NEAFL to AFL - a BIG step

[707]

Most of us on RWO love looking at the next generation plying their trade in the NEAFL and speculating on when/if they can make an AFL player.

I was mulling this over in my head whilst I mowed the lawns today and was thinking about the mid field guns we have who arrived via the NEAFL.

Hanners, Parker and Mitchell are now bona fide AFL guns, all three of those really racked up big NEAFL numbers, looked a class above at the lower level and just knocked down the door to be selected for seniors.

Heeney was a big NEAFL accumulator and is on the way to gun status, Mills is another who racked up big NEAFL numbers as a 17yo and again as an 18yo in very limited appearances.

I stand to be corrected but I can't think of any gun senior who wasn't racking em up big in the NEAFL. If this is a true indicator, then we may not have any true AFL guns in waiting - thoughts?

[undy]

There's obviously a few players yet to play in the NEAFL - Mitchell had no numbers until he played.
We also have a pretty big group of good players capable of playing through the midfield in the AFL at the moment, so the next gun player to come through may not be a midfielder, so they may have lower numbers.

[Robtorq]

I do not believe that Hanna ever played NEAFL

[bloodspirit]

Mills is still waiting. He hasn't played an AFL game yet.

Hewett and Robbo might not be dominating to the same extent in the NEAFL but still have hopes for them.

[liz]

I do not believe that Hanna ever played NEAFL

If you're referring to Hannerbery, he did. Not many games, but he played a handful in his first season, while he was still at school in Melbourne. I remember his debut game well.

[ugg]

I suspect Robtorq is being technical and referring to the fact Hanners played in the AFL Canberra competition and not the NEAFL which only came into effect in 2011.

Hanners played 5 reserves games in 2009.

[wolftone57]

some players who accumulated at either NEAFL or Sydney/ACT comp level did not make it here. Some have gigs elsewhere but some just didn't make it. Hewett might not get 40-60 disposals but what he does get is normally very effective. i think he averages around 25 at that level. Robbo averages about the same as George. but they both have huge amounts of upside. Robbo is a good player no matter where he plays and in all the preseason matches has no probs matching it with the big boys. He was also pretty good in the two games he played. Hewett will get exposed to that this year as they have been holding him back due to him being a young starter and a mids specialist.

[liz]

I suspect Robtorq is being technical and referring to the fact Hanners played in the AFL Canberra competition and not the NEAFL which only came into effect in 2011.

Hanners played 5 reserves games in 2009.

Fair enough. Very technical!