League to AFL?

[Coxy]

Has Harmichael opened the door for a string of defections? I think not, there's probably only 5-6 players who would have the physical attributes and skill sets that could transfer to the sport, and I'm not convinced even K is developed enough in certain areas to handle it. But we'll see.

The question is what impact will this have?

I said it in another thread I think, but one possible outcome of this I can see is that kids playing Aussie Rules at school in Brisbane or Sydney may well think League might be a better pathway for them. Think about it. If they continue in Aussie Rules and then get to the stage of being drafted, they could end up in Perth/Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane/Gold Coast.

For some that's fine, they'd probably like a sea change. But for many there'd be a big appeal in staying at home and close to family.

So what do you do? You play league, and if you're good enough get into one of the NRL club systems in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, wherever you might call home. Then you have your manager knock on the door of the AFL and say "hey, my client wants to switch".

You can then get recruited to a club you choose, rather than being a draft pick, and your career blossoms from there.

Plus you have the added bonus of potentially playing State of Origin or Test league before you switch, honours you don't get in AFL.

Far fetched? Maybe. But until yesterday did you seriously consider any league player switching to AFL?

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

I dont think itll be a problem. I honestly think Hunt will be an avg player at best in AFL and everyone will forget about him after a few matches

 

[Scumbag]

To be honest Coxy, I don't even give that circus of a sport a thought any day of the week. A player switching from league to AFL has never even been in my thoughts or on my radar.

However, upon closer inspection, one will find that quite a number of players in the NRL competition have moderate level AFL backgrounds. Many playing both Rugby League and AFL at the same time or AFL exlusively for a time frame then dropping their commitment to AFL to play Rugby League.

Obviously Harmichael springs instantly to mind but also Darren Lockyer.

In many ways, after a little bit of insight into these player's backgrounds has made me believe that such a move, in the case of a Harmichael, isn't so outlandish at all. Obviously it's only the fact that such a player has had an AFL background that makes this sit somewhat comfortably with me.

However, if a "solely" born and bred Rugby League footballer decides a significant way into his NRL career that he wishes to "jump ship" and try to excel professionally ast a sport which he is greatly unaccustomed, well that is harder to get your head around.

I'm all for challenges and new experiences though and if a player wishes to pursue such a code change (League to AFL) then that's fine. They're the ones who have to run around in a pair of tight shorts and run a million kilometres during a game (and yes, I'm awre different Australian Rules positions run vastly different distances furing a course of a game).

I'd expect that, in the future, such a Harmichaelesque defection may become a more popular option. I believe it will only seriously be considered by those who have been familiar with the game from a junior level and have had some prior youth competitive experience in which they excelled or were quite competent. I don't think nuffy one-time AFL juniors now having a career in Rugby League would consider it though.

 

[Anonymous person]

I have absolutely no doubt that Hunt will fail in AFL. He's slow, he doesn't have a long kicking game, can't tackle (yes I'm aware that tackling is very much a non-issue in AFL, but still) and as far as I can remember he doesn't have a good leap on him (most bombs he catches from a stand-still).

I'm going to thoroughly enjoy watching him make a fool of not only himself, but of the AFL and the Gold Coast AFL team.

 

[Jeba]

I don't think he'll be a failure at all. He is one of those players who will always but his body on the line which is probably the biggest part of AFL. Gutsy motherfucker!!! He will be training with the club for half the year next year and then the AFL preseason so that will give him time to develop his kicking. As far as his pace goes, it's not overly important unless you are an on-baller/midfielder, and I highly doubt he will be.

I am not saying he is going to be outstanding but I think he'll be valuable at least.

 

[Hamm.0]

He is not a good aerial player and can't kick.......my jury is still out until 2010.

P.S. GI would rape the AFL

 

[Kimlo]

No, I don't think there's enough players who could make the switch. I don't think Hunt has what it takes but I'm willing to give him a go before I start saying he will fail, after all he made a team like the Broncos at 17 so he's obviously very talented.

 

[Foordy]

Coxy, i am pretty sure that Hunt could sign with the Coast without being drafted is because they are a new team and have different rules ATM so they can get a squad together. If the GC weren't coming into the AFL i think that K would have had to have been drafted.. but i could be wrong, it has happened before

 

[Coxy]

I guarantee you if the AFL thought they could get some publicity and some dents in the rugby league strongholds of Brisbane and Sydney, they'd make exceptions to their rules.

 

[Fozz]

Courier Fail had some info about that today. Apparently because Karmichael hasn't played AFL in the past three years he doesn't have to go through the draft so pretty much any club could have gotten him.

 

[Coxy]

Yup, hence the scenario I've talked about is very possible.

And I'm not talking about people who have only ever lived and breathed league, I'm talking the people who have played both games at school and then had a choice..choose AFL and they get drafted and could end up anywhere. Play league and there's a very good chance your pathway will be through the Broncos or Titans.

Succeed enough to get the attention of AFL and approach them to switch on the proviso you play for the Lions or Gold Coast.

Very feasible IMO.

 

[Flutterby]

I don't think this will open the floodgates of players switching to AFL; but it will all depend in how K actually goes. If he has major success then a few more players will consider it I think, but I also don't think there are many who could genuinely cross the codes.

The biggest difference they will need to deal with (as Aker said this morning - actually making some sense for a change) is the defenders coming at him from all angles. Whereas in the Rugby codes, the defenders are coming at you from front on - you can generally see them coming and set yourself to either avoid it or take it. However in AFL they come at you from all angles, you can't necessarily see them and you can't necessarily prepare for the hits. That is going to be the biggest adjustment for K to deal with IMO

 

[Coxy]

Yes, plus the fact if you get tackled you have to get rid of the ball, whereas he's spent the last 5 years learning to take the tackle and hold onto it for dear life.

 

[Flutterby]

Yep, that too.

 

[Coxy]

But given he has played Aussie Rules during his youth, I think that kind of awareness will come fairly naturally. It's not like he has no experience.

It's just like Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers had less trouble adapting to Union having played it before, whereas Wendell was a total nuffy and took time to get it, and once he got a bit long in the tooth he struggled.

 

[gUt]

These players in their prime could/would go well in fumbleball: Thurston, Lockyer, Kimmorley, Inglis, Wallace, Barrett, Lyon, Campbell, Prince, Rogers, Cronk, Smith, Bowen... pretty much any back with a kicking game, some pace and safe hands.

 

[Scumbag]

Hey Coxy, here's a tough question for you:

Which sport do you prefer, "Soccer' or AFL?

That must be tough my friend.

I'll give you some thinking music while your neurons form the necessary connections to answer this almost impossible question. icon_smile

 

[Flutterby]

But given he has played Aussie Rules during his youth, I think that kind of awareness will come fairly naturally. It's not like he has no experience.

Yes and no - let's not overstate the AFL experience he has had. It was 6 games for Churchie in the GPS competition. GPS AFL isn't that great - AFL is pretty far down the GPS totem pole.