Oliver Florent will use the memory of his father to make a success of his career in Sydney
SYDNEY is confident top draft pick Oliver Florent will have no trouble flourishing away from his family despite losing his father just three months ago.
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WHEN Sydney coach John Longmire flew to Melbourne to chat with Oliver Florent last Sunday, football wasn’t on the agenda.
The Swans knew Florent could play.
Their recruiters had conducted a microscopic review of his footage and noticed “special things” — elite hands and decision-making under fierce pressure.
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But Sydney wanted to know whether Florent would pack his bags and relocate from his grieving family.
In August, Florent’s dad Andrew — a former Davis Cup tennis player — died after a long battle with bowel cancer.
From that moment it seemed a Victorian club would draft Florent, allowing him to stay with mum Rachel and younger brother Jai in Mentone.
But in the draft’s most emotional call, the Swans secured the outside pace and pizzazz they craved in Florent — and it came with the family’s blessing.
Florent’s dad had made a habit of beating doctor’s deadlines. He was given three months to live nearly four years ago and then just 12 hours in August.
He fought on one more week, which Florent spent camped in his Cabrini Brighton hospital room.
“You can never relive that time with him, so I spent countless hours and said my goodbyes about 12 times,” Florent said before the draft.
“He just kept pushing and pushing. It was really sad, his whole body composition had changed and he wasn’t responsive and I couldn’t speak to him in the last three days.
“That was really tough. But I wasn’t going to go to school because you can’t ever replace that moment with your dad ever again.”
Now Florent — who has been mentored by Hawks star Luke Breust — wants to take his father’s spirit into his own career.
“If I could have one tenth of his determination and will I’ll be getting to where I want to go,” Florent said.
He’s already shown signs that won’t be a problem.
Florent’s resilience late in the season impressed every club, as he averaged 21 disposals and kicked four goals in three TAC Cup finals in September.
And he quickly became a role model for Jai, taking a keen interest in his sport as the brothers grew closer.
But while Florent was playing scintillating footy, he said the loss of his dad was becoming even harder.
“When it happened everything was just about dad and you kind of think he’s just on a holiday,” Florent said.
“But now reality hits and he’s actually gone. This is only seven weeks ago. It’s real, you’ll never speak to him again and I’m just so lucky that I got to say my goodbyes.”
It was Andrew who best prepared Oliver for elite sport.
From the age of two, Oliver would sprint to answer the doorbell with a pair of tennis racquets, pulling whoever it was onto the backyard court for a hit.
There were fan photos with Lleyton Hewitt and Rafael Nadal growing up and Florent got to No.6 in Victoria, but felt isolated playing singles and realised there was more chance of success chasing the Sherrin.
It’s been a traumatic few months for the family.
“We’ve (Jai and I) both copped it big time, plus my mum,” Florent said last month.
“Just being there for (Jai) is the main thing.
“Mum’s just started working again. It’s obviously fresh in our minds, but we’ve got to move on and dad would want us to move on so we’ve got no choice.
“We’re only visitors on this earth and you’ve just got to move on.”
Florent conceded challenges lay ahead as he prepares for Sydney, but is already feeling more comfortable.
Swans players sent a steady stream of welcome texts and the club has ensured that player welfare manager Dennis Carroll will look after him.
There will be frequent family trips in either city and there is a real desire to play under Longmire, following last Sunday’s visit.
“I’ve met him once and I feel like I’ve known him for about three years,” Florent said.
And then there’s the on-field excitement.
Buddy Franklin is now a teammate and Florent joins a club in premiership mode wanting to “tear games apart”.
The Swans were smashed for outside run in September and so Florent is a snug fit.
“He really is that mix that we really need,” chief recruiter Kinnear Beatson said.
“Some extra run on the outside, we’re a bit bare at times.
“He’s better inside than what a lot of people think too and then he can go outside, play on a wing and kick goals.”
Beatson said last week’s meeting was “pivotal” and said it could not have gone better.
“It was about life — how he was feeling, how his younger brother Jai would deal with it.
“If it appeared it wasn’t going to work then we wouldn’t have done it. But Ollie and Rachel have a lot of support up here.
“There were some synergies there and you get a gut feel that this is a win for both parties. There was no obstacle not to come, so we jumped at it.”
And Florent will arrive at training to a familiar face.
When he was young, Swans superstar and former Hawk Josh Kennedy used to babysit him.
The next step is to do it for dad.
“It’s all for you, mate,” Florent said.
“That’s what I’ll be thinking. He wouldn’t want me to get comfortable getting drafted, because it gets harder from there.”
Originally published as Oliver Florent will use the memory of his father to make a success of his career in Sydney
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