Another NRL player recruited by the AFL?
Roar Pro
By Jay Labana, 2 Oct 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, NRL, Roy Masters, Rugby League
124 Have your say
I refer to Roy Masters’ piece in the SMH on the 28th September. He mentions that another NRL player has signed to the AFL. The player is apparently a Sydney based player with an AFL background.
He was to attend the AFL grand final, but was playing that evening (either a Storm or Broncos player).
This appears to be another blow for the NRL, but if you think about it, the ARU have signalled an end to recruiting NRL players and the AFL have simply taken their place.
Plus, of the players off-contract recently (Hayne, Benji, Lockyer, Inglis), only Hunt has defected.
Hopefully a better TV deal will increase the salary cap to about $6m. That averages $240k for your top 25 players, which is roughly the same as what the AFL are paying.
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Chris said | October 2nd 2009 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Karmicheal Hunt will not be a good AFL player, he will revolutionize the entire bloody sport. He is going be be so dominant that they are going to have to change rules to stop him. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him just take the ball down one end and simply run to the other end to score. This man will change the way AFL is played.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Take a bex and have a good lie down.
If anything the AFL has already changed with the increase of tackling pressure to make it even possible to recruit a player like Hunt.
His role will likely be in defence where his tackling pressure will be best suited, he will need to increase his stamina substantially to play out an AFL game as tired defensive players leak goals.
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
League players aren’t used to being interchanged as much as AFL players are with the unlimited interchange you guys have. I don’t think stamina wise it will be as much as a change as you think. As it is fullbacks tend to be pretty fit anyhow.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
DOW,
AFL players generally run for most of the game, the field is a lot bigger, the game goes for 120 minutes, the game structure is very different. eg; the ball moves quickly over considerable distances in AFL, it is often transferred from one side of the ground to the other requiring most players to run over to cover gaps, man up on players.
K Hunt looks very fit and no doubt has speed and great agility, it is not enough, it will be his stamina that will be critical, trust me.
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Isn’t that like most sports, dependant on where you play? Some positions will require more stamina than others, and as I pointed out, being able to be interchanged all the time so you can recover, unlike in the NRL, will make a big difference in how he is able to adjust. You assume that stamina is not important in other sports.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
I dont assume its not important I just know how important it is in AFL.
Most interchange rotations are midfielders not defenders unless your manning up on Nick Reiwoldt then your in for one hell of a day.
Dont take the comments as my sports better, I’m simply giving you an opinion on his challenges.
Redb
Karlos said | October 7th 2009 @ 12:24am | Report comment
I am so sick of this ridiculous stamina garbage. 120 minutes playing. 4 x 30 minute quarters? don’t think so. They have over 100 interchanges and 2x 5minutes break and half a bloody hour at half time. That is a fresh start. 40 minutes straight, hard tackling and running and 10 minutes break with small interchange; that is stamina.
mushi said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment
you dead set kidding? look at the stats on how far an AFL runs in a game.
“Quite fit” won’t cut mustard.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 8:28am | Report comment
” just take the ball down one end and simply run to the other end to score”
It’s that easy!!
The only trouble is he’ll be pinged for running too far.
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Tanking, Fevola, Karmichaell, Cousins…it’s not that much of a stretch to imagine the AFL replacing their umpires with the WWF ones who manage to miss all those fragrant fouls
Would do a lot for the games appeal in Western Sydney
Could get spike TV interested too
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Wow your an infant afterall
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Yeh, I try and pass my avatar of as a pic of Anyroo Junior but you caught me.
At least I saved poor oikee having to make his post.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
I’m here, watching,
I am all blogged out after the last debut, look we can all fight over code size or whos got the biggest willy, or whatever, but i think this year, the 2 codes AFL and League have shown that they are the top 2 sports in OZ. Neither is going anywhere, the support for both codes are strong.
I have been defending league all year, but to the games credit, it was the fans , closet fans who out done me this year. They come out in numbers in Sydney. Thank goodness, i thought Brisbane had to carry the load for them.
