The lessons learned by five top AFL draftees after their footy dreams didn’t pan out
Being a top pick in the AFL draft doesn’t guarantee a long career in the big time, so what happens if a dream doesn’t pan out? Read our series of draft lessons from those who’ve lived the journey.
For many young footy stars, the National Draft is a time of uncertainty, but for a talented few who stood out above the rest, the draft equation is an easier one.
A question of when in the order they get drafted rather than if. And which club will be hoping they become the next generational star.
Every first round pick has the hope, if not the expectation, that they will have a successful AFL career, and the vast majority will.
But what happens if the AFL gods are not kind and their career doesn’t pan out how they envisaged?
How do they come to terms with the end of their AFL dream?
Danny Roach was a quiet kid from Tassie when Collingwood plucked him out of relative obscurity as their pick at number seven in the 1999 draft.
After a year to develop his body and game, Roach was thrown into the middle for his AFL debut against Richmond on a Friday night and exited 10 minutes later, dragged with no possessions, never to play at AFL level again.
Roach’s relationship with the game took a big hit, but overtime he came to see his opportunity as a positive experience.
The following year, Dylan Smith’s status as one of Melbourne’s most promising under 18s was reflected in his top 10 status in the 2000 draft, but injury, form and an inability to adjust to a change in coach and gamestyle meant his career was over just six years, two teams and 21 games later.
While disappointed, Smith recounted the relief he felt when he didn’t have to deal with the pressure of the AFL any more, and how he has used his experience at the top level to benefit his career after footy.
A horror run with a series of serious injuries put paid to Marcus Drum’s hope of a long AFL career, 2005’s number eight pick calling time on his career at the age of 23.
Drum remains in the AFL industry with the AFLPA where he can draw on his own experience to assist young footballers navigating their own footy journeys.
In 2008, Lewis Johnston was a laidback South Australian country kid who seemed to fall into an AFL career when he was taken at pick 12 by the Swans.
His time in Sydney didn’t start well, and never really got going before injury hindered his chance at the Crows. Although he did catch fire one Saturday afternoon at Football Park with six goals and a couple of Brownlow votes.
Finally, Colac’s Cooper Stephens is still in the footy grind, moving himself across the country to keep his AFL dream alive in the WAFL.
Stephens remains positive about his first crack at the AFL that started as the number 17 pick by Geelong and ended after two unfruitful years with Hawthorn.
Check out our full series delving into what happens when a draftee’s AFL dream doesn’t pan out.
Originally published as The lessons learned by five top AFL draftees after their footy dreams didn’t pan out
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