Bypassing SANFL cash turned Matt Priddis from WAFL benchwarmer to Brownlow Medallist
MATT Priddis is the feel good Brownlow medallist who slipped through the net a decade ago at West Lakes — becoming an Eagle instead of Crow.
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MATT Priddis is the feel good Brownlow medallist who slipped through the net a decade ago at West Lakes — becoming an Eagle instead of Crow.
Originally recommended by then Crows recruiting guru James Fantasia after “a stunning 2004 WAFL finals series and premiership”, Priddis is the one that got away.
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Having attended the Crows’ rookie draft camp, it is understood Priddis was overlooked by the club hierarchy on a height-to-pace ratio in favour of Peel Thunder’s Ryan Nye, East Fremantle beanpole Jon Griffin and Glenelg’s John Hinge in the 2005 AFL rookie draft.
Former Subiaco coach Peter German saw something special in aspiring on-baller Priddis that AFL clubs — including Adelaide where he trialled in November 2004 — didn’t.
German, who steered Priddis at Subiaco from 2003-06, then convinced his protege to prioritise opportunity over cash in the SANFL.
“Matt asked me what he should do and I said be careful, you could go over to South Australia and get half way through the season with a coach that doesn’t like you and end up sitting on the bench,” recalled German.
Priddis typecast as a slow coach everywhere except Subiaco before the Eagles finally swooped in 2006.
“We embarked on a plan in 2005 when he had a lot of offers from South Australia. We convinced him to stay for 30 per cent of the money elsewhere purely on the back of development and work with our conditioning coach Matt Barber.”
Having been snubbed in four AFL drafts Priddis made special mention of German’s ‘massive contribution’ to his development in his Brownlow acceptance speech.
Priddis, 29, would evolve from WAFL benchwarmer to Sandover Medallist to AFL’s first rookie listed Brownlow medallist.
The man who turned Priddis from draft discard to West Coast’s third Brownlow medallist says the humble midfielder proves nice guys can finish first.
German, a 185-game midfielder with North Melbourne, is livid that even in the afterglow of Brownlow Medal glory people are still questioning Priddis’ bonafides.
“I was really angry that there was as a poll asking if Matt Priddis was a worthy Brownlow medallist,” said German, who became Chris Connolly’s assistant at Fremantle after a second flag in three years at Subiaco.
“He has polled well the last two years, won the 2006 Sandover Medal. He hasn’t got the speed of Gary Ablett but got the most possessions (627) this year was No. 2 for clearances and No. 3 in tackles.
“How he didn’t make All Australian has got me beat.”
German said there was no better advertisement for “dedication” than former lifesaver Priddis who quickly excelled in a West Coast midfield boasting Chris Judd, Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr.
“He is a great story for anyone and the WAFL which is a great competition,” said German, now coaching VFL side Coburg after four years as Western Bulldogs’ development coach.
“Recruiters kept overlooking his strengths — consistency, ability to win the ball, great at endurance and stoppages, strength around the hips and never getting knocked over.
“He hung in there and got rookie listed, showed what desire can do.
“He is just a very respectful person, the Brownlow is sacred to him.”
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