I am looking forward to seeing how the NRL players go in AFL. I dont hold any grudges to them, same as league players moving to Union, it has opened the door for more players to come threw.
Cheers to both codes for putting on such a good performance this year, thats all i ask.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
“fragrant fouls”
or a foulish fragrance?
Paul J said | October 2nd 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
The AFL offered a Qld league player big bucks to help promote the new Gold Coast team so why not get a Sydney league player to help promote Western Sydney ( if that is the case). If this will work or not remains to be seen but you can not blame K Hunt for giving it a go when the money is that good.
League will continue to have a player drain to Super League in England and Rugby everywhere. This will only slow down when the NRL raises it’s salary cap in the future.
Very few players will go between the NRL & AFL as the games are so completely different.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Jay,
You assume Roy Masters is being honest and not just stirring the code war pot.
Of course its possible another young NRL player might be recruited but its unlikely to be high profile player due to the timing. Western Sydney do not enter the AFL until 2012, in 2010 they’re fielding an Under 18 team in the TAC Cup, therefore the timing of any sign up is too soon.
“The player is apparently a Sydney based player with an AFL background. He was to attend the AFL grand final, but was playing that evening (either a Storm or Broncos player).”
Incorrect. It was Hunt who was to be invited to the AFL GF but obviously had other commitments (NRL Prelim) and if its a Sydney based player how can they be playing for the Storm or Broncos?
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Joel Reddy is the person I think Roy was alluding too, he has an AFL background (he lived in Adelaide for a while). Whether his name is big enough in the NRL to be the face of the Western Sydney team is another thing, but if they are going to throw big bucks his way, I wouldn’t be surprised if he took it just because of that.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
DOW,
Is Joel Reddy over 18? If yes he will still be playing in League next year at least or is he out of contract?
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Reddy
Pretty sporting sort of family. Brother players A-League soccer, while his sister plays Netball for Adelaide. Probably a natural to be able to transfer over to AFL.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Not bad for the parents. though it would have made for hellish days on weekends getting the kids in their junior days to the various sports.
Well done Mr and Mrs Reddy.
Robbos said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
You can call Reddy ‘Mr’ if you want to but he will always be Rocket to me, one of the best & direst players, but he played for my team in our time of greatness, I love the guy.
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Hmmm
I am under the impression he is a pretty nice guy but he’s not really an NRL “star”. He is a good player though, one of those guys that gets picked every week but I am a Parramatta fan and am still happy for him to get the money. Will be more interesting than if he had of gone to say South Sydney.
He doesn’t have a huge media profile (I think he is dating Goodwin (bulldogs winger) sister), but also doesn’t have any baggage like K Hunt.
A lot of NSW people say the Sydney Swans weren’t taken seriously as a footy team until they got Barrassi so I dont think the K Hunt Circus would have done a lot for WS AFL (I don’t think it will do much for Gold Coast to be honest unless he can really play) but Reddy is different. maybe not as much of a boon publicity wise (though if the Eels win on Sundey that will help his profile) but probably a better bloke to have going out to schools and talking to reporters.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Better than that dill Fervola.
Midfielder said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Its Clive Plamer he played league when he was a little younger…
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
but not NRL.
Jay said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
The article can be read here:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/intercode-harmony-just-an-illusion/2009/09/27/1253989828181.html
In terms of the Sydney based player, I also had the same question as to how the player could be Sydney based if he was playing in Brisbane or Melbourne. I think its a Melbourne player as it says he was going to play with the storm (as opposed to against them) in the semi.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Jay,
When Masters opens with this I find it hard to accept anything he says that isnt aimed at driving a massive wedge between NRL and AFL fans…
“There is a smell of destiny about the Storm, a looming fate closely linked to the code’s most aggressive enemy, the AFL.”
he then goes on about AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick controlling ANZ stadium and how it might be used to impact on the NRL GF. I mean the bloke is just stirring the code war pot. If you own a stadium why would you want one of the premier events in Sydney to go elsewhere?
