AFLPA holds Player Development Manager Forum

6 Jul 2007 - Jason Murnane

Held three times per year, the forum seeks to reinforce close links existing between industry stakeholders such as the AFLPA and clubs.

Attendees enjoyed a wide range of interactive forums which provided the opportunity to discuss a range of relevant issues, network and share information on player development initiatives.

Other areas covered included; Indigenous support services, Psychology Services, Career Planning, Trades and Apprenticeship update as well as a range of other topics.

At the conclusion of the forum, AFL Players' Association General Manager Player Development Steve Alessio said, "The AFLPA sees the Player Development Forum as an important way for the Association to provide professional development and knowledge to Player Development Managers, as well as seeking and providing feedback from all Player Development Managers from all 16 clubs."

With 145 AFL players retiring or being delisted in 2006, the importance of player development has never been more vital. 

Recent trends in AFL player career length show that of those players to be drafted, one third will play 0 to 9 games, 1/3 will play 10 to 99 games and one third will play more than 100 games.

The concept of an AFL player life-cycle was also discussed by attendees' which breaks up a players career period into distinct periods, better reflecting and identifying the specific needs players may require are different stages of their AFL career.