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A month ago to the day, Nudgee College student Nick Price was playing on the wing for the Australian Schoolboys rugby union team against Fiji at Suncorp Stadium.
How good this kid is, I have no idea. But he is now going to play AFL.
A mate told me this kid was thought to be a up-and-coming star. He is 17 years old and only two weeks ago was presented with his Australian jumper by Wallaby Lote Tuqiri.
Now a domestic only competition has persuaded Nick to play in a new franchise and not go for the glory of playing for Australia and the possible rewards that union has to offer. And all of this was achieved in a what would be generally, and correctly, perceived to be a rugby league and union heartland.
How and why Nick made the decision to play AFL is not as important as why union could not hold onto a current Australian Schoolboy international when it had everything in its favour.
Last night the Socceroos played in Queensland. Here is the squad: Mark Schwarzer, Luke Wilkshire, Lucas Neill (capt), Craig Moore, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Tim Cahill, David Carney, Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald.
Notice anything different from Socceroo teams from five, ten, twenty years ago? Well, if you haven’t noticed I will tell you.
Aside from Mark Schwarzer and Jason Culina, they are all English sounding names. Even Schwarzer is German. Culina is the token ethnic.
The players pressing for selection, such as Nathan Burns, Mattie Simon, Michael Bridge, James Holland, James McClelland, Michael Scott, Andrew Redmare, Travis Dodd, all have very traditional Aussie names.
This is very different to how it was twenty years ago.
What this clearly shows is that football is now keeping players it would have in bygone days lost to other codes – especially in New South Wales and Queensland.
Football’s plan, amongst other things, has been to create an under-14 international team, a youth league, and plant dreams of European glory for the best.
As time goes by, football will keep more of its elite and AFL will continue to raid the junior ranks of all codes looking for the best.
AFL is using the old fashioned and well-used money offer, which at 17 or 18 is hard to refuse.
Rugby league has lost some of its best to union in France and Super League in England. But it is also losing young players like Jack to AFL and not getting Nathan Burns and James Holland from football.
From were I sit, football and AFL are getting, and keeping, the biggest percentage of the elite young players.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.