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
You do realise that Master lives in Melbourne, and his only real exposure to League teams on a daily basis is the Storm. I think Masters articles tend to come out this way because he knows what the situation is in Melbourne. Channel 9 showing the sport at 2am is just not on if you want to grow the sport, while foxtel isn’t allowed to telecast it live (or doesn’t want to, who knows). Either way, he is fighting to try and get league on a level pegging, and only looks so out their because he is one of the few pro-NRL writers asking the bigger questions. At times that will look like he is grasping at straws, but you really have to pause to think about why he is askign these questions.
Unlike AFL, the NRL doesn’t have a friendly media, one who talks up AFL on the field, and talks down AFL misadventure off it.
As for the Stadium thing. It will be interesting down the track how NRL is viewed playing at that stadium, when it comes down to conflicts between AFL and NRL schedules, will AFL always win out? I think that’s more to the point.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
DOW,
Masters commutes between both cities. he is married to an ex-AFL commissioner (Alieen Canty).
Regardless of what you perceive his motivations, I challenge the veracity of his comments about AFL every time, it is laced with bias and prejudice. If indeed he is trying to even up a perceived bias in the media all he is doing is driving a wedge between NRL and AFL fans.
I dont think anyone can seriously beleive your last sentence given the attention Brendan Fevola’s antics at the Brownlow have recevied across all forms of media.
As I’ve said elsewhere the sydney emmia is more tabloid like, NRL is a Sydney based sport (9 teams plenty of fodder).
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
If it was a League player, it would still be going for another month, and it only flared up as much as it did because it was caught on camera and that sort of evidence is hard to sweep under the carpet.
As for Roy, you don’t have to like him, but no different to pro-AFL people like Caroline Wilson who talk down the NRL at every opportunity, Roy is questions how the conflicts of interest that News Ltd possess within the NRL exist, and what Gallop is doing. He uses the AFL as something to compare it how NRL is treated differently, which you should take more of a compliment than having an attack on your sport. Roy is a realist who understands that it’s the NRL who needs to do things differently to get to the AFL level, rather than the AFL coming down to ours.
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
I must admit I know more about Roy Masters than Caroline Wilson so give him more points because he does a lot for charity and ex footballers. He is also a bit of a coaching legend for his Fibros vs Silvertails days.
Roy is a bit of a nut by Rugby league standards. His later days on Sunday Morning sports TV where he had some masters/ blackboard skits were loopy as all but put him next to Caroline Wilson (who happens to be the chief AFL writer for the AGE) and he comes across as the well grounded statesman.
Fevola I think has copped it in NSW but in QLD there is some sympathy for him. On Nova radio Ash says’ “why is he getting sacked for doing the best bit of TV that week”. No one disagreed.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
doubt Caroline Wilson is the chief AFL writer for the AGE, if she is, then fans dont see it. She is often quite wrong in her predictions and is starting to embarass herself on the Offsiders.
There are far more better respected AFL journos at the AGE than Caro Wilson, she’s more the footy gossip columnist.
Redb
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Thats her title since 1999
I tried to name a respected Rugby league writer but they are all capable of writing a bit of drivel too. I know AFL has guys like Robert Walls and I would have said Mike Sheehan but he is on the wall of shame for writing an anti Sokkah piece (I didn’t get to read it).
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
True, but that pesky Hulls, the minister down in Melbourne wants the Grand Final? They have already got plans to play a Trans tasmin, Origin, and 4 nations game for the new stadium down their. Rugby league is being ripped from the 2 states that love it the most, all because Melbourne can see the dollars involved by holding these events.
Clever, but for league fans, its a pain in the butt having to travel down their to watch our game. Well maybe not such, Melbourne is a nice place, but for your average league fan. Oh bullocks, i give up. The way things are going, i can move to Tassie and see more league games than living in QLD. True.
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
I saw the Sam Newman footy show “street talk” bit….Melbourne came out looking like a worse place to live than Parramatta
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Thats why i said move to Tassie, they are just inbred down their,
unlike the 2 headed monsters lurking around Melbourne. 
