By Marc McGowan
Dreams will be realised at this week’s AFL draft, serving as the culmination of many years of hard work and sacrifice.
Each draftee has their path to the top, but there is no such thing as overnight success.
The journey to the AFL is longer for some than others, yet almost always requires a combination of talent, dedication, planning, decision-making, resilience – and at least some luck.
Daniel Annable, Willem Duursma and Zeke Uwland are among the prospects who’ll be snapped up in this year’s draft.Credit: Artwork: Monique Westermann. Photos: AFL Photos, Getty Images
We spoke with two Talent League under-18 coaches, two recruiters, a player agent and prospective draftees to get the lowdown on how to become an AFL footballer.
How the journey begins
Many kids’ first football experience beyond their backyard is in an Auskick program before they eventually graduate to their local junior club.
Some are more fortunate than others, depending on the quality of coaching they receive in those tender years, when players learn basic skills and fundamentals – and having fun should be the overriding priority.
Top prospect Cooper Duff-Tytler being put through his paces at the draft combine.Credit: AFL Photos
There are opportunities as the years go on to play in interleague and make regional or even state teams, but recruiters and player agents are not watching until a long way down the road.
Recruiters typically pay little attention until a prospect (how the media will refer to a player down the track) turns 16 years old, unless that player is specifically tied to a club academy or is father-son eligible.
This is important because kids develop at different rates, in part but not solely due to varying growth spurts, which is why a long-term focus is almost always a better approach. Ensuring your child has a positive experience and wants to keep playing is one of the recipes to success.
Harry Dean is just days away from joining Carlton and following in the footsteps of his father, Peter (left).Credit: Jason Robins
The parents’ role
There are parents who double as their child’s junior coach, while others prefer to be an unofficial coach as a vocal presence on the sidelines and some stay silent. Then there are those who sit somewhere in between.
Parents perform a crucial role in an athlete’s journey to the elite level – but how they behave can be detrimental to their child’s development and ongoing involvement in sport.
One national recruiting manager at an AFL club, who agreed to contribute to this story on the condition of anonymity, said parents needed to be self-aware of their behaviour for their child’s sake.
Levi Ashcroft (centre) celebrates Sandringham’s 2024 Talent League flag win with coach Rob Harding (left) and fellow co-captain Brodie Findlay (right).Credit: AFL Photos
“Be a parent, enjoy the ride, and don’t be a pain in the arse,” the recruiter told this masthead.
“Parents can’t get a kid drafted, but they can get them undrafted. You get some who try to live through their kid. Being a dickhead at the footy is never going to be good for your kid. I sat behind a dad the other week, and listened to him talk, and you can tell he’s going to be a pain in the arse.”
Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding, who has extensive AFL experience as an assistant coach and analyst, agreed with the recruiter.
“It’s important as kids get older that the parents are more the shoulder to cry on than the coach,” Harding said. “Recruiters see the parents who hang around the huddle and give their kids instructions.”
Leading draft prospect Harry Dean’s father Peter is a dual Carlton premiership player and coached his son during his junior days, but stepped back more recently.
Harry has appreciated that from his dad, who is more qualified than most.
“You don’t want the helicopter parent,” Harry said. “He’s been pretty good like that. But we always talk about football – and the Blues as well – so we have a pretty special connection.”
Private school
This is one of the hottest topics.
Do kids really have a better chance of getting drafted if they attend a private school? The truth is that most draftees from private schools are on scholarships because they were already high-tier talents and in elite pathways.
What is indisputable is that private schools have outstanding facilities, some of which are superior to Talent League clubs, and often employ current or ex-AFL footballers to coach, which is valuable for various reasons.
‘Be a parent, enjoy the ride, and don’t be a pain in the arse’
An AFL club recruiting manager on the role of parents
However, all recruiters will tell you that the standard in private school football is inferior to the Talent League, and scholarships mean the private school team must be prioritised.
