Former Melbourne rookie Tom Couch turns coach for AFL draft hopefuls

TOM Couch knows the pain that goes with AFL draft rejection, the despair as you lie crying for two days after your name isn’t read out on draft night.

Draft hopeful Lucas Webb and his trainer Tom Couch. Couch has found a niche market and is helping young afl hopefuls to cover the boxes they need to tick to be drafted.

TOM Couch knows the pain that goes with AFL draft rejection, the feeling of utter despair as you lie in your room crying for two days after your name isn’t called out on draft night.

The embarrassment in front of your friends and family, who for the past couple of years have been anticipating the moment and then suddenly struggle to find the right words to describe the fact you have been deemed unworthy of selection.

In Couch’s case his crossroad moment came in 2006 when despite a promising final two games with Geelong Falcons, where he was named best finals player, he was overlooked as a father/son selection by Geelong where his legendary father Paul had played 259 games between 1985-2007, and further ignored in both National and Rookie drafts.

Lucas Webb takes on the Anderson St hill as he prepares for life as an AFL player. Picture: Martin Reddy

“The rookie draft hurt the most. Prior to the draft I was only spoken to by one club and they ended up ringing me two days before to tell me my beep test wasn’t good enough (below 13). I can now do 14-plus any day of the week but I just didn’t know how to specifically train for it back then,” Couch, 26, said.

“And I didn’t know how to play good football consistently so I didn’t deserve to be picked up. But it took me at least two years to accept responsibility and it was only after learning how to seriously train alongside Ed Curnow under Bruce Scriven.”

Couch eventually realised his dream of playing senior AFL games when picked for Melbourne in three matches in 2012, the same year he was beaten a vote in the Liston trophy for best and fairest in the VFL competition despite playing just 13 games.

To play those AFL games he had toiled at six different clubs in two states, a journey where he witnessed every side of the AFL world. Now he believes he is equipped to give something back in the form of helping teenagers prepare for the draft, plus devising pre-season training programs for non-AFL clubs (he currently has 12 on his books).

Lucas Webb and his trainer Tom Couch. Picture: Martin Reddy

“I want these boys to learn from my mistakes, not by age 20 but at age 18. Some of them finish their TAC cup season three months prior to the draft and don’t know how to prepare, how to get their 3km time under 11 minutes or beep test over 14,” said Couch.

“In the AFL they will do a drill and then recover while listening to their coach for five minutes. I try to teach them to do things quickly before they have recovered, so they learn to kick when fatigued, to stay in that moment and deal with it.

“Or how to prepare mentally for what is ahead. At that age AFL players appear like superstars to them so you try to take some of that away, just make it more normal.”

Couch is currently training three AFL hopefuls in Brayden Maynard (Sandringham) Alex Urban (Oakleigh) and Lucas Webb (Gippsland). In the case of Webb, he has worked to reduce his endurance times, lowering his 3km from 11min20sec to 10.50, or improving his beep from 13.1 to 14.8. Webb, a 186cm forward/midfielder, doesn’t know if he will be drafted but he says meeting Couch has definitely improved his chances.

“Put it this way, I never would have got to 14.8 in the beep test without Tom’s training. It still may not determine what happens on draft night but it has to help. You spend a lot of time before the draft waiting so training is a good way to stay focused. And Tom has helped me understand that there is plenty to look forward to even if I don’t get drafted.”

TOM COUCH’S DO’s AND DON’TS FOR DRAFT HOPEFULS

DO’S

1: Find a mentor who has been in the AFL system (past player, administrator, etc).

2: Seek coaching feedback as to your weaknesses, but don’t ignore your strengths.

3: Train with renown hard trainers who will push you.

4: Surround yourself with people who understand what you are striving for.

5: Even when all else seems lost, never give up the dream.

DON’TS

1: Never blame others for your shortcomings. The good players will find a way

2: Don’t be ignorant by refusing to accept the same feedback from varied sources.

3: Ignore it when people, including family, constantly tell you how good you are.

4: Never be a loudmouth or show-off, as nothing will turn people off you quicker.

5: Don’t get caught up in the pre-draft hype.