He supported ... as a kid

[Silent Alarm]

Must have been an absolute dream managing 12 games.

Being on a list for two years would be a great experience, as sick of it as I'd probably get after a few months hanging around with some of the banter that trades for conversation at football clubs. Playing 12 matches for the club you supported, and will always now support would be a great thing.

 

[Hoops]

If I start following NBA, will I be taller?

I started following pr0n... hasnt helped

 

[telsor]

Long ago now but my cousin walked away from the VFL when a transfer to Richmond couldn't be arranged.

That said, it's probably a lot less common in these 'fully professional' days where the gap in payments between 'fringe vfl player' and 'star regional league player' is a lot more than it was.

 

[TiggerMan22]

Yes. I'm sure the dream for most of them was to play for the club they supported when they where a kid.
They're not going to change clubs just for that, but its a 50/50 choice between 2 clubs then playing for the one they supported as a kid would come out on top.

 

[Rotayjay]

Patrick Dangerfield grew up supporting the Cats

 

[Cicatriz]

Justin Murphy and Brad Ottens supported Geelong. Murphy lasted one year and moved twice more.

 

[Beer n Skittles]

Sam Docherty

 

[PerthBoy86]

I'd only play for West Coast. Would rather not play AFL than play for another club, if I had the chance. How many Crows fans would play for Port? Dockers fans play for the Eagles? Blues fans play for the Pies?

 

[GreatBradScott]

Early on I don't think it's an issue, but I can definitely see it being a draw card later in a career.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

I'd only play for West Coast. Would rather not play AFL than play for another club, if I had the chance. How many Crows fans would play for Port? Dockers fans play for the Eagles? Blues fans play for the Pies?

I reckon you would change your mind if you had the chance.

It's easy to sit back as a passionate supporter and say "I'd only ever play for ..." but if your dream is to play in the AFL, most I think jump at the chance no matter who it's with. Of course you could cherry pick a few players who have moved to the club they supported, but mostly (and thankfully) the players themselves don't follow the same theory.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Cornes boys were Crows supporters.
Heard for 10 years that Goddard was going to end up at Carlton.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

James Kelly coming back to Essendon had a nice symmetry to it; he supported us as a kid.

But he only got there because Geelong didn't want him any more. He even retired.

 

[wagstaff]

iirc Kane Johnson was a Tigers fan growing up which played a role in him moving from the Crows back to Richmond.

 

[Doss]

But he only got there because Geelong didn't want him any more. He even retired.

So?

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

So?

So it's not as though he was chomping at the bit to play at the club he supported as a kid

 

[HBF]

Sam Docherty to Carlton.

 

[Doss]

So it's not as though he was chomping at the bit to play at the club he supported as a kid

I don't recall claiming he was champing at the bit.

 

[chaelsonnen]

Does anyone actually believe this as a genuine reason players would choose a club? Apart from supporters desperately trying to clutch on to something to get a good player to sign for them.

...

Jeremy Howe is the only example I can think of who moved to another club because he barracked for them.

Kane Johnson back in the day was a mad Richmond fan, played in 2 flags with the crows then at the end of 2002 he wanted to play for Richmond.. even though he had a crows premiership tat on his leg
He said in his interview when he got traded "Even though I was playing with the crows I was still keeping a close eye in the Tigers when they played"

WHE is another.

James Kelly coming back to Essendon had a nice symmetry to it; he supported us as a kid.

Treloar

Sam Docherty to Carlton.

Luke Power (and all the Power boys) were fanatical Fitzroy supporters growing up (their dad was involved in the fight to save Fitzroy).

Josh Gibson supported the Hawks. As did Paul Salmon. Paul Salmon has stated in interviews he was off to Geelong until the Hawks recruiter mentioned he would be playing for the club he supported as a kid. Said it did sway his decision to join the Hawks. Pleased he did, as he was 1 of the few delights watching in the middle 90's!

Sharrod Wellingham grew up supporting West Coast.

Sam Docherty moved to the club he supported as a kid.

Great thread.

 

[The_Reaper]

If I were a Victorian drafted by one of the non Victorian clubs and was seeking to go back to Melbourne I'd probably consider it given I'd have ten options to pick from.

 

[JohnZ]

Gary Ablett supported the mighty catters as a kid. Wonder if he's eyeing a return?

 

[Belnakor]

Eliot Yeo grew up a docker fan and wanted to go there but apparently freo had too many players like him.

unfortunately we did have too many players who go missing in GFs

 

[hotkorma]

...










Great thread.

Thanks man!

BigFooty can be a wealth of knowledge. I did not know there was so much evidence. I mean I could list all the trades that have happened where a player didn't go to the team they supported, but I'd rather have a beer.

Situations when players are returning home to two teamed states skew the data.

My view is making hundreds of thousands of dollar decisions it would have little impact. Clearly it does.

 

[chaelsonnen]

Thanks man!

BigFooty can be a wealth of knowledge. I did not know there was so much evidence. I mean I could list all the trades that have happened where a player didn't go to the team they supported, but I'd rather have a beer.

Situations when players are returning home to two teamed states skew the data.

My view is making hundreds of thousands of dollar decisions it would have little impact. Clearly it does.

Ask yourself truthfully:
If a player had two equivalent 'hundreds of thousands of dollar' contracts in front of them to choose from: One from a team they supported all their life/have family connections etc and one from a team which they have no kind of emotional connection with. Do you really think that it would bear no impact to their decision? ...come on now man