Just a joke, us cockroaches and canetoads dont worry about insults. 
We embrace them.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Actually, I liked this line:
“Singer Dannii Minogue sat spellbound at Inglis’s fundamental elegance. ”
But Roy is correct that Inglis is some sort of monster athlete – no doubt about that.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Pip, i sat their in awe at Inglis, he is something else that guy, if he moved to AFL it would be something else. He can kick a ball really good also, along with Hayne, he kicked that 40/20 the other day, it went 65 metres on the fly.
You can check that if you like, he kicked it from the 35 metre mark before half-way, and it landed1 metre from the goaline, on a angle.
Why do you think rugby league calls them superstars.
mushi said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
I stuggle to see how you could describe him as fundamentally elegent though
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
In all honestly Inglis looks like he could do with a visit to Jenny Craig.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment
As i mentioned in a earlier post about this subject, the NRL is a pathway for all codes, Union, AFL, next it will be Football?
Now i am being cheeky.
Maybe the NRL should have all the Juniors and just let them make the decision what code is best for them?
Its all good, remember rugby league lost Gasnier and SBW last year, the game went on to record heights this year. Losing players is no longer a issue for the game. Mind you, i would love to not have to lose these players, they are great sportsmen.
The real sorry point about the whole issue is, if we stole, or better put, gained, any codes best players, what would the uproar be like for that code? League has endured more than most. You cant question that.
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Well what did happen when guys like Ray Price and Michael O’Connor crossed to League from Union?
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:16am | Report comment
What did happen? They went on to become true legends of rugby league. If you get them, embrace them, dont hang them out to dry. (Tuquiri, Sailor.)
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:22am | Report comment
The point was directed at your last comment “f we stole, or better put, gained, any codes best players, what would the uproar be like for that code?”, I was too young at the time to understand what the uproar may have been like.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
I was too young also, but it seems to come up alot on the union blogs, thats why i used the word Gained, softens the blow. But i could also argue that not since those players has league raided any top level union players. Not that i know of, only ex-leaguies making their way back.
Anyhow, as i mentioned, its not that big a issue anymore, league has nearly become conditioned to losing players.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Just a reminder that a while back I wrote this article on the Hunt decision:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/07/31/the-big-switch/
It offers a fair dinkum look at the difficulties any player faces in coming to aussie rules from outside the game, including a close look at the most successful: Jimmy Stynes.
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I really hope the AFL get GWS right. Put some NSW people in charge or someone like Barrassi who has been here a while. Go for a team of largely NSW players (QLD, South Australians, Western Australians are ok) but avoid if at all possible, Victorians and Tassie Players (they respect AFL culture too much).
If there going for the Hills market it probably doesn’t matter, in that case just go for results.
But if they built a team of NSW players that said stupid stuff like “I think a Sydney Grand Final would be good”, “it’s not as good as homebush but it has pretty good atmosphere” (when asked about the G) “Perth has great beaches” (when asked favorite away game) instead of stuff like “Melbourne is the heart of Football” then it would be great.
This is after all Sydney’s first from scratch team. That’s very different that a relocation and a real chance to have a real NSW team. It would be great if we got what Westcoast gave Perth and Adelaide gave South Australia two teams which were really their football teams filled with a lot of players from their state.
Also the Swans while not exclusively high brow have some what positioned themselves as above us rugby league loving bogans. GWS could change that and it would be a great point of difference from the Swans.
Probably not the AFL’s strategy but It would be great for me , and a team I would really want to win the grand final.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Agree with most of that. It is why I have constantly questioned the timing of Western Sydney, its too soon for 2012 at least from the outside looking in. It takes time to build grass roots and develop a local feel. Gold Coast is 5 years ahead in this respect yet they are only entering the AFL one year earlier.
I agree completely about the feel for GWS it should be the opposite of the Swans, a team with an ethos more akin to the Bulldogs or North Melb. But not a relocation, this will be NSW’s first AFL team.
