The 'Recruit'

[Damon_3388]

If you're a state league player the best chance you have of being drafted is to be the best state league player you can - it's the highest standard of footy there is below the AFL.

For the guys on The Recruit, playing state league footy ti get noticed by AFL recruiters is not a simple short term proposition. You don't just turn around and go 'might play WAFL next year' and join a club. They would have to show earn a spot with a state league club, do a full pre-season then start playing at that level before being noticed - and any of these steps could fail. For someone like Jackel who is already 26 is it worh it? All things going well he'd be 27 next year playing VFL footy and 28 if he got a shot at AFL footy the year after. The only comparable players I can think of are Duigan and Podsiadly, and they both played plenty of state league footy before being drafted late. Alternatively these guys can go on what is essentially a talent quest type deal and hope they get picked ahead of the curve.

Yeah that's pretty much what I was saying.

I actually had an idea for a similar reality show a few years ago but I thought it should run over the summer. Get 20 blokes or whatever and let them join in the pre-season training at an AFL club or clubs and base the show around that. Paddle board challenges and 'rate your mate' sessions are fine and dandy, but we want to see if these guys are up to AFL standard. Give the Bradies and Reeces opportunity to work on their skills and positioning in real match drills, give the Semmels and Padraigs the chance to get their fitness up to standard, get the little blokes in the gym etc.

Would be a good idea to have one 'Recruit' at each AFL club (maybe someone from the same state as the particular club), and let them each do a full pre-season with the club, and then pick a winner on the final show. If you run it from October-February, you could get 20 episodes, with an 'introduction' and a 'finale', and then 18 episodes in between, with half the ep being a 'general update', and half focusing on one Recruit's journey.

 

[Scotland]

And you might get a guy who was actually ready to contribute at AFL level...

 

[pokerspiv]

Definitely KPP at the Bulldogs.

You'd be a bit peeved if you were a regular VFL player. Some bloke just walks onto an AFL list (Cat B rookie..whatever) from a lower league.
I'd take a chance with one of the non-footballers, Maxwell or Foster.

Just because they are on the list doesn't mean they are ever going to get a game. It will be a great opportunity to train with an AFL club and see how they operate, but they won't actually be playing unless they earn it.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Just started watching this show tonight and it's entertaining despite having a few problems.

1. They shouldn't have included anyone over 24. It's just unrealistic that any AFL club would be interested in someone that age. AFAIK Podisadly is literally the only person in history to be drafted after age 24. Semmel and Jackal are very good players but are no chance. Rhys Maxwell is probably the best prospect on the show but at 25, even he will struggle.

Why? If the winner lasts four years on an AFL list, that would be a massive success. The older players left in the competition would have 5-6 years left before they start slowing down, unless injuries intervene.

Anyway: Sam Dwyer, Ian Callinan, Troy Wilson, Matt Jones, Kris Barlow...

 

[Lemma]

Without spoiling it, really disappointed with the delisting this week, I don't understand how some others stay in over him...

Haha found it now thanks. The guy posted it yesterday.

 

[pokerspiv]

Why? If the winner lasts four years on an AFL list, that would be a massive success. The older players left in the competition would have 5-6 years left before they start slowing down, unless injuries intervene.

Anyway: Sam Dwyer, Ian Callinan, Troy Wilson, Matt Jones, Kris Barlow...

Mostly because it would take 1-2 full preseasons before they were ready to play. Remember these guys are coming from amateur footy backgrounds, not the VFL. So taking a 26 year old who won't be ready to play until he's 28 is pretty unrealistic.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Mostly because it would take 1-2 full preseasons before they were ready to play. Remember these guys are coming from amateur footy backgrounds, not the VFL. So taking a 26 year old who won't be ready to play until he's 28 is pretty unrealistic.

James Gwilt, Karl Norman...Mark Blicavs took about 12 months to go from a 6'6 steeplechaser to playing an entire year in the ruck for a top four side and he hadn't played any footy since he was about 14.

 

[Taylor]

Steeplechase is the similar stop/start endurance as AFL and he was borderline Olympic. So that one doesn't help the argument.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Steeplechase is the similar stop/start endurance as AFL and he was borderline Olympic. So that one doesn't help the argument.

A 78kg ruckman?

 

[Taylor]

A 78kg ruckman?

It's about being able to run out the match more than the size of them. They would be like a guy coming back from a knee, two years at least to stack the training sessions and running loads to be able to compete at AFL level.

 

[Lemma]

because you should not be alowed to do so, what your linking is pirated material, and you should not be advertising such on this site.

Haha it's nothing a quick google search can't find

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

It's about being able to run out the match more than the size of them. They would be like a guy coming back from a knee, two years at least to stack the training sessions and running loads to be able to compete at AFL level.

It's a combination for ruckmen. People worry about young ruckmen that are low 90s getting rag dolled and those guys would have absolutely monstered Blicavs when he first got to the club. The transformation that he's made, particularly as a mature age recruit, has been remarkable.

 

[GWSP]

Saw Chris Moreland today. Was coaching our under 16's side to a premiership. Highlight of the day was Jonathon Brown doing the pre-game talk to the team (Browny's brother Tim is the co-coach of the team).

J.Brown is a BIG unit.

 

[BigRough]

The psychologist becomes more annoying every week.

 

[RGJALLTHEWAY]

The psychologist becomes more annoying every week.

NFI what she has to do with getting recruited lol

 

[Taylor]

Coachability isn't something old people say about tourist drives.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

NFI what she has to do with getting recruited lol

It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't try so hard to get her involved in areas that she would realistically have nothing to do with. Are we really supposed to believe that Voss GAF about her opinion during a game, when he says something like 'Geez he broke that tackle well, the big fella. Nice finish on the left.'

 

[The_Reaper]

It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't try so hard to get her involved in areas that she would realistically have nothing to do with. Are we really supposed to believe that Voss GAF about her opinion during a game, when he says something like 'Geez he broke that tackle well, the big fella. Nice finish on the left.'

I wonder if he was like that during Brisbane games when he was coach

 

[Raz0r6ack]

Captain's challenge was setup for Padraig to win it... lol

 

[Willo_]

Interesting to see the beep test results, Sem dropped massively while Morelo SMASHED his time.
Also while I'm no swimmer I'm pretty confident that I could dive in better than those bricks

 

[tangolikelama]

Gossy

 

[Willo_]

So we still have no idea at all if Padraig has any ability whatsover

 

[brmi]

Not enough footy!!!

 

[BACCS]

Interesting to see the beep test results, Sem dropped massively while Morelo SMASHED his time.
Also while I'm not swimmer I'm pretty confident that I could dive in better than those bricks

I highly doubt that, especially if you're not a swimmer. Developing a correct diving technique takes a lot of practice, it's not as easy as people who swim regularly make it look.

 

[BACCS]

Captain's challenge was setup for Padraig to win it... lol

I think this is a joke, but just in case... Vossy was going on about how bad his skinfolds were, and that he was essentially fat. Thought it was a massive effort to get up and win a series of fitness tests.

Gossy was just unlucky the injury hit him at the wrong time, still think he's a massive chance of at least making a rookie list.