Two years ago Eric Wallace started his journey into Australian rules football. At the time I wrote an article on Eric and was genuinely excited at the thought of such a massive athlete taking on the challenge of AFL football.
Eric was given his nickname ‘The Beast’ which is obviously due the fact that he is a massive unit, and was then on his way to his AFL dream. If you have been following Eric’s progress you won’t be surprised at the player he has become.
The only other player we can compare Eric to would be that other North American, Mike Pyke. While Mike has developed into a player who offers the Swans a good contested mark, a solid set shot and a handy ruckman, I have never seen Mike take a screamer.
And yet this is something Eric has now mastered. I was throughly shocked that a man who would have been lucky to have played 24 games, has mastered our beloved specky.
Eric obviously has some way to go before he will line-up for the Kangaroos, but has shown how quickly an athlete can pick up the game.
So I was a bit shocked to hear a former North Melbourne great in Wayne Carey question the recruitment of players born and bred outside Australia’s borders.
Wayne, who is without doubt one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, obviously isn’t one of the games greatest thinkers. I have no doubt a visionary like Paul Roos would have shaken his head at Wayne’s comments.
His negative comment came in regards to Mason Cox. Mason, a 211-centimetre tall monster from the US has a high level of coordination and many qualities of a potential star, which is something at least five clubs have declared interest in.
Mason is the same height as Aaron Sandilands who tends to dominate most ruck contests and holds the record as the equal-tallest player to have ever played in the AFL. And yet Wayne seems to have missed the point as to why we are hunting US athletes like Mason.
Very tall athletes that can fill the role of a ruckman and tick the boxes as far as endurance, toughness and coordination are hard to come by. Only one per cent of the athletes that come out of the U.S College sporting system go onto play at a professional level.
Therefore, there must be many talented players just waiting to be picked up by the right club. The risk to the club taking a punt is almost nil. Clubs can take up to three international rookies on their list for up to three years, with none of their salary counting towards the clubs salary cap.
So why wouldn’t you take a chance on an international rookie? We now see Patrick Mitchell at Sydney, Jason Holmes at St.Kilda and Eric at North Melbourne. While I can’t see Mason replicating Eric’s screamers on the field, I guarantee we will soon see America’s version of Arron Sandilands being signed to an AFL club in the near future.
Adrian
Guest
Ian, are you staying that it's a good thing or a bad thing that more players will be following Mikes path?
TW
Guest
Tad, Good to see you taking an interest in NZ footy. AFLNZ each year lists a team of Kiwis either playing in the various Australian leagues or now on AFL club lists and it is growing each year. AFLNZ is promoting this list to the AFL to set up eventually state of origin matches against an Australian team of some sort. Very early days we know but it will happen, although they will get thrashed ATM. We will get a better idea of their standard at the International Cup in August. If they beat PNG and Ireland easily their standard has risen. Those 3 countries will be equal favourites although Ireland has heaps of players in Australia who will be eligible.
Cat
Roar Guru
Its less about older players can't pick up the game quickly than it is about finding the right mature player willing to put the extra work in. These combines that test vertical leap, agility and all that physical stuff is only one small part of the equation. The potential player has to basically be a sponge, willing to ask questions, willing to learn and study and work twice as hard as the next guy.. Mark Blicavs down at Geelong, played something like 6 games of footy since under 14's prior to making his first AFL start. Now I know its not a true comparison to people that probably never even heard of AFL footy in their first 20 years but it does illustrate the right type of person these recruiters need to be looking for. By all reports Blicavs never stops asking questions and is willing to do anything his coaches and fellow players ask of him, his effort and willingness to give all he has is unquestionable.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Tad, The exceptiuon is tap ruckman - if you have height, can jump and can do one other thing other than win taps, then you're useful. This is Wallace crashing a pack to take a speccy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6I1APSDm6w
Tad
Roar Rookie
The beauty of getting them to play the game younger, and BTW the above is NZ V South Pacific, a couple of weeks ago.
Tad
Roar Rookie
Possibly, have not followed him that closely, but in general IMO, you have to play the game as a kid to really pick up the feel of the game, but of course there are exceptions to any rule. I actually like where the game is going in NZ ATM, standard compared to just a couple of years ago is quite remarkable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfp8Z1Txyvw&feature=player_embedded
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Like a spud like Tyrone Vickery does. He's six foot six, can jump a bit, is useless in general play ... and has somehow been on a list for five years.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
No, it shouldnt. Draft Express can probably provide you with a list of three hundred 6'6 athletes with 25 inch standing verticals.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Should that opening line have said a "limited supply"?
Tad
Roar Rookie
One swallow does not make a summer, fantastic athletes capable of junping buildings in a single bound, but do these guys have a feel for the game !!, that is what Wayne Carey was getting at. We shall see, having said that, i am all for giving it a go.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
There is a functionally unlimited supply of six foot six athletes who can jump, and Draft Express can not only tell you who they are, but identify which of them like physical contact and are capable of learning new skills quickly. Given the way so many ruckmen with crap skills have coasted through the professional ranks, I'd be expecting a lot more players to be walking Mike Pyke's road.