Brisbane Broncos rugby league player Karmichael Hunt poses with a Gold Coast AFL franchise jersey. AAP Image/Patrick Hamilton
Brisbane Broncos star Israel Folau is expected to soon announce which club – and code – he’ll be playing for next year. With just the slightest hint that Greater Western Sydney was his destination last week, it didn’t take long for the usual lines to be thrown out. You know, the “This is proof anyone can play AFL”-type lines.
Just like after the Billy Slater talk a week beforehand. Just like after the Karmichael Hunt signing before that.
The AFL chasing after rugby league converts has been misconstrued in many ways, and it’s time a few of the “myths” are put to bed.
This is proof anyone can play in the AFL
Not quite. This is proof that anyone that possesses the athletic qualities of a Karmichael Hunt or Israel Folau can be given the chance to play in the AFL. There’s a bit of a difference.
Not everyone has the talents of Hunt and Folau, of course. It’s not as though these guys have been plucked straight off the street. But even then, there’s no guarantee they will make it, or even play a single senior game – at this stage all they’ve been presented with is an opportunity.
And for those who think playing in the AFL is a walk in the park, have a look at the Jordan Lewis and Jarrod Harbrow collision from a few weeks back and you’ll see the AFL isn’t a place for just “anyone”.
Look at all those Irish blokes crossing over – it’s easy to make the transition
Another perplexing myth. Only three converts from Gaelic football have reached the 100-game milestone – Tadhg Kennelly, Jim Stynes and Stynes’ teammate Sean Wight. Outside of those three, the list of Irish players to have come over is littered with stories of those who couldn’t cut it. Many never make a senior debut, some even struggle to see out their first season.
The stories of Stynes and Kennelly, as great as they are, shouldn’t lead to the conclusion that it’s easy to make the transition.
It has everything to do with publicity and nothing to do with them playing footy
Publicity is a huge factor in all of this. It’s the chief motivator, I’ve written. But these signings are not all for publicity. Expansion has forced all clubs to think outside the square when it comes to recruiting and to try and open new avenues for talent.
It’s not just rugby league players being signed up, it’s Americans and former basketballers, it’s rugby union players, it’s even more Irishmen, it’s young Fijians, it’s young Kiwis. Players on Gold Coast’s current VFL list have backgrounds in soccer, cricket, basketball, swimming and athletics.
Mind you, having said all that, the fact they are high-profile rugby league players means they get a fair bit more money thrown at them. Which leads to the next myth …
It’s money down the drain
This simply isn’t the case. Believe it or not, the investment in Karmichael Hunt has already paid off. After stories filtered through newspapers, radio, television and the internet, the publicity generated by his signing was valued at $7.5 million.
That’s well above what he’s being paid, and the best part for Gold Coast and the AFL is he hasn’t even played a game yet. Imagine the media attention on his first training session, his first VFL game, his first pre-season game, his first AFL game … it’s crazy to even think about what all that will be worth.
Again, this isn’t to say publicity is the only reason Gold Coast and the AFL went after him. He actually possesses athletic talents. But it is to say that his signing – and any potential Folau signing – isn’t simply money down the drain.
They’ll be taking spots off guys who’ve played the game their whole lives
Actually, the introduction of two new clubs will create almost a hundred new senior list positions, not even including the rookies listed on top of that. The next few years provide a number of opportunities for talent – be they already playing the game or otherwise – to find a spot on an AFL list.
Even then, the non-registered rookie provision – the provision used to sign players like Hunt and Folau – allows players not registered as playing Aussie Rules in the past three years to be signed onto the rookie list (away from the senior list) virtually on top of the salary cap (away from the entire list).
Have the AFL ever seen this guy actually kick?
Both Hunt and Folau have gone through kicking tests – and a general skills test, for that matter – with the AFL’s Jason McCartney. Just because nobody’s seen Folau kick in an NRL game, doesn’t mean the AFL haven’t seen him kick.
This is great, it’s the best thing the AFL have ever done, it’s a no-brainer …
To be fair on the critics, there are a couple of reasons to think a few AFL people are getting a little bit too excited by what’s happening. To suggest there’s completely no downside to all this is also a tad off the mark.
The AFL are setting a strange precedent by helping to pay these players’ salaries through a “marketing allowance”. What’s to stop Carlton asking for the AFL to pay part of Chris Judd’s salary? Is he not marketable? What about Gary Ablett at Geelong? Better yet, what if an existing club, a club not in a developing market, wanted to sign an NRL player?
It does open up a can of worms.
Also, there’s definitely a chance for the positive publicity to backfire once these recruits take to the field or, worse still, don’t take to the field. The scrutiny on them will be intense.
They are going to be absolute failures / great successes
This part of things cannot be foreseen. Nobody knows whether it’s possible to pluck a young rugby league star, develop him for a year and see him out on an AFL field and have him actually belong there.
Which is why experiments like the Hunt signing will be so fascinating. They are great stories.
Instead of jumping to conclusions, the best thing for any Australian sports fan right now is to simply sit back and see how it all plays out.
pike64
Guest
any one can play AFL. Illija Grgic never kicked a sherrin until he was 15 and by 19 was playing for Footscray seniors. Show me a similar example in any other sport!!!!! The draft picks are all rated on athletic ability not a 'footballing' brain. Hence why Sheedy is looking to South African Blacks. Most defenders in AFL have little skill and seem to only know how to spoil. There are still atrocious kickers in the AFL in this current day. But as long as you can run all day and have the build of a middle distance runner you always have a chance of playing AFL!!!!!
