If you were to play AFL footy...

[greatwhiteshark]

As a child most of us are brainwashed into supporting who dad supports, we are told loyalty means everything and our club is forever.
We then reach 17 years of age and are told loyalty means nothing and you play for who you are told to play for.
Then after 6 years you get given the option to be loyal again and play for who you want to but now only if they want you.
Strange system!!

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Would be one of two things for me
I'd give my heart to the club who drafted me, and would only leave if approached by the Hawks
The other clubs who approached can GAGF

 

[Tas]

Say you were drafted into the AFL, how important would it be to play for the team you supported?

Yes, of course I know in the real world you don't get to choose, usually, and of course there's a possibility of you transferring later down the track, but if you knew you'd never get to play for the team you wholeheartedly supported, how would you feel about that?

I used to say when I was a kid if I played in the AFL I'd only play for the Eagles, not that I'd ever become an AFL footballer, but the idea of playing for another club seemed sacrosanct. I mean the idea of playing AGAINST the Eagles seemed kinda unthinkable. But I guess that's also being an idealistic kid haha. Still, I'd probably rather not play at all than play for say Collingwood or Hawthorn tbh. I guess for most being able to play AFL footy is more important, which is of course understandable.

Not very. If AFL is your career then you should be able to make the best decisions for your career, if you play for your supported club and they are offering you below market value or the way your are utilised or coach is undesirable it would be much harder to leave. Unless you were a superstar there would be a high probability that you will screw yourself playing for your supported team.

 

[nobbyiscool]

I dunno why - but I saw the title of the thread "If you were to play AFL footy..." and I thought the end of the sentence was going to be "...what colour boots would you wear?"

(black, by the way.)

You know, my team is one of the last teams I'd want to play for. I've often thought about the Chris Judd's, Adam Treloars et als who said to their original club I will ONLY go to this one club who've offered me the best deal.

I like to think I'd be better than that - I think I'd be equally happy to play for any Melbourne based club, or down in Geelong. For one, I love Melbourne, and two, I hate airports.

 

[PerthBoy86]

I dunno why - but I saw the title of the thread "If you were to play AFL footy..." and I thought the end of the sentence was going to be "...what colour boots would you wear?"

(black, by the way.)

You know, my team is one of the last teams I'd want to play for. I've often thought about the Chris Judd's, Adam Treloars et als who said to their original club I will ONLY go to this one club who've offered me the best deal.

I like to think I'd be better than that - I think I'd be equally happy to play for any Melbourne based club, or down in Geelong. For one, I love Melbourne, and two, I hate airports.

Why is that?

As a city I much prefer Melbourne to Perth. Main reason I moved here.

 

[DT2000]

I'd do what Angus Monfries did, go to AFL shop and try on every guernsey and see which one I look best in lol.

 

[yyou]

We have a no dickhead policy at our club

Cue Harvey and Lindsey jokes

Waite for it

 

[Viva la Mattner]

Come from a mad crows supporting family, I've actually said before if i was ever good enough to be drafted I'd prefer to be a Port Adelaide draftee.
Couldn't stand the constant pestering, asking of questions, freebie ticket chasing that would occur if i was a crows player

 

[rdhopkins2]

I studied sports management at uni and worked for an AFL club on a 6mth contract and busted my balls for them. Great experience. It is weird though playing your club dressed in an opposition suit. Still, you would be mad not to take an opportunity at any club. There is always time at the end of your tenure to officially support your old team. Very few players or officials would actually work for the club they support.

 

[DieSwans]

Not important.

We all want to land at our dream organisation, sometimes it takes some extra hard work to get there.

Having a career in the chosen industry is the first priority

 

[DT2000]

I studied sports management at uni and worked for an AFL club on a 6mth contract and busted my balls for them. Great experience. It is weird though playing your club dressed in an opposition suit. Still, you would be mad not to take an opportunity at any club. There is always time at the end of your tenure to officially support your old team. Very few players or officials would actually work for the club they support.

did you try to stay on or was it an option even?

 

[rdhopkins2]

did you try to stay on or was it an option even?

Had to move away from home for the contract. Paid a pittance and had to find a job for the off season there but could have gone back. Just couldn't afford it financially unfortunately. Ended up breaking up with my LT gf shortly after I came back, then worked back in Melbourne for a couple of years before starting some travel and spending some time in the travel industry after that.

 

[Damon_3388]

Is greenwood popular at Collingwood? Because that's why he left north. Was 6-7th in the pecking order .

Didn't he finish equal 2nd in the Roos' B&F in 2014? I'm sure they would have had some sort of regular role for him in the future, similar to what he has at Collingwood.

 

[stmookeyj]

To be honest it would be the second factor behind the likelihood of playing semi regular senior football. In other words I'd much rather be drafted into a team where I feel as though I could be a difference maker rather than playing in a team where I'd probably be stuck in a club's 3rd string team.

 

[ashep]

Yeah, how shit would it be being drafted to Hawthorn and being coached by the best in the business.


Now you've just got follow up this blinkered viewpoint by posting in a game day thread that you're a 'nuetral' supporter.

I'd love to spend all my time around a bunch of Good Blokes!

 

[ilikepotatoes]

It would be interesting to extend this question to other professions involved in the sport. Physios, doctors, administration etc.

If you were offered a decent job by a footy team, no matter who, you'd be silly to turn it down.

 

[javaguice]

I'd never shower with a team I didn't support

 

[javaguice]

It would be interesting to extend this question to other professions involved in the sport. Physios, doctors, administration etc.

If you were offered a decent job by a footy team, no matter who, you'd be silly to turn it down.

I'd kill myself before playing for the lavenders. Just saying. Purple doesn't flatter my complexion.

 

[Lord of the Pies]

Would be like working at the XXXX factory. Would not be thrilled at the start, but within a few months would be happy lining up for your free carton on Fridays.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

I'd happily play for anyone and money wouldn't be a deciding factor for me. That being said if I was at Brisbane in their current state and not enjoying the club I'd by triggering the "go home factor" clause pretty quick. That is, of course, if I wasn't an utter potato and a Vic team was keen...

 

[Badesumofu]

I get the impression that kids who grow up with a lot of talent for the game approach it differently, with their focus being on playing it. Where for most of us we just support. So I can't really say since I'm not very good at playing the game, just a supporter. It's a different mindset.

 

[adammania9]

I never imagined myself playing for Collingwood. I always wanted to be a part of St Kilda's 2nd premiership

 

[Pies n Punt]

I played over 250+ games as a FUB in a decent country league for the same team I'd played with since U/9s and got paid stuff all for what I put in.

If I was drafted today it would all be about the money for me, wouldn't care where I went.

Bloody oath. Business. And talking about money many sportsmen pissdd away everything they ever earned. Young men didn't know any better tbh, some were just drongos.

Anyway yep money for me. Got to capitalise on what you're good at for whatever time frame you have.

 

[Slats]

Yeah I wonder if it would in my case...it's just a strange idea of supporting anyone other than West Coast, although to what extent some players even 'support' their club varies. Like a lot might try to have strong feelings of loyalty.

Would you be shocked if the Dockers drafted you?

 

[basashi]

It would be ideal to play from 18 to 36 and get a season in at every club.