The Output of the Western Jets

[CJH]

Porthos raised this point in another thread.

Originally posted by Porthos
While thats a bit of a silly comment, it is a bit disappointing how little AFL output the Western Jets come up with.

Especially when you consider the original Western Jets area was divided to include the Calder Cannons... who seem to have done very well in providing AFL talent.
--------------------------------------------------

Do they actually have a poorer record in providing draftees? If so why? What players on AFL lists did actually come from them?

For Richmond, Tarzan (Ty Zantuck) certainly did. I'm pretty sure he is the only one.

Matthew Lloyd and Ben Haynes from Essendon are former Jets as well.

Can you provide any more?

 

[marcuz]

AFL Draftees
Year
Name
Club
Pick No.

1992
Paul Satterley
Footscray FC
34 (Pre Season)

1992
Paul Docherty
Collingwood FC
36 (Pre Season)

1992
Mark Ballan
Geelong FC
48 (Pre Season)

1992
Dustin Fletcher
Essendon FC
Father-Son

1992
Brad Copeland
Footscray FC
77 (National)

1993
Craig Ellis
Footscray FC
47 (Pre Season)

1993
Brendan Duncan
Essendon FC
56 (Pre Season)

1993
Brad Johnson
Footscray FC
11 (National)

1993
Robert Stevenson
Essendon FC
19 (National)

1993
Darryl Griffin
Sydney FC
28 (National)

1993
Aaron James
Collingwood FC
35 (National)

1993
David Inella
Geelong FC
38 (National)

1994
Cain Liddle
Geelong FC
14 (Pre Season)

1994
Shannon Grant
Sydney FC
3 (National)

1994
Robert DiRosa
Geelong FC
18 (National)

1994
Shawn Lewfatt
Essendon FC
28 (National)

1994
Allen Nash
Adelaide FC
31 (National)

1994
Mark Belleville
North Melbourne FC
55 (National)

1994
Stephen Zavalas
Collingwood FC
61 (National)

1994
Lee Fraser
Hawthorn FC
65 (National)

1994
Dean Helmers
Geelong FC
69 (National)

1994
Todd McHardy
Melbourne FC
76 (National)

1994
David Nicholson
Carlton FC
89 (National)

1995
Matthew Lloyd
Essendon FC
Comp. Selection

1997
Lance Picioane
Adelaide FC
17 (National)

1997
Chris Obst
Hawthorn FC
19 (National)

1997
David Antonowicz
West Coast FC
44 (National)

1997
Dion Miles
North Melbourne FC
62 (National)

1997
Anthony Aloi
Western Bulldogs FC
63 (National)

1998
Heath Scotland
Collingwood FC
44 (National)

1998
Daniel Ward
Melbourne FC
Rookie Elevation

1999
Daniel Giansiracusa
Western Bulldogs FC
32 (National)

1999
Ty Zantuck
Richmond FC
78 (National)

2000
Ben Haynes
Richmond FC
Rookie Elevation

2001
Paul Chambers
Geelong FC
Rookie Elevation

2001
Brad Miller
Richmond FC
(Rookie)

2002
Callum Urch
Kangaroos FC
25 (National)

 

[Weaver]