The GC have shown the way with a good bunch of young Queenslanders as a base, GWS’s challenge is to follow in their footsteps. Early signs are they are adopting the same approach by bringing in the NSW scholarship holders (semi-commited to other AFL clubs) as part of the team.
Unlike other new AFL teams they will play in feeder comps/pathway – TAC Cup, then VFL (reserve grade) then AFL.
Redb
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
I don’t think the timing is that bad. If the team is mainly full of NSW players then I don’t think it would matter that much if they struggle a little for their first few years. I don’t think it would save their bottom line much even if their successful. If they are going to lose money why not do it with a team NSW can be proud of, then when they do win it will be really big.
The Storm being so successful straight of the bat meant that their triumphs didn’t quite have the same meaning it would have if they had of struggled for a while before.
Having the AFL team will be a boon and a focal point to get people excited about being involved in their junior club. One day the AFL would have to make a bit of a risk so they amy as well do it now when they have some money in the bank and their code is going gangbusters
Instant success is great publicity but I don’t think it’s necessary. If you look at the two A league expansion teams this year their chalk and cheese, One is on top of the ladder and charges the second most for tickets (GCU) the other is on the bottom and is the cheapest (Fury).
Both are probably going to lose close to the same amount of money this year and I for one think the Fury are further along the way to becoming a real football club.
There’s also the fact that if the team isn’t that great (but not too bad) and their full of NSW boys and not on giant wads of money then it would be frowned on to have a dig at them, people will stick up for the team.
Your on the money with Bulldogs or Nth Melbourne, they feel much more like a West Sydney team than an Essendon/Carlton
captain nemo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
maybe a handfull of players from the NRL could cut the mustard in AFL but it says two things to me. 1) it shows how desperate the AFL is in its desire to try and destroy rugby league completely. To pay an unproven NRL player good coin is being done out of hatred of the game of league. there is no way Hunt or “the next NRL player” would get that sought of money if he was an Australian Olympic hockey player etc. I did an overnight in melbourne last Tuesday night and (catching up with a few Vic mates) I just can’t believe how much the general public in Victoria hate rugby league. its not just a dislike, its a hatred. 2) I doubt that there would be a handfull of AFL players that could survive 80 minutes of NRL brutality so its not like the NRL could recruit an AFL player out of spite.
Jay said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
I think some of the AFL guys could make the NRL level. We shouldn’t be so arrogant and dismiss their abilities. Having said that, they wouldnt be able to handle the aggressive contact nature of the sport. AFL people say there is alot of tackling in their game, but it is nothing compared to the NRL.
I think someone like Rooke, Barry Hall, Fevola, Ablett could make it as a winger/fullback. Their ability to kick on the 5th tackle coming up from the backline would be great and Im sure they would be handy under the high ball. But tackling frontrowers and positioning play will need alot of work.
Your observation on the Victorians hatred of RL is correct from my experience. Even in the media, its such a derogatory stance toward rubgy league. Just look at that midget presenter on thurday night live – he asked the geelong captain if he knew who was playing in the NRL gf and whether he cared! When Hunt went across – he said he saw the light.. Please!
I really hope the NRL get their fair share of the next tv rights deal. They wont get as much as the AFL, but they have less mouths to feed. Id love to see the day when an NRL is the highest paid of all the football codes in Australia. Hopefully this will be soon.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
thats just dribble re the rationale behind Hunt’s recruitment.
How is one RL player who was quitting league anyway, going to destroy rugby league?
Hunt is a high profile Queensland sportsman – GC17 are looking for a profile. Figure it out.
Redb
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
stack on 10-15 kilos and spend 3 months in the weights gym and the body shape could be changed to suit NRL.
If you doubt the courage of AFL players you’ve got your eyes closed.
