THE ALEX Keath experiment is officially over.
One of the few elite footballer/cricketers to have opted for the summer game, Keath’s footy days appear to be over after he was delisted by Gold Coast on Monday.
It was more than a year ago that Keath decided to concentrate on cricket rather than football. Players such as Brett Deledio, Marc Murphy, Shannon Hurn and Luke Hodge faced similar choices in their late teens and chose to play football.
Keath was immediately elevated to the Victorian cricket squad and has played two first-class matches, but after keeping Keath on their playing list for their debut season, having previously listed him as a 17-year-old while he made up his mind, the Suns have told The Age that they no longer hold out much hope of a return to footy by Keath.
''We had a couple of conversations. He is obviously contracted [with Cricket Victoria)] and he is really keen to see that through,” Suns recruiting manager Scott Clayton told The Age.
''We certainly did [speak] through the course of the year a few times. But we told him he would have to come off [the list]."
The days of elite athletes combing the two sports are long gone. But in some of their conversations even through the course of last season, Clayton did remind Keath he could have been the third tall in what would become a very potent forward line.
McCarthy to get second chance
The Age also reports that departed Magpie John McCarthy expects to be playing in the AFL next season.
Two Melbourne clubs plus one from interstate are reportedly considering selecting McCarthy at either the NAB AFL Draft later this month, or the pre-season draft the following month.
A reasonable player coming out of an elite system would surely be worthy of a place on a playing list somewhere.
Hayes turns mentor
Dom Tyson, the 18-year-old midfield tyro who seems certain to be drafted by Greater Western Sydney later this month, has credited two years of training with St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes for his rise up the draft charts.
"He helped me a lot with my positioning and things like when to push off and when not to, so he gave us a few tricks," Tyson said.
"Athletically I am probably not as blessed as some of the other boys in the draft, but I really just try to back my footy knowledge to know where to run on the ground and just play smart footy."
In its series on likely draftees, the Herald Sun has compared Tyson to Brisbane Lions superstar Simon Black.
McLeod to coach up north
Currently on assistant coaching duties with the Australian International Rules team, former Adelaide champion Andrew McLeod has emerged as a front runner for the Northern Territory Thunder’s coaching position in 2012.
McLeod played for the Thunder in 2011 in the Northeast Australian Football League and the Foxtel Cup and was one of several Adelaide-based football identities to be interviewed for the position.
This year’s Thunder coach, Murray Davis, has joined the Brisbane Lions as an assistant coach.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