Luke
Guest
Its 99% PR. Why arn't the AFL recruiting talented ARU players? Because they want NRL market share. The scheme will fail and the players will end up playing NRL again. Good publicity, maybe. Also makes the AFL look desperate and makes NRL fans angry at the AFL for pouching. It will create a siege mentality amount NRL fans in Sydney a kinda "hands off our game, go back to Mexico" type feeling
captain nemo
Roar Guru
yeh republican, American football players do possess the correct physiques that could allow them to play AFL. I would love to see "the refrigerator" in a singlet and tight shorts. :)
Galloping Guru
Guest
Yes, Mark of the year, grey ghost Shaun Smith.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
This is just a question, does anyone reckon that the expansion teams will weaken the competition, you know "spread the teams thin?" This is just a question that always gets popped up (at least in League circles), I think it has very little credence in comparison to the advantages that come from expanding. But it does raise a good debate?
Michael C
Roar Guru
thanx Al......I shoulda gone 'safe ground' and said he was a JJ Liston 'place getter',.......that'd cover all possibilities.......I knew I shoulda googled first!!!
Michael C
Roar Guru
Redb - that'd be : Sean Wight....the Scots Irishman, not Shaun Smith who was the Ainslie North Melb player.
Karlos
Guest
Yeh. Well it is up to them how they prepare for a game. It was suprising how this story wasnt more widely publicised. There it was quite a large area of print, back page of The Australian one day and never heard of again. I thought it was going to become AFL's version of Hoppa and his date poking, but someone shut the stury down pretty quick. Eddy McGuire came out with it and said he knew it was going on at Collingwood and other clubs he did not name. Apparently the idea was that you keep going till the climax and then stop. They believed it increased testosterone levels and made them more aggro fot the game. Not sure if it still goes on. RedB might be able to help.
Emperor Penguin
Guest
I agree, its not based on the whole truth, but a percieved truth through a lack of understanding.
Republican
Guest
Aka Does body type have much to do with this? I believe so. I wonder if the Rugby codes are limited in this respect, i.e. in spreading their net to recruit across codes, compared to Australian football, which can certainly tap into sports i.e Basketball and even American Footy if they chose to, since that code does not possess Union or League physiques either from what I have seen. I remember when Larkham, Roff and Andrew Walker were all playing for the Brumbies, they were approached at varying times by AFL scouts. These three could have readily adapted to a variety of codes however they were exceptions to the rule. The remaining Brumby players, despite their Union skills, would never have been contemplated due to a stereotypical body type. I must say I believe Falou is not the right body type for our game and Hunt, although closer to the fit, is just not good enough. Compare this with the three former mentioned Brumbies who would have readily made the transition to Australian Footy in my opinion, I reckon Aust Footy has the luxury of being less restricted in this respect. By this I mean the game can spread it's net further in scouting elite athletic prowess based on that criteria alone - body type. This should not be construed as the code being somehow less skillful or easier to pick up - if that makes sense? Cheers
Redb
Roar Guru
AKa, AFL clubs have to date pursued a very small number of what you call novice players. The majority have already been in the AFL system. let's not over state this. Of the novices, say the Irish recruits, I'd say Jim Stynes, Sean Smith and Tadgh Keneally have reached profiency at AFL level in 30 years. There have been more Irish novice recruit than anyone else. Only 3 in 30 years. (maybe 4 with marty clarke) If you think it's easy: grab a sherrin and run flat out, bounce the ball every 15 metres and then kick it to a target - then do it with players coming at you from all directions. By the way if you get tackled with the ball you turn it over.
Aka
Guest
Michael D re:your comment 'This is proof anyone can play in the AFL - Not quite. This is proof that anyone that possesses the athletic qualities of a Karmichael Hunt or Israel Folau can be given the chance to play in the AFL. There’s a bit of a difference.' What you say is right. But it also says that athletic qualities are the most significant factor. I don't believe anyone says 'anyone can play AFL' just that in terms of technique and tactics it is relatively easy to adapt, in comparison with other sports. The evidence of this is the AFL and AFL clubs pursuing athletes that are new to the game, it's becoming more commonplace rather than less. And it's people making there entrypoint to the game at the very highest level of the game. So the questions I have are if it's not relatively easy, technique and tactics wise: 1. Why do The AFL clubs pursue 'novice' players? and 2. How the hell can they enter at the elite level?
Republican
Guest
Dogz R Yep, I certainly have and I am an AFL supporter. Cheers
captain nemo
Roar Guru
what are you going on about????
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
Do AFL fans use the term "thugby"?
Redb
Roar Guru
Let's just explore this for a sec: All hospital workers (Doctors, Nurses, admin) and all those who go to Hospital are as well. All cinema workers and all those who go to cinemas. All public pool workers and swimmers are as well. All Shopping centre retail workers and all those who go to a shopping centre. NRL myth busted!
B-A-T
Roar Rookie
Of course Guru, to be offended by his spiels is to lend legitimacy, of which he is so cravenly devoid of.
Galloping Guru
Guest
I agree BAT, he says the same thing over and over, i agree with you, i dont find him offensive, basically he puts AFL and homosexuality together because he is fearfull of both.
B-A-T
Roar Rookie
Indeed he chose selective language, but one can still read between the lines. I don't think its offensive, just immature.
Galloping Guru
Guest
Karlos said " Just because the Collingwood AFL team and other AFL teams were masterbating together before games does not make them gay in the homosexual way. Just a little bit weird. But dropping balls left, right and centre and not being able to tackle and having so many interchanges makes them gay and that aint gunna change for the foreseeable future". What ???. You got it right when you said a little bit weird.