Footballers neglected in favour of AFL's talent search
AFL Female has just announced a National Talent Search in order to poach talented athletes from other sports; and it’s a kick in the face for Aussie Rules players everywhere.
Beginning on January 23 at Whitten Oval in Melbourne and including the state capitals bar Canberra and Darwin, the search will be loosely based on the Draft Combine; with fitness tests such as the beep test and vertical leap, and skills such as kicking and handballing also featuring.
Essentially, the AFL is pouring resources to those who have never played AFL before, at the expense of those who have been training the house down in preparation for the still unconfirmed national league.
Targeting athletes who are unregistered with a club, AFL Game Development Chief, Simon Lethlean, said “"We want to engage with these players and give them the chance to enhance their football skills while expanding our talent pool as we look towards the national women's competition in 2017.”
With so many positives coming from the 2015 season, including the historic first broadcast, two draft games and unprecedented media coverage, the lack of support to current players and focusing on players unfamiliar with Aussie Rules smacks of a backward step.
Preseason has begun for many all over Australia, with players from all corners of the nation pushing themselves like never before with the prospect of high honours on the horizon.
The push from the AFL to search for marketing products rather than genuine footy players cheapens the effort of hard-working players who give all they can to the game for little reward.
With the apparent goal of the AFL to “widen the talent pool,” one would think strengthening state leagues and ensuring talent academies are equipped with adequate support and infrastructure for those players ready and willing to take the next step is a far more viable option.
Consider this also: Tiarna Ernst (North Queensland), Emma Humphries (Burnie) and Heather Anderson (Canberra/Darwin) all played in the Demons v Bulldogs this year- and are from small markets where Aussie Rules isn’t inherently flourishing.
Do we really want to confine our “Talent Search” to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart when our regional areas have such a proud sporting tradition; with footballers that are thirsty for more development?
Think about your hard-working players, AFL. They deserve the chance to be the best possible players they can be, playing in a National competition based on their own footballing merits….not on their novelty value.
