Ok this subject has been discussed over and over again but in light of all the recent player off field discretions and crimes that have resulted in charges it is time to get serious about draft age because I am convinced that drafting boys at such an immature age contributes to their failures to 1. cope with the demands of AFL football and 2. cope with the demands of life as an early adult.
I firmly believe young players like Jesse Hogan (who I think was taken as a 16 or 17 year old), Sydney Stack and Elijah Taylor have had too many expectations and the spotlight placed on them too young in life and their off field discrepancies are a direct result of that and they would be far better able to cope if they were forced to bide their time in the WAFL for a couple more years where they can still live at home or close to home and finish their last year in high school without the added distraction of whether they will be drafted or not.
But the AFL is selfish, they put the growth of the game and the revenue they can make from television first and no doubt AFL clubs are greedy and selfish as well.
Totally agree DD, good not only for the player one would hope but also the WAFL as a whole…though considering Hogan at 25 is still making poor off field choices, not sure him staying in the WAFL for another year would of changed his decision making TBH…as for Stack, great first year away from home despite no bubble restrictions he kept his down, strangely in a COVID year where off field distractions for the players have been heavily censored due to bubbles, the kid farks up…as for Taylor, domestic violence is poor form at any age.
I guess the AFL will look at success stories in the likes of Cripps, Ryder, Duncan, Gaff, Johanninsen, Fisher, Swallow etc and say being 18 and away from home in the AFL limelight didn’t derail their off field decision making…Christ look at Judd and Wirrpanda…went to a club at 18 with an apparent toxic off field culture and led good lives on and off the field.
Find it interesting Stack has the likes of a Marlion Pickett close to hand, and yet stuffs up…I get it he is young, but one can only lead a horse to water I guess…