A New Opportunity for Aspiring Footballers
David Dunbar, a long-time state league coach and former Frankston VFL player, has expressed strong support for the introduction of a VFL Under-22s clash to the talent pathway calendar. This initiative aims to provide underexposed players on VFL lists with an opportunity to showcase their skills before the Mid-Season Draft. The Under-22s side will face a Young Guns team composed of 19-year-olds, offering a platform for emerging talent to gain recognition.
Dunbar, who has previously coached at Port Melbourne, East Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Fremantle, and Brisbane, is now passing on his expertise through his private coaching business. He emphasized the importance of giving players a chance to demonstrate their abilities, stating that not everyone develops at the same pace. “If kids feel like they’re dismissed at 18, it makes it very hard for them. It can’t be the end of the line; they need to stay in the pathway because players have to come from somewhere,” he said.
The Role of the Young Guns Squad
The Young Guns squad has been a staple in the talent pathway for many years, with several players using the game as a stepping stone to further opportunities. Notable names such as Jai Culley, Cooper Lord, Ryan Maric, and Massimo D’Ambrosio have strengthened their prospects through this platform. However, many of the most attractive 19-year-olds are granted exemptions to play an extra year of Talent League as over-agers, while others feature in the VFL via the 23rd player rules.
Despite these opportunities, there is currently a gap for aspirational footballers after the 19-year-old age group. The new Under-22s clash aims to fill this void, providing a crucial link in the development of young players.
Building a Pathway for Talent
The match will be played at Williamstown ahead of the Seagulls’ Saturday night clash on Anzac Day. This event follows the reintroduction of the annual state league clash between the VFL and SANFL during Gather Round, which has highlighted unlisted talent. Players like Milan Murdock, Tom McCarthy, Tom Blamires, and Angus Anderson have successfully transitioned from these events into higher levels of competition.
Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly has indicated that the club is targeting more mature-aged talent, emphasizing the benefits of players who have had more time to develop physically and mentally. “They understand their bodies a little bit more, and have had more coaching, training, game development, and skill development to round themselves off,” Dunbar explained.
Challenges and Opportunities
In recent years, each VFL club has added only three Talent League graduates to their squads on average, leaving many players to bide their time at local footy. Even those who are listed often struggle for games, making the representative clash an essential opportunity to keep players in the spotlight. “Missing out as an 18-year-old does not signal the end of the journey,” Dunbar noted.
The demise of the VFL Development League at the end of 2017 has made things more challenging for players. While the SANFL and WAFL have reserves competitions, VFL players not selected for their side often play local footy. “The VFL Development League was a good in-between competition that allowed players to develop,” Dunbar said. “Training with senior VFL players and learning off them and a better standard of coaching than local is important.”
The Future of Talent Development
With the Development League no longer viable, providing a platform for players to perform on a representative stage has become necessary. Matt O’Connor, who has coached the Young Guns for the past four seasons, highlighted the importance of the two-game series. “It allows kids the opportunity to play a game where they’re in the spotlight. It’s a fashion parade for elite talent that is potentially draftable,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor also emphasized the need for players to demonstrate both individual skills and teamwork. “You need to show what you do, but you need to show you can play in a team. How can you make someone else look good and work hard for them, but then when it’s your turn, show us what you can do?” he added.
The squads and coaching panel for the game will be confirmed early in the week, marking a significant step in the ongoing effort to support and develop young footballers in the VFL.
