Non Lions Discussion 2019

Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Posts
13,118
Likes
16,708
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
We all wanted Toumpas so bad on this board to be fair. He looked Juddlike in his draft year.

One of the biggest wake-up calls to me that us armchair pundits are really just firing wildly in the dark when assessing players.
I'm still up in the air about whether Toumpas was never going to be any good or if he got Melboune'd. They were elite at stifling young talent for a time.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

POBT

Premium Platinum
Joined
Mar 10, 2004
Posts
23,724
Likes
29,996
Location
Brisbane
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
I think it would be a mistake to assume a private school education for a footballer equals a privileged background. I’d imagine most kids with obvious talent would be offered a place at a private school with a football focus, irrespective of whether their parents could afford the fees.

Different sport but a good mate of mine was educated at an elite Brisbane private school, despite his Dad being in and out of jail and spending occasional periods homeless with his Mum. His talent as a rugby player meant he got the best education possible, leading to a career as a professional sportsperson and now coach. But his background was anything but privileged.
 

Dylan12

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Posts
16,917
Likes
14,783
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Other Teams
Chelsea, Boston Red Sox
If we're talking Melbourne's draft fails with a dash of private schoolism, let's not forget them taking Brighton Grammar's Jack Watts from a very wealthy liberal family at pick number one over the "wrong side" of the tracks product Nic Natanui.

At no stage were Melbourne ever looking elsewhere when they took Watts, nor did they ever look seriously at Dustin Martin after taking Scully and Trengrove at 1 & 2 in 09, you know, because Dustin Martin did not fit the establishment of a Melbourne type player.
 

Dylan12

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Posts
16,917
Likes
14,783
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Other Teams
Chelsea, Boston Red Sox
Games like today's ANZAC clash are gentle reminders why a lot of players want to move to or be drafted by Essendon and Collingwood.

I'm not sure what player wouldn't enjoy getting to play in such games on an annual basis or bi-annual basis with Collingwood players also getting the Queens Birthday stand alone match against Melbourne.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

jason pm

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Posts
14,685
Likes
26,471
Location
Omnipresent.
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Other Teams
Fortitude Valley Diehards. Chelsea.
Collingwood looking awfully good, best side I've seen play this season, their pressure, run and overlap/handball receive play is elite. Hopefully they have peaked too early.

They are doing the same thing to Essendon that they did to us last week.
 

CarterS

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jun 14, 2001
Posts
7,328
Likes
4,049
Location
Brisbane
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Other Teams
Lions
Interesting that Gill says Brisbane has to perform to keep the Easter Thursday blockbuster. But teams like Essendon and Melbourne can dish up ordinary performances year after year and get primetime games.
And Kangas about to sign up for 20 years for good Friday despite the rubbish they served up.
 

Eons

Premiership Player
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Posts
4,638
Likes
5,858
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Other Teams
Liverpool
I think it would be a mistake to assume a private school education for a footballer equals a privileged background. I’d imagine most kids with obvious talent would be offered a place at a private school with a football focus, irrespective of whether their parents could afford the fees.

Different sport but a good mate of mine was educated at an elite Brisbane private school, despite his Dad being in and out of jail and spending occasional periods homeless with his Mum. His talent as a rugby player meant he got the best education possible, leading to a career as a professional sportsperson and now coach. But his background was anything but privileged.
Spot on. Poaching of good football talent and offering them scholarships at private schools has been going on for a long time.

Most of them wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend decent schools if it wasn't for their sporting abilities.

Great for the kid who gets the scholarship and even better for the school if the kid gets drafted.
 
Top Bottom