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
So you suggest that NRL players changing over to AFL is hard due to the superior stamina that AFL players possess, but for an AFL player it’s just a matter of stacking on some kilo’s. Hahaha
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
No, just all things being equal, to suggest no AFL players would make it through 80 minutes of NRL is crap.
never said it would be easy. But the concept of NRL players can play AFL, but it wouldnt work the other way is arrogant.
Redb
Dogs Of War said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Agreed, just didn’t seem like you where saying that in your previous post.
captain nemo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
there would be nothing in AFL that would prepare a player to tackle or to put a hit on the likes of big petro of Penrith, Foi Foi of Parra, carl Webb of Nth Queensland. Every team has a big meat head unit and AFL players have never had to tackle guys like this when they are angry. If you play league, since day one you have had to put a hit on some big islander or such that is heaps bigger than you, so it is just part of your mental approach to playing the game
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Barry Hall wouldnt blink twice, he may have taken some cheap shots, but does anyone seriously think this bloke wouldnt flinch and not scare a few RL types a wee bit if he took the field.
reckon Jono Brown would have little trouble facing up to a Fui Fui if just courage was required.
AFL players trim down due to the huge amount of running in the game, a different body shape is required.
Not every AFL player would be suitable, remember NSW put a lot of kids into soccer as well. Whereas in Vic, Aussie Rules can accomodate the bigger and leaner body shapes.
Again not my sports better crap, just defining the differences.
Redb
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
It would take at least 12 months I think to get them conditioned before I would put them on the field.
As is I really dont think Brown and Hall would last 40 mins and I am a huge Brown fan. I would be prepared to say they could play Rugby though within perhaps 3 months.
There is a huge difference between Rugby and League where you get to make a lot of tackles by guys that just picked up the ball or only got the ball from a standing start when they were 5 metres from you than in Rugby league where the level of brutality is crazy.
Of course if they were born in Parramatta and played League as a kid and sort of naturally developed their shape with making the NRL in mind then there a lot of AFL players that would have made it. I don’t think we can dispute that.
It’s just the crossing over as adults I don’t see possible.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
AndyRoo,
It would be more likely as Jay said that AFL players would be backs or wingers anyway.
Redb
AndyRoo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
In league as backs I suppose, but in Rugby i think their skill sets would be better as forwards.
They have terrific engines and around a ruck tackling technique isn’t as exposed. If there brave and go hard they should do ok. Brown might be decent in the lineout too.
Scrummaging and stuff will take a lot of work but they won’t be far behind the current Wallabies (ding).
That seems a more exciting prospect an AFL player in Union, I don’t really see an AFL player bringing anything to Rugby League we don’t have (good teams don’t really need the kicking). The VRU/ARU should look into it
Hoy said | October 2nd 2009 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
I have seen first hand an AFL player try to play Union, and it didn’t work that well.
Sure he wasn’t professional, but a young bloke grown up all his life in the Territory playing AFL, and he went to a private school and was playing Rugby.
Could never doubt his size or skill, but just couldn’t tackle. At all. All grabbing and hugging. No shots whatsoever. That is fine for AFL, he was good at AFL. But Rugby you need to put some shoulder behind it, and he just didn’t know how, and I doubt being shown how would have worked either. In fast situations, we all go to what we know, in his case, hugging. In Sonny Bill Williams case, it was shoulder charging people in rugby, because that was what he had always done.
I think it is niaive for everyone to claim any player from any sport could switch. As many people are trying to point out, people who play one sport or another have been conditioned to that sport since day dot. To change is almost impossible in my eyes.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 3:53pm | Report comment
Hoy,
I’ve got no doubt the game play or ball awareness, where to be, instinctively assessing patterns in play,etc are very different and as you say learnt from day dot.
I know a bloke in Tassie who is a very good ruckman, (big bloke and about 190cm) who joined the army for awhile and was based in QLD. He started playing union and really enjoyed it, said he adapted very well to the game, really liked the tackling.
Sure its anecdotal but so is your example.
I reckon the training of Hunt will be fascinating. He wont play midfield and be expected to run and carry the ball (incl bouncing ) early days. They could use him off the interchange initially, get him to chase down blokes and put a lot of tackling pressure on forwards. Bit of a pinch hitter witha specific role.
