Draft night: How the new bidding system works
By now most ardent footy fans would be across the new father son and academy bidding system that will have its inauguration at the upcoming AFL Draft. For those still unaware, the system ensures that while not strictly on the open market, clubs will now need to pay market value for players. It ensures that […]
Luke Partington: Resilience through adversity
Ordinarily, for a young, aspiring league footballer, a year in which you have been selected as one of the best underage players in the country would be one to celebrate. January saw Luke Partington travel to the US as part of the NAB AFL Academy, for a 10-day training camp, alongside other draft hopefuls and […]
The curious case of Charlie Curnow
Charlie Curnow is going to cause some serious headaches for recruiters come draft day. The 191 centimetre forward/midfielder missed the entirety of the Under 18s National Championships with a knee problem, but has returned to the TAC Cup in solid form. Curnow is a strong chance to bolt into the top five, according to several of […]
Ben McKay: The best draft story of the year
A few months ago, Gippsland forward Harry McKay seemed to bolt from nowhere. The 200 cm forward has remarkable agility, and he impressed with his skill for a big man. Harry is predicted to be a top 15 pick, but it is his brother Ben who has one of the best draft stories from the […]
State league junior football wrap – July 25/26
SANFL In the league, Wayne Milera made a successful return to the league side after being asked to work his way back up from the lower grades with 15 disposals and three clearances. Kyle Presbury also had 10 touches, all effective, in the same game. For the other side, the underaged Brandon Parfitt had nine […]
The 23rd man rule: Why it’s worth expanding
The 23rd man rule is for players who are currently on a TAC Cup list or were in the previous year to play up to three games for an affiliate VFL side. It’s mostly used for 19 year olds who have returned for a third year in the TAC Cup. Last year Jack Sinclair, Daniel Howe, Nathan […]
The new bidding system: Implications for the 2015 draft
The system explained: With the new system that has been announced this year, there’s been some confusion from fans over the implications it will have on their academy and father/son talents. The first part of this article aims to explain the system in an easy to understand manner, while the second will look at cases […]
Under the Microscope: Time to get defensive
Key defenders and small defenders are crucial to a team’s success. Recruiters now have to find players who are willing to run in both an attacking and defensive manner. In this edition of Under the Microscope we are going to be looking at aspects of defending which are both over and underrated when analysing a […]
Under the Microscope: Ruck development
The art of the ruck. They start the game and can be the difference between winning and losing. Ruckmen are the most frustrating and hardest to develop. The golden rule of recruiting is proven with these players – the taller the player, the longer the development. But clubs are now taking ruckmen from the state league […]
Rebels set to buck the premiership trend in 2015
North Ballarat Rebels are one of three teams charging towards its second TAC Cup premiership, but the lid is firmly on, despite a strong start in season 2015. The Rebels only blemish this year was an unlucky two-point loss to Geelong Falcons at Simonds Stadium. That result that could have gone either way, especially considering […]