HOMESICKESS and self-doubt are among new draftees’ biggest off-field hurdles in their early years, according to AFL Players’ Association general manager Steven Alessio.
Alessio, one of more than a dozen presenters at this week’s AFLPA/AFL Induction Camp, said life off the field could be just as much as a battle for emerging stars as it was on the footy ground.
Some of the game’s brightest talent has gone back to school in Melbourne this week, with more than 120 newly-drafted AFL players and rookies taking part in the induction camp, which is jointly organised by the AFLPA and the AFL.
The camp runs for three days and Alessio, who played 184 matches for Essendon, said it was designed to help prepare tomorrow’s stars for the challenges they would face throughout their careers.
“It’s an induction for all the new guys into the system and it centres on all the policies and codes they’re going to have to know,” he said.
“But it’s also helping them develop their decision-making, communication and also their resilience skills and getting them to understand what to expect in their first year in the AFL.”
Among the speakers on day one of the camp were Jade Rawlings, Brad Scott, Bryce Gibbs and Tyson Goldsack – each of whom spoke about their first-year experiences in the AFL.
Meanwhile, former AFL star and now media personality David Schwarz spoke on the AFL’s gambling policy.
Other topics to be covered throughout the week include: Coping with Injury, Responsible Use of Alcohol, Cultural Diversity in the AFL, Sexual Health and the AFL’s Anti Doping & Illicit Drugs Policy.
But Alessio said the AFLPA found other areas were more likely to trouble players early on in their careers.
“The biggest one we find is re-location, homesickness. Players are really struggling to cope with that,” he said.
“We see a lot of guys [struggling] around relationship issues, and also around their resilience.
“Not only their physical resilience - they’ve got young bodies and it’s a hard and tough sport so they might struggle to keep up with it - but also the emotional stuff around it.
“So like I said, the homesickness, and the thoughts around whether they’re good enough to be able to play football.”
West Coast Eagles draftee Scott Selwood, who has three brothers playing in the AFL, said he had taken much from the early stages of the camp.
“Pretty much just to use all the opportunities available, make the most of what you’re given,” he said.
Selwood is fortunate to have an older brother (Adam) at his club, but the Victorian said his brothers had told him that despite having company he should still expect to miss home.
“They say ‘You’ll always get homesick’ and that’s always going to happen, so make sure when that does happen just be prepared for it,” he said.
“The club’s been really good about having me.
“They’re going to help me in every way possible if I do get homesick, and I know I’ve got Adam over there so I’ve always got a brother figure that can always help me out and be supportive for me.”