Given a specific role it could work, time will tell. He certanly wont be a Garry Ablett – simply due to his RL awareness and game play that is now ingrained to an extent.
He will probably give away a lot of free kicks until he learns the differing tackle technique. AFL players grab around the hips and roll the player onto their back, thus avoiding any high contact or pushing in the back, and of course there is no tripping (ankle tap).
Redb
captain nemo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
putting on a few Kg’s and pumping some weights is the easy part. rugby league is a brutal game and if you were not raised to play it and don’t know any better, it is a big ask. plenty of big guys have had a crack, but didn’t have the ticker for league. they say you don’t have to be mad to play rugby league but it sure helps. red, I am not having a dig at AFL, I don’t think there would be many blokes from any sport (except some from rugby) that could convert to top level league. same as there wouldnt be an NRL player who could play pro football (soccer)
Jay said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
I dont question the courage of any elite footballer. Its the ability and technique that AFL player will lack if they were to play league. The same applies for a NRL player going to AFL – they need to be able to kick on a 2 cent piece 40 meters away in any direction at any given time and they need to have a big motor.
All I was saying is that nothing in the AFL can prepare you for the constant frequent and intensity of the physical contact in league. Fullbacks and Wingers are traditionally the least exposed to these elements of the game. If any AFL player was to switch, it would be better to do so in these positions. Im sure the same applied in the AFL – Hunt is probably going to be a defender.. he wont have the creativity to play in the midfield and he appears to lack the ability to long and accurate to be a full forward.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:39am | Report comment
agree Jay you are spot on with most of that. All i’m saying is if you took the bigger players in AFL (all things being equal) they could be built up to cope.
Redb
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Let’s be honest – we haven’t had a Karmichael Hunt situation before – so at the moment, we’ve got zero idea one way or the other.
One thing is for sure – for him to even manage 10 games, he is going to have to absolutely work his arse off – he’s not just going to wake up, walk out there and trick up a kick as easy as pie.
Also, people on the Roar really do underestimate the physicality involved in aussie rules – so we’ve got someone earlier in this thread reckons that Hunt is going to pick up the ball (completely unopposed it would appear), and just prance up the other end and kick an easy goal – just like that.
We shall see.
Robbos said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
I dunno there Capt Nemo, watching Gary Ablett the other day I thought this guy would make a great lock forward, strong & creative & good kicking game.
captain nemo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
maybe he would but to play top level league and rugby as a foward, its like you have to play the game while being bashed up. Ablett (as skillfull as he is as an athlete) has never played football while being bashed up. He would have to change his mental toughness.
Jay said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Ablett as a lock – you’re kidding me right?
I saw him in the GF and also thought he’d make a good league player but for entirely different reasons. He’s got good speed and the ability to break tackles. He’d be a decent centre in attack, but that one of the most complicated positions to defend in. He also appears much smaller than hes teammates. But I cant see him walking away from AFL – especially when the Gold Coast want to pay as much as $2m per season for him.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Ablett would be good in rugby league, most of the tall players would not last 5 minutes, long legs dont mix well in league. They tend to get broken real fast. A tall player called Hoff had leg injuries which spelt a end to his career.
No lankies please. Solid, yes, lanky , no. Big backsides are the go in league. Not that i am looking.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
I remember Hoff – he was a full back, right?
If my memory serves me well he won man of the match once in a SOO.
We’re talking around 1988 to 1991.
He was quite gangly from memory.
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Yes thats him, very gangly, had great skills, should have been playing Aussie rules. Good while he lasted, yes Pip.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Yes – you often get those sorts of gangly types in aussie rules, and you’re right that Hoff had a unique way of running with the ball that reminds me of some of these sorts of blokes – if my memory serves me well, he was pretty good at beating the first man (as all good full backs can do) – so he clearly had a deceptive change of pace.
