Heard directly from an assiatant coach at an AFL club that his club is targeting sons of former players at age 9 and 10 and putting them through development squads etc.
The rationale is that they can invest in these players, ensure they get picked in the appropriate rep squads, give them extra work and then use a cheap draft pick on them. They won't invest the resourses in other kids because they have little chance of drafting him. The more talented kid in the son's U11 to U16 side meanwhile, is on his own.
My bet is that many of them will miss out.
At 5'9, would Marc Murphy have had the same opportunity if his dad wasnt a gun? Obviously, he can play but I wonder how many players of equal size and ability will miss out.
The rationale is that they can invest in these players, ensure they get picked in the appropriate rep squads, give them extra work and then use a cheap draft pick on them. They won't invest the resourses in other kids because they have little chance of drafting him. The more talented kid in the son's U11 to U16 side meanwhile, is on his own.
My bet is that many of them will miss out.
At 5'9, would Marc Murphy have had the same opportunity if his dad wasnt a gun? Obviously, he can play but I wonder how many players of equal size and ability will miss out.
