SA Footy

Given that since the Power came in no player chooses SANFL over AFL, and most top SANFL players got onto some sort of AFL list at some stage of their careers, I was just wondering which players people thought would be the best around the league to not get that chance. The main ones I think would be Slade and Ah Chee (at least I believe Ah Chee never got onto any sort of list). For several years these two have been among the best in the comp bu never attracted the attention from higher powers. Are there any other players around the traps to have produced the goods year after year but not gotten themselves that chance?

Not entirely what you're after, but Brett Backwell was unlucky not to have played a lot more AFL footy...he has certainly been good enough to do so.

I was thinking the best players to not even get onto any sort of AFL list at any stage. There are a lot around who were on a list for a year or two, even as a rookie.

I thought Chambers would have been worth a shot.

And just on Backwell I think his cause wasn't helped by how he was used by some of his coaches. 40 touches kicking 25m sideways isn't the sort of thing that looks great to an AFL scout. Since he moved to playing a more attacking role getting the ball out to the runners, and using his ball use around the fringes of the attacking 50m arc instead of the defensive 50m arc he needs only 20 touches to do a stack more damage. If he'd done that the whole time he might have gotten another chance, but sadly for him by the time he showed what he can really do he's probably been past the old use by date.

Jade Sheedy

sjt wrote:I thought Chambers would have been worth a shot.

I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that Chambo actually did a pre season with Collingwood before he came down to Sturt ?

Definately unlucky toi not get a real crack at the big league, I've always thought Brant is / was a better footballer than the former tatoo clad Westies big man, Adam Richardson, who got a couple of games with the Crows...

In his prime, Centrals Brian Haraida was one of the best CHB going around and I thought he was unlucky to not get a chance at AFL level. I know when the Power came in back in 97 there was talk on the news that he was being looked at but that is as far as it went for H.

Again from the Dogs, Ian Callinan did try out with the Kangaroos and Richmond I think and is pretty unlucky to not have made an AFL list at some stage...

godoubleblues wrote:Jade Sheedy

Yep, was thinking the same

The thug from norwood McIntosh

Not Slade.

My hand is up for Sheeds also

catchisthecry wrote:Not Slade.

Why not ???

In his prime, he was super quick, uses the ball well, has courage and kicks goals...

You can't really make a comment like that withiut backing it up now...

Strawb07 wrote:The thug from norwood McIntosh

I think he turned them down several times..

Big Phil wrote:

catchisthecry wrote:Not Slade.

Why not ???

In his prime, he was super quick, uses the ball well, has courage and kicks goals...

You can't really make a comment like that withiut backing it up now...

OK, fair enough.
No major weapons for AFL.
Not super quick, not super skills, not real big.
Good SANFL player, no more.

I was a Backwell fan as well. I'm surprised he didn't get much of a go at Carlton. He seemed to be dumped because of something-other than footballing ability because he was good in the twos and good when he went up to seniors. I suspect his lack of a penetrating kick may have been his downfall. Only because we had a heap of similar types going around at the time.

I remember the SANFL player retention scheme in the mid 80's. McIntosh and Aish were two that benefitted from it, but not many others.

catchisthecry wrote:

Big Phil wrote:

catchisthecry wrote:Not Slade.

Why not ???

In his prime, he was super quick, uses the ball well, has courage and kicks goals...

You can't really make a comment like that withiut backing it up now...

OK, fair enough.
No major weapons for AFL.
Not super quick, not super skills, not real big.
Good SANFL player, no more.

You're entitled to your opinion mate but I totally disagree...

My first statement, while it is only my opinion (which I'm sure many will agree with me) says enough that he should have had a chance a AFL level...

I could name a dozen players that have had AFL opportunities that they would have to be considered VERY lucky, and IMO Sladey would have been better than them. But hey, that's the beauty of an opinion, we will just have to agree ti disagree on this one i think.

Yep, fair call. Pure opinion.
Certainly better players than others who have been given a chance - but I bet they didn't make it...
Like he wouldn't of.
But just an opinion... much better footballer than I am

Alleway's unlucky, better than most key forwards in the AFL.
Allan's skills are second to none in this state but he might be regarded as a tad small for AFL.

Strawb07 wrote:The thug from norwood McIntosh

he had heaps of offers but declined them all! he is a true club man and at the time the vfl/afl had no more to offer him(money aside)

would have dominated in that era - boggy grounds (vic. park, windy hill etc.)