The other side of the draft: the man who said no to Pies

[Dave The Man]

[SuperStar Beams]

from that article i think its a good enough reason to knock it back.

yes he gives up his dream of playing AFL however at such a financial risk to him and his family is the right call. wish him all the best raising up his expected child and have a good time playing with his mates

[Jezza]

You have to admire the guy for thinking of his family first and saving the club a lot of time of investing in him when he's heart really isn't in the cause of making it to the highest level.

Good luck to him and his family!

[ronrat]

Vermont will pay him well.

[September Zeros]

What do rookies get paid? Anything?

[Stupied]

$53k per year or thereabouts. It's not massive coin, but still above the average Aussie wage of $50k. Not like the rookies are being paid nothing :/

[RudeBoy]

What do rookies get paid? Anything?

Some players can earn more coin playing in the VFL.

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

I understand it.
After having watched his mates being recruited as teenagers, he may well have already accepted in his mind, that he'd never get an opportunity to play at the highest level. Particularly now that he was at the ripe old age of 24. Of course the onset of a family [I know it's not a virus,....but] would've further shifted his focus from footy. Mentally he was over it so a water tight offer was required to have him truly believe!

The question is - Can he live with the stress of 'WHAT IF'?
With a good family/social support network perhaps he could've sacrificed for two years & given it a go?

[Raw Hammer]

You only get one shot at this thing called life. Should've given it a crack. Money is not the be all end all. At least when his kid starts giving him the sh!ts as a teenager he can hit back with: "I gave up a career at Collingwood to have you, you ungrateful kid!"

[Brenny]

^ Rookies used to be paid $35,000 PA. That has since been lifted to near $50,000 PA.

In his job, I'd say he making much more than that. Substancially more.

I know what you're saying about giving it a shot and money isn't the bees knees; I agree, but you have to be smart with life decisions and at 24 with a girlfriend, a mortgage and a bub on the way odds are he may never make it as a footballer.

I think he's made the right decision in this instance. It's the smarter of the two.

[Raw Hammer]

Your 20s is THE BEST time to make these sorts of calls, regardless of situation. The safe option amounts to a comfortable life, which is nice. But people who get somewhere and take risks, they're the big winners in this world from what I can tell.

[Presti35]

The thing is...

I would do anything to play for an AFL club.

But of all clubs, Collingwood...??

Oh, I would almost lick another mans balls to get that chance!

[stui magpie]

24, married, kid on the way and a mortgage, in secure employment earning more than a rookie wage, play KP defender and offered a rookie spot in a team not short of KP defenders.

You have to see where the kid was coming from, that's a massive gamble.

Good on him for putting his family first.

[watt price tully]

24, married, kid on the way and a mortgage, in secure employment earning more than a rookie wage, play KP defender and offered a rookie spot in a team not short of KP defenders.

You have to see where the kid was coming from, that's a massive gamble.

Good on him for putting his family first.

This is a serious issue then for older "rookies" & seems the structure is not a good fit for all. They should adapt it to match individual needs factoring in age, life-stage etc. Say $50 k at 18 but more $ as one gets older. match much he was getting paid at VFL level etc.....