Draft: Inside the AFL's Search for Talent

by Emma Quayle

At the start of 2007, Age sportswriter Emma Quayle chose 5 AFL hopefuls from a range of different Trent Cotchin, Ben McEvoy, Junior Rioli, Pat Vezpremi, and Brad Ebert. She didn't know what would happen to them, and neither did the boys and their parents. It would be a year when their dreams might be shattered, where they would have to work hard physically, develop the mental toughness required by a competitive environment, cope with injuries, and face the harsh realities of the elite sports industry—all while trying to get homework done to pass and graduate from high school. This is the full story of the people behind the the families, the recruiters, the teachers, the coaches, the sports scientists, and most importantly the players themselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

308 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I have read this book.

And yes, I own it.

NO

JUDGEMENT

PLEASE

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about the intricacies of the AFL drafting process, and the pressures it puts on the young men desperate to gain a place within it.

[Tim Littleford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read if you love footy.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Draft by Emma Quayle is a book about Australian Rules Football. So most of you will stop reading now...

Quayle's book follows the 2007 draft, and focuses on five boys out of the 1200 who nominated - Trent Cotchin, Cyril Rioli, Ben McEvoy, Brad Ebert, and Patrick Veszpremi. Each of them was vastly different, and Quayle's descriptions of their style of play, temperament, and attitude is the most gripping part of this book. In describing the individuals, she also exposes the grueling draft process and how mental health, and mental fitness, is as important as the physical. It's not enough to be a good kick.

Trent was different. His mind looked further ahead. After an under-10s game at West Preston one weekend, Peter asked his son how he'd managed to chop off so many opposition kick-ins. "Easy," Trent told him. "I just watched the kid's eyes."

You're reminded while reading just how young these kids are, and going through a process that requires physical and mental stamina. Many of them are away from their homes (Rioli was a boarder at a school in Melbourne, far from his home in the Tiwi Islands); have no family support; and trying to complete their final year of school. And then, once the draft begins, they are faced with starting their careers far from home. Veszpremi, who lived in Melbourne with his mum and brother, and close to his maternal grandparents, is picked by the Sydney Swans. Quayle writes -

He sat beside his Pa on the couch and, in his own way, tried to tell him that things would be fine. "They have good fishing in Sydney..." he said.

I mentioned that the process was/is grueling - that's because there are so many selection camps; round-robins; pre-season games; and fitness tests that lead up to the actual draft. All of these are described. And then there's the vacillations of the coaches and selection panels. All of this is described. And then there's the actual draft (which, like the Brownlow Medal, is a stunningly dull affair unless you've got something riding on it). The draft is also described. So while I flew through the first part of the book, the bulk of it got bogged down in football detail that I think only the most hardcore fans would enjoy.

I received my copy of The Draft from the publisher, Penguin Books Australia, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5

[Oliver Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting as a hawks supporter to read about the draft model under pelchen, cyril's recruitment and life, and new recruit, ben mcevoy. Well written book, easy to read, and a bit filtered as an official AFL product, but you probably don't want teenage boys being completely honest about their lives in print...