Talking Footy

No sport safe in AFL scout raid
Todd Balym
From:The Daily Telegraph
July 12, 201112:00AM

Raid: Training session for AFL talent scouts held by the Western Giants at Blacktown. Picture: Tracee Lea Source: The Daily Telegraph

MEET the new army of AFL talent scouts determined to find the next Kieren Jack or Israel Folau.

The AFL is so serious about finding future stars from within NSW that they've trained 120 people in how to spot talent and nurture players on the AFL's proven pathway to the elite level.

These men and women are the ground troops in the AFL's junior offensive. It's their job to identify potential superstars from any code and help get them into the AFL's well resourced development pathway to the top. They are armed with knowledge, a successful formula and the richest sporting code in the country.

"We are in the futures market. We are here to find talent and develop talent," said AFL talent manager Mark Browning. "These guys are at the coalface. They see the kids every day. They will see them before I see them.

We need to extend boundaries for talent The Australian, 1 Jul 2011
AFL must listen up, Bloods coach says Adelaide Now, 18 Jun 2011
NRL should target Brown: Meninga FoxSports, 5 Jun 2011
Who are WA's hottest young AFL prospects Perth Now, 29 May 2011
Young talents impress the scouts Herald Sun, 26 May 2011.

"Don't let (talent) walk past you and think I can't be bothered. (Talented kids) are there. In some cases you don't have to do any more than pick up a phone and say to a regional manager 'I've seen this kid, I've spoken with him, he is interested in connecting and follow it up'."

Yesterday's meeting at Blacktown was the first of its kind. Every other state in Australia will get the same treatment in the coming year.

Currently NSW, ACT and Queensland players represent just 12 per cent of the AFL playing list.

The AFL wants that figure to reach 20 per cent.

The AFL is so well resourced in player development that they've mapped out talent hot spots from 95 regions around Australia and highlighted all those areas that can be improved.

Sydney was listed as the No.1 area for potential growth.

Scouts were told yesterday that their job over the next 10 years was to each find one player who would reach the AFL.

They were told to look inside and outside the sport. Soccer, basketball, rugby league and union. No player was off limits. Every player can be nurtured and developed into a champion.

"Any age. That is what we are saying," said Browning.

"It's about connecting them to the game. They might not be good enough to play AFL, but their son might be. It is a generational thing."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6092600788

TLPG wrote:

Mark Browning is a New South Wales boy himself IIRC - albiet from the Riverina (Ariah Park). But this shows massive interest by the AFL in expanding the game. More interest than the NRL could ever show. What - one comment by Mal Meninga about Campbell Brown? *shakes head*

If these scouts have their eyes on Sydney, then if it works expect a stronger competition in the NSW elite league and maybe the sorts of the crowds the comp was pulling back in the 70's (one grand final pulled more than 10K - unheard of outside of Victoria and the state leagues of established AFL states).

TLPG wrote:

Raider's not seeing the stealth bomber coming, just like the Sydney media!

TLPG wrote:

That's what I mean. They're missing the real noise.

TLPG wrote:

Laughter that will be silenced when the bomb hits. Even you aren't seeing it. That's the bigger laugh, but we're staying quiet to let you RL supporters make fools of yourselves.

TLPG wrote:

Time will prove the AFL successful.

Onions wrote:

STFU, Raider Boy! They're only just starting this blitz, and you're running scared of it and won't admit it!

Onions wrote:

Nope. 2012.