For most of us, however, this simply isn’t possible. We have work or school or partners or functions or weddings or funerals or a whole host of other trivial things that get in the way of what we really want to be doing – sitting in front of the TV with a pizza pocket in one hand and a WAFL highlights package in the other.
What this means is that sometimes you have to pick a player blind. He might be a new guy or in a team you rarely watch or just someone that has flown underneath your radar. You have studied the stats, listened to a couple of radio calls, but have no idea what he actually looks like. This can lead to some rude shocks.
A few years ago, for example, I took a punt on a young Freo player called David Mundy. I’d heard he was durable, had shown some form in the WAFL and, for some bizarre reason, thought he was Aboriginal. I pictured him as a young David Wirrpanda or perhaps Leon Davis, with silky skills, explosive pace and that ability to rip a game apart.
Imagine my surprise then, when I tuned into my first Fremantle game and searched the backline for my recruit. David Mundy was the whitest guy I’d ever seen! He was pale, had blonde hair, and appeared to have a perm.
If you happen to be reading this, David, I mean no offence – but I have to say I was disappointed.
What’s in a face?
Despite my mistake, I have actually stuck with Munders and selected him again this year. It does raise an interesting question though – does a player’s appearance affect whether you pick him? It shouldn’t, obviously, but it sometimes seems to.
I know people who select Harry O’Brian because he has a cool fro. I know girls that pick Dale Thomas because he’s “cute” and reminds them of a Fraggle. I know coaches who pick Brad Johnson because he smiles, Dean Brogan because he doesn’t and Max Rooke for sheer volume of facial hair.
A player’s appearance can work the other way too, especially when it comes to selecting rookies. You read about a player’s stats, you read about a player’s form and when you finally lay your eyes upon them, they’re half the size you expected.
The first time I saw Cale Morton, I wondered what the hell they were feeding him. Tang Lite? Diet Cheds? Tofu beefsteaks with a hot glass of steaming nothing? The kid didn’t look strong enough to power his internal organs, let alone fend off a tackle, and yet averaged 72 in his debut year.
This week’s question
This week, I want you to complete this sentence “I knew that a player’s appearance was affecting my selection when…?” and send it in to dreamteam@afl.com.au, making sure to put ‘Hindy’ in the subject line. I’ll run the best answers in next week’s column.
Thanks to all those people who answered last week’s question “I knew Dream Team was annoying my partner when…?”
Mandy Pink knew when she started beating her boyfriend
Luke Shea knew when he said “Clare, do you take this Ling?” at his wedding
Pat Arnold knew when he logged into his girlfriend’s team and moved Ablett to the bench to ensure he beat her. Now that is filthy, Pat.
Cheers,
Hindy
CEO and coach of the Hindsight Mayors
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
