As most are aware the AFL sends the cream of the crop of each year on a trip to the US to prepare them for the year ahead.
The level one squad of 25 players is selected following the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, and the level two squad includes the best 35 under-18 players in the country. These players are eligible for the upcoming NAB AFL Draft and go on the trip.
Surprisingly, Richmond is one of 7 clubs (Dogs, WCE, Port, Syd, GWS, Ess. Sydney clubs academy boys would take up there interest. Amazing the Essendon have no one considering how heavily they will have to invest in the draft) that do not have any representation on the trip and therefore misses time to see and more importantly interact away from the ground with the best of the best for the upcoming draft. Emma Quayle talks at length in her book how this time is so important for the AFL clubs to begin to understand the personalities and attitudes of the players early on. So, are we at a competitive disadvantage not having any one of this trip.
My answer is, yes.
The level one squad of 25 players is selected following the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, and the level two squad includes the best 35 under-18 players in the country. These players are eligible for the upcoming NAB AFL Draft and go on the trip.
Surprisingly, Richmond is one of 7 clubs (Dogs, WCE, Port, Syd, GWS, Ess. Sydney clubs academy boys would take up there interest. Amazing the Essendon have no one considering how heavily they will have to invest in the draft) that do not have any representation on the trip and therefore misses time to see and more importantly interact away from the ground with the best of the best for the upcoming draft. Emma Quayle talks at length in her book how this time is so important for the AFL clubs to begin to understand the personalities and attitudes of the players early on. So, are we at a competitive disadvantage not having any one of this trip.
My answer is, yes.