

If he could have played 124, we'd have a flag in 2005

 

[Carn The Texan]

Mitch has made Shifter Sheahan's top 75 draft prospect list published in today's Hun..

MITCHELL STEVENS​

Club: Victoria Country/Gippsland Power/ Heyfield FC/Sale Catholic College
Height: 184.8 cm

We've got height measurements down to the millimeter now? Welcome to the future.

 

[PeterSalt]

We've got height measurements down to the millimeter now? Welcome to the future.

So about 3 to 4 micky hairs short of 185 cm

 

[GreyCrow]

Another medium defender probably isn't ideal in the list management scheme of things, but he does look a likely type does young Mitch.

His age profile means he is a long term choice - long past Laird, Milera and Smith etc

 

[1990crow]

His age profile means he is a long term choice - long past Laird, Milera and Smith etc

He's a bit more versatile than that from what we've seen so far this year.

 

[GreyCrow]

He's a bit more versatile than that from what we've seen so far this year.

Sure but the point I was trying to make was that medium defenders on a list are not that bad a thing

 

[WeeBlake]

Sure but the point I was trying to make was that medium defenders on a list are not that bad a thing

Attacking medium defenders are really useful. That said, we have Max, Hinge, Cumming, and Dawson already.

 

[crowholder]

I really liked how Mark played... hopefully Mitchell joins us and does just as well

 

[Mutineer]

Does anyone know if South Adelaide's U16's top prospect Zemes Pilot-Holmes is eligible for Port via their NGA, I believe his father is of African American heritage , already 191cm. If he chooses footy and he is eligible for them they've been kissed on the you know what again.

 

[Vader]

Does anyone know if South Adelaide's U16's top prospect Zemes Pilot-Holmes is eligible for Port via their NGA, I believe his father is an American negro? I don't think America is classified as a NGA country is it? Kid's a star, also a state level basketballer and soccer player, already 191cm. If he chooses footy and he is eligible for them they've been kissed on the you know what again.

View attachment 2300976

According to the AFL Rules Document, players are Qualified NGA Players if they were born in Africa or Asia, or have a biological parent who was born in Africa or Asia. There's no mention of the USA.

I find it interesting that the NGA rules specify "a biological parent", where the Father/Son rule only specifies "the person's father" (without any biological qualifier).

 

[Mutineer]

According to the AFL Rules Document, players are Qualified NGA Players if they were born in Africa or Asia, or have a biological parent who was born in Africa or Asia. There's no mention of the USA.

I find it interesting that the NGA rules specify "a biological parent", where the Father/Son rule only specifies "the person's father" (without any biological qualifier).

That's my understanding too but a poster on the Draft board claims he messaged Twomey and was told he is eligible for Port.

 

[Vader]

That's my understanding too but a poster on the Draft board claims he messaged Twomey and was told he is eligible for Port.

Here is the definition of a Qualified NGA Player, copied from the AFL Rules Document (2025):

(a) For the purposes of this Rule 15, a Qualified NGA Player means a NGA Player who:
(i) was born in Africa or Asia; or
(ii) has a biological parent who was born in Africa or Asia; or
(iii) is an Indigenous Person; or
(iv) is a CALD NGA Player,
and:
(v) has not at any time been registered with AFL as a Player with any Club;
(vi) unless otherwise permitted by AFL, has not entered into a Next Generation Academy Agreement with a Club other than the Club seeking approval of that NGA Player as a Qualified NGA Player under Rule 15.8(d);
(vii) unless otherwise permitted by AFL, has been and continues to be domiciled in the relevant part of the Club’s NGA Region from the period after he first entered into a Next Generation Academy Agreement with the relevant Club;
(viii) unless otherwise permitted by AFL, has participated in at least 10 matches in the TAC Cup competition, SANFL under 18s Macca’s Cup competition, WAFL under 19s Colts competition or the underage national Australian football championships conducted under the auspices of AFL; and
(ix) is approved in writing by General Counsel under Rule 15.8(d).

With regard to clause (a)(iv), the definition of a CALD NGA Player is as follows:

CALD NGA Player: a NGA Player who:
(a) was born in a CALD Country; or
(b) has biological parents who were both born in a CALD country,
and who has been approved in writing by General Counsel as a CALD NGA Player at his or her absolute discretion.

The definition of a CALD Country is:

CALD Country: a culturally and linguistically diverse country being a country:
(a) that is not classified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as a main English speaking country;
(b) that is not in Africa or Asia; and
(c) is specified by the General Counsel as a CALD Country.

The following NGA Eligibility criteria also apply:

(a) Eligibility for Inclusion in Next Generation Academy
A person is eligible to be included in a Club’s Next Generation Academy only if the person:
(i) satisfies the age requirements under Rule 15.2(b) (subject to Rule 15.9); and
(ii) satisfies the domicile requirements under Rule 15.2(c).
(b) Age Requirements
A person must satisfy the following age requirements in order to be included in a Club’s Next Generation Academy in a Football Year:
(i) a person must attain the age of 10 years on or before 31 December in the relevant Football Year; and
(ii) unless the person is a Qualified NGA Player, a person must be under the age of 15 years as at 31 December of the relevant Football Year;
(iii) in the case of a Qualified NGA Player, a person must be under the age of 18 years as at 31 December of the relevant Football Year – except as provided by Rule 15.9.
(c) Domicile Requirements
A person must be domiciled in the Club’s NGA Region at the time the person first wishes to enter into a Next Generation Academy Agreement with a Club.

Pilot-Holmes does not meet the Africa/Asia criteria, nor is the USA a CALD Country. Maybe he qualifies as an Indigenous Player? USA heritage alone is not sufficient for a player to be eligible for a club's Next Generation Academy.

 

[cromfan12345]

Here is the definition of a Qualified NGA Player, copied from the AFL Rules Document (2025):

With regard to clause (a)(iv), the definition of a CALD NGA Player is as follows:

The definition of a CALD Country is:


The following NGA Eligibility criteria also apply:


Pilot-Holmes does not meet the Africa/Asia criteria, nor is the USA a CALD Country. Maybe he qualifies as an Indigenous Player? USA heritage alone is not sufficient for a player to be eligible for a club's Next Generation Academy.

New guy here,
Zemes' Mother is Indigenous and Father African- American, he is one of the purest athletic specimens I have ever seen as a 15 year old
Don't be surprised if he chooses Basketball though he is currently part of the Australian u16 set up and is supremely talented