Your teams biggest dud to be drafted to the AFL

[godoubleblues]

Lynn played about 30 games from memory and looked OK in a few games for Carlton, he went to Carlton from the Bears and apparently is a cousin to Michael Voss

To be technical - Lynn went to Carlton from Centrals.

He came to the Dogs from Brissy and then was drafted again if my memory's correct.

yep you are right, he played for Bears in 88 and then Carlton drafted him in the 93 mid season draft from Centrals

[XXXXRooster]

How many different AFL lists was Darren Bartsch on in the early 90's? think he got drafted 3 or 4 different times, dont think he managed much more than 50 SANFL games between his injuries(which were his problem i believe, rather than a lack of ability)

[woofwoofwoopswoofwoofwoof]

If my memory is right Richard Marr got injured before he left for Fitzroy and never really got over it.

[Brad]

I reckon that one can be beaten Sydney-Dog.....

Anyone remember Richard Marr? Anyone even heard of him?

A very big 17/18 year old drafted to Fitzroy in 1992.

Pick 114.

He played ressies for Centrals, but never did any more.

Needless to say he didn't go to Fitzroy.

I think he was drafted at around the same time Kym Eyres went to North Melbourne from Centrals.

Also in that draft were future Centrals premiership players Marty McKinnon (#26 to Adelaide) and Hugh Reimers (#76 to St Kilda).

Yes Richie Marr! The last I saw of him (you coulsn't miss him) was playing for Peterborough in 1998. He played at full forward and was a dirty p$%ck! We were all surprised to learn the big animal played teal cup

Kym Eyers cam from the BSR footy club in North Eastern and I know at one stage was playing league footy in Tasmania and I think is a Doctor now or something like that.

Sam Smart was a Doctor in Clare I saw him mentioned earlier.

Tony Lynn wasn't a dud at the Blues and I believe played some games during their mighty 95 season.

[ORDoubleBlues]

If my memory is right Richard Marr got injured before he left for Fitzroy and never really got over it.

goof to see you back, although I don't take back what got you upset.

[SimonH]

It has to be said, Norwood has sent an awful lot of players to the VFL and AFL over the last 20-odd years. Many of whom have had outstanding careers (Craig Kelly, Scott Burns, Jared Crouch, Martin Pike if we can claim him originally as one of ours although I don't know if he'd be able to point out the Parade with a road-map), and many of whom I could have told you for $5 at the time would never play a VFL game. And then went on to never play a VFL game.

It's hard to pick out one player among the many, many in that category. But I reckon that Mark Ducker (#24 in the 1987 VFL draft to Melbourne) would be my nomination for silliest draft pick. Great talent with the mark and kick, but not exactly a robust guy and in an increasingly physical and professional game, he would have been a rag doll over there and would have spent 50% of any given game on the ground. Of course, now that I know that the draft back then was merely putting dibs on a player who may never come to the VFL, it might be that he was merely a wasted pick rather than a bad pick, because he never went. (I don't seem to recall a lengthy gap in his service for Norwood, except of course for the frequent periods when he was injured.) Someone might know the answer to this one.

But I'm only nominating Ducker as the 'worst' because I know who he is and can remember seeing himm play. To focus on the Norwood players alone, who the hell are Ben Harris (1986) and Ken Nicholls (1988)? I don't recall even hearing rumours of them pulling on the Norwood jersey, and I watched a lot of games back then. I have only the vaguest recollection of the name of Damon Munt (1992) as well. So many players were drafted in the period 1986-1993, the vast bulk of whom were never heard of again, that looking at these lists it's easy to believe that clubs just made up names of non-existent players to avoid the embarrassment of admitting they hadn't found anyone. (Sydney drafted or traded in 26 players in the calendar year 1992, which would have to be some kind of record.)

What's interesting from the late '80s is how many mature (to be polite) players got drafted back then. There was no science, it was a little bit of marketing, a little bit of rock & roll-- you can just see the club's recruiters saying, 'He can play a bit, good head on his shoulders, big star in his hometown, who cares if he's 28? We'll have him.' Whereas now if you're 19 and undrafted, that's it, buddy-- you're over the hill.

PS Is the Mark Jones drafted in 1992 from Norwood the same guy who wound up playing for Centrals? The guy who was drafted certainly never played for Richmond, but whether that's because he never went to Melbourne I don't know. Smooth moving midfielder/forward, #24 for Norwood as I remember, somewhat injury prone? Am I confusing multiple Mark Jones, or just confusing identities entirely?

[am Bays]

In the late 1980s the draft had just come in and it was basically a free for all so clubs could draft who ever and what ever from wher ever. Hence McIntosh, McDermott , Salisbury etc getting 'drafted". The other point as it was new or teh players who has been playing WAFL and SANFL for 5 - 7 years and had played State Footy were getting drafted too. Once the AFl got concerned about restraint of trade they brought in the procedure where you have to nominate for teh draft, hence the younger bodies.

[Magpiespower]

Must be something about the name Darren.

Because Darren Mead was drafted by Essendon and Brisbane and knocked back offers from the Crows and Collingwood.

All because he only ever wanted to play for Port.

PS Is the Mark Jones drafted in 1992 from Norwood the same guy who wound up playing for Centrals?

Yep.

[Brad]

But I'm only nominating Ducker as the 'worst' because I know who he is and can remember seeing himm play. To focus on the Norwood players alone, who the hell are Ben Harris (1986) and Ken Nicholls (1988)? I don't recall even hearing rumours of them pulling on the Norwood jersey, and I watched a lot of games back then. I have only the vaguest recollection of the name of Damon Munt (1992) as well. So many players were drafted in the period 1986-1993, the vast bulk of whom were never heard of again, that looking at these lists it's easy to believe that clubs just made up names of non-existent players to avoid the embarrassment of admitting they hadn't found anyone. (Sydney drafted or traded in 26 players in the calendar year 1992, which would have to be some kind of record.)

Damon Munts Dad was my old headmaster at primary school but they left our town by the time he got drafted. From memory he was made to stay in Adelaide to do year 12 and did a knee injury that year, if any one can clarify?

[Brad]

Must be something about the name Darren.

Because Darren Mead was drafted by Essendon and Brisbane and knocked back offers from the Crows and Collingwood.

All because he only ever wanted to play for Port.

PS Is the Mark Jones drafted in 1992 from Norwood the same guy who wound up playing for Centrals?

Yep.

Is it the Mark Jones from Port Lincoln who won Mail Medals?

[Strawb]

Darren "The Doc" Whieldon after playing one year at westies then getting re drafted by Essendon. He is still the only man to find a Taxi cab in King Street at 3AM

[Macca19]

But I'm only nominating Ducker as the 'worst' because I know who he is and can remember seeing himm play. To focus on the Norwood players alone, who the hell are Ben Harris (1986)

Id say its supposed to be Ben Harris from Port Adelaide, the big burly full back.