1992
Paul Satterley
Footscray FC
34 (Pre Season)

1992
Paul Docherty
Collingwood FC
36 (Pre Season)

1992
Mark Ballan
Geelong FC
48 (Pre Season)

1992
Dustin Fletcher
Essendon FC
Father-Son

1992
Brad Copeland
Footscray FC
77 (National)

1993
Craig Ellis
Footscray FC
47 (Pre Season)

1993
Brendan Duncan
Essendon FC
56 (Pre Season)

1993
Brad Johnson
Footscray FC
11 (National)

1993
Robert Stevenson
Essendon FC
19 (National)

1993
Darryl Griffin
Sydney FC
28 (National)

1993
Aaron James
Collingwood FC
35 (National)

1993
David Inella
Geelong FC
38 (National)

1994
Cain Liddle
Geelong FC
14 (Pre Season)

1994
Shannon Grant
Sydney FC
3 (National)

1994
Robert DiRosa
Geelong FC
18 (National)

1994
Shawn Lewfatt
Essendon FC
28 (National)

1994
Allen Nash
Adelaide FC
31 (National)

1994
Mark Belleville
North Melbourne FC
55 (National)

1994
Stephen Zavalas
Collingwood FC
61 (National)

1994
Lee Fraser
Hawthorn FC
65 (National)

1994
Dean Helmers
Geelong FC
69 (National)

1994
Todd McHardy
Melbourne FC
76 (National)

1994
David Nicholson
Carlton FC
89 (National)

1995
Matthew Lloyd
Essendon FC
Comp. Selection

1997
Lance Picioane
Adelaide FC
17 (National)

1997
Chris Obst
Hawthorn FC
19 (National)

1997
David Antonowicz
West Coast FC
44 (National)

1997
Dion Miles
North Melbourne FC
62 (National)

1997
Anthony Aloi
Western Bulldogs FC
63 (National)

1998
Heath Scotland
Collingwood FC
44 (National)

1998
Daniel Ward
Melbourne FC
Rookie Elevation

1999
Daniel Giansiracusa
Western Bulldogs FC
32 (National)

1999
Ty Zantuck
Richmond FC
78 (National)

2000
Ben Haynes
Richmond FC
Rookie Elevation

2001
Paul Chambers
Geelong FC
Rookie Elevation

2001
Brad Miller
Richmond FC
(Rookie)

2002
Callum Urch
Kangaroos FC
25 (National)

2003
Michael Rischitelli
Brisbane
(National)

2003
Murray Boyd
Carlton
(Rookie)

 

[Portia]

The occasional spike there, but mostly low grade. Between the Jets and the Dogs, you have to wonder a bit how much the Western suburbs want footy.

 

[marcuz]

Essendon does alright and the calder cannons..although they are more north west but west none the same.

 

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by Porthos
The occasional spike there, but mostly low grade. Between the Jets and the Dogs, you have to wonder a bit how much the Western suburbs want footy.

The West is probably the smallest part of Melbourne. Main areas are Footscray, Sunshine, St Albans, Williamstown, Altona, Werribee, Deer Park, Newport, Melton. A lot of these areas (esp Altona, Sunshine, St Albans and Footscray) are now largely populated by non Anglo-Saxons, and realistically Anglo-Australians are the lifeblood of AFL - this isn't supposed to be a racially charged comment, its simply that other ethnic groups are generally not sports oriented, or far more likely to follow soccer. So the demographics in what is already a relatively small area have swung against footy in general, and this might explain the low yield from the Jets.

As for the Bulldogs - all the facts provided above obviously also affect them, but there's also the problem that a lot of those areas that are predominantly Anglo (Werribee, Melton as well as Keilor, Taylors Lakes etc) are dominated more by Essendon than the Dogs. A lot of the baby boomers that grew up in the Bomber belt in Essendon, Ascot Vale etc brought houses in the outer west, took their footy allegiance with them and passed it onto their kids. Compare 4 premierships in 20 years with one 50 years ago, and the Dogs are being squeezed out in their own heartland.

 

[Portia]

Thats probably what makes me wonder most about how the AFL are convinced of the long-term viability of the Dogs, Charlie. What is it that they can see?

 

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by Porthos
The occasional spike there, but mostly low grade. Between the Jets and the Dogs, you have to wonder a bit how much the Western suburbs want footy.

A sad but valid question.


In the '60s and the '70s The FDFL(Footscray District Football) League was going well and producing crop after crop of great players for the Bulldogs and other clubs(Hawkins, Wilson, McGhie, Bissett, Bryant, Dempsey, Sandilands, Collins etc)

Sadly the club directors and administration acted as if it was going to be a never ending bonanza and ****ed it all up against the wall when they should have been establishing a successful era in order to ensure the future of the club. This is a lot of our problem now and helped ensure a grim outlook for western suburban football and for The Bulldogs themselves.

The last batch of decent players the local league produced for the Bulldogs was in the late 80s and early '90s when we got Kolyniuk, Kretiuk and Smith within a couple of years. Since then I think the only good players to have started his footy in the WRFL(Western Region Football League) would be Brad Johnson and Callum Urch(The kid will be a gun dammit!). Not sure about Shannon Grant and whether he is an Essendon/Keilor(EDFL) type or a Footscray/Yarraville/Williamstown/Werribee type(FDFL)

FDFL and EDFL(Essendon District Football League) are the two leagues who provide most of the Jets players.

 

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by Porthos
Thats probably what makes me wonder most about how the AFL are convinced of the long-term viability of the Dogs, Charlie. What is it that they can see?

Not a clue.

Western (Sydney) Bulldogs? I hope not.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by Porthos
Thats probably what makes me wonder most about how the AFL are convinced of the long-term viability of the Dogs, Charlie. What is it that they can see?

They can see soccer coming in and replacing AFL as the game of choice in the Western Suburbs. We are like a bullwark.



What Charlie said about areas that should be rock solid bullddog territory is sadly very true. Areas such as Werribee, Melton, Hoppers Crossing and most alarmingly St Albans have leant more to Essendon and The 'Pies than us for a few years.

 

[The Shev]

I played for the Jets. But as you can see, I wasn't drafted.

 

[Palace03]

Since then I think the only good players to have started his footy in the WRFL(Western Region Football League) would be Brad Johnson and Callum Urch(

Daniel Giansiracusa.

 

[footyman]

The Jets didn't have much success when Merv Keane coached the club