Twenty-three years of age is young for an aspiring test cricketer who has shown some promise as an all rounder to toss it in.

The messages he must be getting from cricket authorities must be pretty negative if it's true that he wants to change sports.

Before considering him, a club would have to do some due diligence on the reasons why he wasn't offered a cricketing contract for next season.

I get the impression that a lot of clubs may want to sign just for the novelty of having an ex-cricketer on their list. There are many better options out there. This guy hasn't played much footy in the last five years when there are guys like Vanders who are ripping it up every week in state leagues.

DJ, I think you'll find there are zero AFL clubs wanting to sign him just because of the novelty factor. The article is inconclusive as to the likelihood of him changing sports, but if a footy club does sign him, it will be because of talent and potential, not novelty factor. GC and GWS are well past their rugby league experiments and have learnt lessons from them.

According to the description in the Age under Keath's photograph:

Promising origins: A 17-year-old Alex Keath, who was a border at Melbourne Grammar School at the time.Photo: Ken Irwin KEN

Tough gig being a "border". I know about the one between U.S.A and Mexico but what's on the border with Melbourne Grammar?

According to the description in the Age under Keath's photograph:

Tough gig being a "border". I know about the one between U.S.A and Mexico but what's on the border with Melbourne Grammar?

used to be he blind school once upon a time

There's no doubt about his talent. He did play under 18 championships and performed well as a skinny, but athletic key forward/defender. If he opts to play AFL (which is unlikely) then the issues will be injuries and time out of the game. But for a free rookie pick I would think 18 clubs would be very interested.

From what I have seen he has a weakness outside the off stump and is susceptible to the short rising ball coming into the body. Those shortcomings will be exploited ruthlessly at AFL level. I think we pass.

Cricketers can definitely make a lot of money at the top end.

But there are some 800 AFL level players, mostly earning a very good wage even at the fringes.

One (invalid but vaguely representative) way to think of it is in two questions; How many AFL players can you name? How many cricketers can you name?

All that 'marketing reach' and not a lot of names to share it between.

With the necessary caveat of the ridonkulous money being thrown around by the IPL (Nawab) League, for the personal vanity projects of India's grotesquely bloated ruling class. "ooohh, the people they love meeeeee".

Hmm.. I digress.

I would stick to cricket if i where him, in cricket you can make many come backs, in AFL you really only get one sometimes two chances, and you get more time to work on your weakness in cricket. he can be dropped from a state side go back to grade cricket and make a come back 8 years later it happenes all the time in cricket, most cricketers have to work their way back into higher sides countless times.

Evening Demonland

Thought of joining up when I read this thread. I play cricket in the premier comp and have a few good mates down at the MCC and can say with 100% certainty he won't be returning to football, not until all avenues with cricket have been explored. The bloke who took his spot, Ian Holland, lost his contract and put in a few good seasons and returned to the squad so I reckon that's the motivation Keathy would have at the minute.

Craig Bradley could kick a nice footy in the winter.

Geelong like his type , give me another Vandas

Cards, I think you are right, there is a lot more money in cricket. Look at what they can make in a few months in the IPL. There would be many more millionaire cricketers than footballers

http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/australian_cricketers_cashing_league_YcX1hpVDOp15VdWonORU0L

How many AFL footballers earned $4.5 million dollars last year?

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/australian-cricketers-on-brw-rich-list-watson-johson-clarke-warner-smith-faulkner-maxwell/2015-02-17

12 cricketers in Australia's top earning 50 sportspeople. One footballer.

http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/brw_top_sports_earners_list_for_6VLF7mok4PMxzOxHAMb9KK

.

Edit: typos & I misunderstood what Cards was saying

Here's the 2012 list ... check out numbers 33, 34 & 35 (nice work if you can get it)

BRW Top Sports Earners 2012

As t20 gains in popularity more & more young sportsmen are going to choose cricket over other sports - especially here in Australia if CA are smart with their endeavours to capture young talent.

The impact may not be huge on the AFL but the AFL would be fully aware of the increased competition they will have in the future (with regards to the choices that young sportsmen have these days).