I’m thinking of blokes like Spider Burton (mind you, he was extremely tall), maybe even someone like Michael Tuck, who’s a bit of a legend of the game, and had a physique that you would describe as “wiry” – but had that manner of running very similar to Hoff.
Robbos said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
I’m not talking about him playing RL today, he has no experience in the game nor does he want to walk away from the game. More that if he played from a young age, he could have been a great lock foward.
Now I don’t know much about AFL, but he showed he could read the game & chimes in at certain times where he can show his brillance. A good creative lock forward who reads the game well was where I was coming from.
Abit like saying if Billy Slater played football all his live, I think he would’ve been a damn good football player.
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
capt nemo
settle down mate – no one’s detroying anything – that’s the whole point of that article I wrote above.
It is going to be extremely rare circumtances that some one is going to make it from outside the game, extremely rare, so rare, it’s hardly worth contemplating.
Stacks of NSW kids grow up playing both games – there’s no doubt in my mind that that makes them better players in whatever they end up doing.
If a couple of these blokes can be coaxed back to help kick start the GWS team – great – but I honestly doubt it’s going to be a free for all.
To be honest – it’s a none issue.
As for hatred for particular codes – in the Roar it’s definitely one way traffic.
captain nemo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
personally, it takes alot for me to hate anything. My Victorian mates, we could be sitting there talking about the ozone layer or anything and after a few beers, the same crap, they start mumbling about how much they hate league. I give them credit because these guys are educated fellows and that they know the difference in the two rugby codes. But yeh mate, it is always the same garbage. they hate league, and in a patronising manner will say, but not rugby, we are Ok with that sport. Its very obvious to me Pip every time I get to VIC, but at the end of the day, its no skin off my nose or yours.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
maybe you should take on your fellow Sydneysiders when they call AFL gayfl, or a game for pooftas, just vicball,etc.
There are two sides to the code hate fence don’t you worry about that (channeling Joh)
Redb
captain nemo said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
pip, you say NSW kids growing up play both games (we are very fortunate to have such a choice for our children), can’t say VIC kids growing up play both games!! Victorian society overall would not accept that mate.
Redb said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Maybe you can explain why rugby league is not allowed in many private schools in Sydney – that sounds like discrimination to me?
oikee said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
I’ll explain it, go ask the ARU and they will give you a answer, Money. If they keep the ARU in private schools, anyone who makes it rich can pour all their cash back into Union, true, but here in oz it has failed.
Overseas it has done quiet well.
They are openly ashamed to say league is the better game. Victorians anyone.,,?
I was going to mention yesterday with the league/union blog, next we will have a league/afl blog, its always league who has to fight off the other codes. I cant wait for soccer to get huge. Be 3 against 1 then.
League followers are hardened fighters, abit like the mongels or mongos, ? where have i heard that before,
Neandrathals, i love that. Mungos, thats another. Drongos, etc etc etc. We call ourselves canetoads and cockroaches, like these vermon, we tend to take over. Silently, we will end up in a kitchen near you. Only kidding, or am eye. 
Pippinu said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
capt nemo
Have you heard of the language border in Europe – the one that splits Western Europe into romance speakers to the south-west and Germanic speakers to the North?
At no point does that language border correspond with a national border.
There are German speakers within Italy along the border with Austria (South Tyrol), Swizerland is split between German, French and Italian speakers, there are German speakers in Alsaice-Lorraine, and then Belgium is split between French and Dutch speakers.
The football border is very much the same, running somewhere north of the Murray (with plenty of dips and swerves), such that cities like Albury and Broken Hill are very much aussie rules cities, and then further North of the Murray, it becomes quite mixed between the two codes (Wagga, Canberra and Bateman’s Bay), etc.
There’s no reason for you and I to get hung about this – it’s just a quirk of history – just like that language border in Europe.
So it’s just as hard to get a kid playing League in Adelaide as it is to get a kid in Wollongong or Rockhampton playing aussie rules.
Quirks of history – nothing more.
Robbos said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Talking about Europe, they play football.