“If you’re any good, you will get drafted [without having to attend a private school],” one AFL recruiter said.
“Eighty to 90 per cent who are drafted from an APS school are on scholarships, but a scholarship doesn’t guarantee you anything.
“What I will say is that it means more to kids to play for their school – or at least the genuine schoolboys, if they’ve been there the whole way through.”
Draft prospect Josh Lindsay’s kicking sets him apart.Credit: AFL Photos
Which skills should be prioritised?
There is not one answer to this question.
But both recruiters who spoke to this masthead said it frustrated them when players could not kick with both feet, or handball on each side, so that is a good starting point. In general, talent scouts want to see good technique and fundamentals, then they are looking for athleticism and AFL “traits”.
Josh Lindsay, one of the best kicks in this year’s draft, has a morning kicking routine that he completes daily in his home garage – complete with rebound net – while he also has several pre-training drills to keep him sharp.
That is an indication of the dedication required to reach the elite level.
David Loader, another with significant AFL experience, coaches Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Talent League. He quickly figures out which kids are committed because many country boys have to travel far further than their city counterparts.
“Some boys have to travel three hours to a training session,” Loader said.
“We made it to the grand final last year, and our boys spent, from memory, about 360 hours in a bus or a car getting to training and games for the year. We played Sandringham that day, and they spent about 14 hours, if you don’t count the 10 minutes to training in a car, or the walk from school.
“What it does for us – without sounding crass – is it eliminates the dickheads because they can’t stick at it … the positive is you’re dealing with boys who are pretty driven.”
Loader said it was vital that players developed a point of difference that became a “weapon”, while Harding said the Dragons encouraged their footballers to strike a good balance between social life, sport and school. He also warned against comparing your journey and progress to others.
Nutrition and gym
AFL prospects no longer endure skinfold tests and weights are not on the public record, but don’t be fooled into thinking fitness is not every bit as important as it has always been.
Talent League clubs offer education from pre-season onwards about everything from game style to wellbeing, nutrition and gym programs.
Players at these clubs are not lifting heavy weights in their teenage years – it is more about learning proper technique. Recruiters also do not expect them to be muscle-bound on their arrival in the AFL, but a strong core is something they recommend.
Sullivan Robey’s gruelling gym routine helped him emerge as a top AFL draft prospect.Credit: Eddie Jim
Developing good eating habits and learning how to appropriately fuel your body is something every young athlete should prioritise. Be aware that scouts are still viewing footballers’ conditioning and could be watching at any time, which may impact how a player is perceived.
“I remember being on an AFL Academy trip, and watching two players eating a massive fried fish and dim sims,” one recruiter said.
“From about 16 onwards, you should be eating foods to help you perform your best.”
All aspiring AFL players of a certain age should familiarise themselves with macronutrients, or macros – protein, carbohydrates and fats – to understand how to properly meet their body’s needs, which is particularly important for people who are active.
Finding an agent
Player agents, also known as managers, are often part of an AFL prospect’s journey, even before the player is drafted.
Accredited agents cannot approach a player, or their parent or guardian, before October 1 of the year the player turns 16 years old, and the first approach must be a letter of introduction submitted via the AFL Players’ Association player agent portal.
Prominent player agent Paul Connors at the 2023 national draft with his client, and now Hawthorn star, Nick Watson.Credit: AFL Photos
The process starts from there, but players can also indicate beforehand whether they are open to communication.
“Most kids choose an agent based on who they connect with because everyone has different personalities and offerings,” a player agent from a leading company told this masthead.
“Signing an agent doesn’t get them drafted, but an agent supports them in navigating the lead-up to the draft via catch-ups, sharing experiences of past players in similar situations, and with communication with schools and clubs, to make sure they’re on the same page. They will also get feedback on how they’re performing.
“Do your research, and make sure you pick someone who’s got experience, and has been through some stuff. Ultimately, players need someone they feel can support them on their journey.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.