Talent aplenty for new clubs: AFL
13/03/2008 7:06 PM
be introduced is the new Gold Coast club, the identity of which is likely to known by the end of this year, being able to stockpile the best young talent in Queensland prior to its entrance to the AFL.
Geelong president Frank Costa said the clubs shouldn't fear losing players to the new two clubs.
"We had the experience going back a few years ago when the (Fremantle) Dockers were started up (in 1995) and we lost two players - Stephen O'Reilly and Andrew Wills - but we got two 16-year-olds to take their place and one of them was (2007 premiership ruckman and former skipper) Steven King, who had a long career with Geelong.'
"So that didn’t kill Geelong and it helped the Dockers get off to a good start with a couple of experienced players over there and I think something similar will probably happen this time."
Demetriou added the new clubs had a much wider talent pool available to them now than Brisbane did 20 years ago due to the increased number of players coming out of previously barren recruiting areas such as New South Wales, Queensland and now Ireland.
"We don’t believe the talent pool is shrinking, in fact we think there is a great opportunity for growth."
"We have got other (recruiting) markets that we didn't have 10 years ago, we are getting players out of Ireland, we have got greater participation in New South Wales and Queensland and I wouldn't be surprised in 20 years time if we are getting players out of South Africa."