The newest AFL recruits have their fair share of talent – as well as good tales. From the quirky to the inspirational, here are some of the best stories behind the picks – and one of the best haircuts – that you may have missed from the national draft.
Cancer recovery to the AFL
Recruited by the Dockers at pick 41, Tom Emmett was drafted the day before his 21st birthday.
The youngster has dealt with more than just the usual injuries that plague footballers. He was diagnosed with a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, when he was sixteen. It was the first recorded case of its type in the world.
Tom Emmett of Sturt does the agility test during the 2022 South Australia AFL Draft Combine Credit:Gettty
“That time changed my perspective on things,” Emmett told The Advertiser. “It made me realise how much I liked playing footy and that I wanted to play at the highest level possible, so I decided to do something about it.”
He recovered, and after pulling through the treatment – as well as a broken collarbone and Achilles injury – he hit the ground running in his first year in a SANFL program in 2020, averaging 2.4 goals a game in the under-18s and two goals a game at reserves level.
“Along with his ability to hit the scoreboard, he is a seriously powerful and physical forward who tackles with aggression,” the Dockers said of their recruit. “He is a very strong contest player both in the air and at ground level and has shown significant resilience and determination in his football journey so far.”
Speaking to SEN on Wednesday, Emmett told the radio station he was “going in to quit my job today”.
The rock band namesake struck by lightning
With their second pick, Richmond nabbed Steely Green, the super-speedy midfielder/small defender who clocked 6:17 for the two kilometre time trial at the national combine.
The youngster was named after his mum’s favourite rock band, Steely Dan – though the 18-year-old admitted he never listens to any of the band’s songs.
Steely Green, named after rock’n’roll band Steely Dan, was struck by lightning five years agoCredit:Getty
His rock’n’roll name is not the only attention-grabbing thing about Steely – he was struck by lighting five years ago when he was sailing.
“[Lightning] hit the top of the mast and came through me and pushed me off the boat,” Green told Channel Seven. “Mum was actually in the clubhouse having a nice wine and a lady who was looking on came into the club and literally yelled out, ‘Your son’s been struck by lightning’.”
In a stroke of luck, Green was wearing rubber boots his mum bought him the week before – which quite literally saved his life, stopping the lighting from “pushing through his body”.
Richmond said of the youngster: “We like his fierceness at the contest, tackle pressure and his competitiveness. He is super clean inside and then can get to the outside very fast. Steely wins his own football and brings others into the game, displaying the versatility to play multiple roles in our system.”
From Auskicker of the year to the big time
No.12 pick Jedd Busslinger got a taste of the spotlight when he was just eight years old, winning the Auskicker of the year award back in 2012.
After receiving his jumbo cheque for $5000, Busslinger posed for a photo with Joel Selwood, and later presented Sydney legend Adam Goodes with a premiership medallion on grand final day.
Fast-forward to Monday night, and Busslinger joined the ranks of AFL players – though with Selwood’s recent retirement, he won’t get to face either Goodes or the premiership Cat on the field. The 196-centimetre West Australian has said that intercept defence is his best position, and that he could not wait to join pre-season at the Bulldogs with his new teammates, such as fellow talls Aaron Naughton and Liam Jones. “I’m so looking forward to learning from them,” said Busslinger.
Fifth time lucky for Wangaratta teacher
You may have already read about Joe Richards, a special education teacher from Wangaratta who was picked up by the Pies on Tuesday night.
Collingwood’s latest mature-aged recruit, Joe RichardsCredit:Twitter / Collingwood FC
But it’s a story worth mentioning again.
Richards has never played a state league game and has waited five years for his draft opportunity. He booted 29 goals in 11 games for Wangaratta this year, bursting onto the scene with a remarkable bag of 11 in just his third senior game.
His coach was Ben Reid, the premiership Pie, quickly became an enthusiastic and relentless backer, badgering list manager Derek Hine and insisting Richardson only needed a chance.
Now, he has one. You can read the full story from Michael Gleeson here.
A selfless act during the combine
At the national combine, where draft hopefuls are put through their paces in range of skill-based tests, Max Gruzewksi showed not just his talent, but also his character.
Selfless act: Max Gruzewski ran back during a 2-km time trial to help out draft pick who fellCredit:Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
During the two-kilometre run, the youngster ran back to help fellow draftee Lewis Hayes (recruited by Essendon at pick 25), who collapsed near the end of the run due to exertion.
“‘Haysey’ was struggling at the end and I think my mate’s health and how he was feeling was more important than a running race, so I thought I should help him out,” Gruzewski told the Herald Sun at the time.
“I think I’d always prioritise my mate’s health over a race or anything like that, it’s much more important.”
Now the 193-centimetre swingman will be making the move to NSW, after getting selected by the Giants at pick 22 on Tuesday. Gruzewksi came back from a knee injury, recovering in time to make the tail end of the NAB League season, and for Vic Metro against Vic Country in the carnival decider, where he took a big hanger. Hayes, who was treated by medical staff at the combine, was also drafted – by the Bombers at pick No.25.
“Max is a player we watched closely this year in roles at both ends of the ground. We see some real scope for him given the limited exposure to high-level football, having only really come into the radar this year,” GWS recruiting manager Adrian Caruso said.
“He is competitive and plays in a physical manner, something we place high value on.”
The mullet man
Hailing from South Australia, Jakob Ryan was named the state’s best player in their match against Vic Metro, known for his kicking ability and versatility on the field.
But aside from his talent on the field, it was his golden locks that captured the attention of Fox Footy’s panel on Tuesday night, when the team covering the draft likened the Collingwood recruit’s mullet to that of Bulldog star Bailey Smith.
Mullet man and Tigers recruit Jakob Ryan mulls over whether the haircut is here to stay. Credit:Getty
Ryan also had fans talking, with his haircut described by various people on Twitter as “glorious” and “the best mullet in the AFL”. One called his cult status early.
Ryan, who will join the Pies next season, revealed to The Advertiser he hasn’t had a “proper” haircut in 10 years.
Whether his distinctive locks will survive long enough for his AFL debut is a mystery, with the youngster telling Fox Footy it could be time for a cut.
“Who knows, we’ll see – maybe a cut’s due, but we’ll have a look,” he said. The good news was that his mullet survived the happy pile-on of his mates when his name was called out on draft night.
