The Go Home Factor. That little piece of the recruitment decision that surely must be considered when making a choice on draft picks. There is no denying it is demonstrated how risky it can be to recruit players from interstate.  There was previously some discussion that it was riskier for interstate (non Victorian clubs) teams.  I actually think it is now shown as more difficult for Victorian clubs trying to retain their interstate recruits especially from WA and SA.  Or is it simply the lure of $$$s.  Not necessarily in my view.  

For the Demons, we look back.  

Early days … 

Once the Crows came in, Todd Viney and Steven Stretch were on their radar.  Both were loyal Demons and committed the club resisting offers. Earl Spalding left in strange circumstances    He wanted to go home to the Eagles. The club said ok go. His manager then shopped interest and the Tigers and Blues were making offers. He went to the Blues and won a premiership.  Andrew Obst went back to Port Adelaide after they came in.  

Scott Thompson.  Went back to Adelaide after 4 years at MFC (40 games). Traded to the Crows as he wanted to go back for family reasons.    Played 269 games over 13 years at the crows, including two time B&F winner.  

We know the others 

Jeff Farmer 😭

Jesse Hogan 😭

Luke Jackson 😭

Now … Alex Neal-Bullen 😭

Yes it does work both ways. We got Lever, Langdon & Jeff White as come back to Victoria players. Though Melbourne probably has had the least players brought back for this reason (famously missing out on Chris Judd due to $$ and brown paper bag ambassador roles). 

So we worry about Kozzzy, Riv, JVR, Petty, Sparrow, McVee, Tholstrup.  Will they decide the lure of family or the surf will call them back home. 

Do we look ahead and look to prefer Victorian youngsters. This year most of the top 25 draft picks are Victorian. Probably 21 of the 25.  So no shortage of talent.  Is it a factor? The discussion continues… 

  On 30/08/2024 at 23:33, spirit of norm smith said:

Andrew Obst went back to Port Adelaide after they came in.  

 He went back to Port Adelaide in the SANFL after he retired from the AFL, not Port Power.

Your thread raises a good point, however.  Given the choice of two draftees who couldn't be separated by talent and attitude, you'd always take the one from your home state.  It's definitely a factor.

best talent, always

You get a great player and great trade value if they want to go home.

There's also the come home factor.

Step forward Harley Reid.

And would be great to see Mac Andrew in the red and blue seeing as the AFL dudded us there.

  On 30/08/2024 at 23:33, spirit of norm smith said:

 

Scott Thompson.  Went back to Adelaide after 4 years at MFC (40 games). Traded to the Crows as he wanted to go back for family reasons.    Played 269 games over 13 years at the crows, including two time B&F winner.  

 

Jeff Farmer 😭

 

Thompson went back because Daniher wouldn't play him.

The Wizard left and regretted it immediately and to this very day.

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:28, BDA said:

There's also the come home factor.

Step forward Harley Reid.

And would be great to see Mac Andrew in the red and blue seeing as the AFL dudded us there.

The Sudanese are very close and Mac must be really missing his family. 

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:41, Redleg said:

The Sudanese are very close and Mac must be really missing his family. 

But not legitimate enough for some if you have a surname called Jackson...

Edited August 31, 2024Aug 31 by Engorged Onion

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:40, Redleg said:

The Wizard left and regretted it immediately and to this very day.

Didnt seem to regret it when he played against us

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:40, Redleg said:

Thompson went back because Daniher wouldn't play him.

The Wizard left and regretted it immediately and to this very day.

My mail is that he was played when injured which upset Scott's dad.

  On 15/01/2025 at 03:12, ManDee said:

My mail is that he was played when injured which upset Scott's dad.

i always thought it was the other way around; thompson was coming back from a broken arm, the side was settled and in finals, hence he wasn't selected

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:40, Redleg said:

Thompson went back because Daniher wouldn't play him.

The Wizard left and regretted it immediately and to this very day.

Thompson's relative was dying.

One week before opting to go home, Farmer was saying that he wanted be a ten year MFC player.  Then. MFC would only him one year due to his gammy hammies.  Exactly, the same as Steven Powell.  Both had long subsequent glittering careers, giving the Dees a nice touch up in their homecomings.  BTW, were you on the Board at the time?

  On 15/01/2025 at 10:07, redandbluemakepurple said:

Thompson's relative was dying.

One week before opting to go home, Farmer was saying that he wanted be a ten year MFC player.  Then. MFC would only him one year due to his gammy hammies.  Exactly, the same as Steven Powell.  Both had long subsequent glittering careers, giving the Dees a nice touch up in their homecomings.  BTW, were you on the Board at the time?

I was on the Board in 1985.

Farmer started with us in 1995 and Powell in 1997.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by Redleg

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:20, rjay said:

You get a great player and great trade value if they want to go home.

Sadly this is just no longer true. Player comes out and chooses a new club ( usually a finalist) who offers peanuts. We got lucky with Jackson as the dockers cratered. 

  On 16/01/2025 at 03:36, Wells 11 said:

Sadly this is just no longer true. Player comes out and chooses a new club ( usually a finalist) who offers peanuts. We got lucky with Jackson as the dockers cratered. 

For a player in contract it is still true.

Can't see us caving on Kozzie if he wants out at the end of this season.

  On 31/08/2024 at 03:40, Redleg said:

Thompson went back because Daniher wouldn't play him.

 

This is wrong. Thompson was the crucial member of our 2004 on ball brigade, but he injured his foot in round 13 against Essendon when we were 2nd on the ladder and despite a few wins over also-rans and a belated top of the ladder at round 18, we fell away without his contest work and ended up fifth and what's more, what's arguably worse, handed Essendon their last finals win.

I don't care about the player, good deal or no deal. They are contracted. No club is in the business of being nice. The players can suck it up.

I feel like we need to start avoiding interstate players whenever possible. I don't mean completely ignore them, but we should be prioritizing Vic kids IMO. Especially top end picks. The constant speculation surrounding our club and players going home hurts us in so many ways. And for those who think "it goes both ways"....It really doesn't. 

If a top end talent wants to come back to VIC, we are competing against another 10 clubs to attract them and as much as it hurts to say... we are at the bottom lists when it comes to desired destinations. Even when we wont the flag we were not very desirable. If you take your Dees glasses off, why would a player pick the Dees over the Pies, Carlton, Cats etc. The bigger clubs are better place to hold onto interstate players too.

Player movement is only going to increase as it has for the past 10 seasons or so, And an increase in trading doesn't help us in the slightest. We should be doing what the interstate clubs do and prioritize local talent. 

  On 20/01/2025 at 02:58, Brenno said:

I feel like we need to start avoiding interstate players whenever possible. I don't mean completely ignore them, but we should be prioritizing Vic kids IMO. Especially top end picks. The constant speculation surrounding our club and players going home hurts us in so many ways. And for those who think "it goes both ways"....It really doesn't. 

If a top end talent wants to come back to VIC, we are competing against another 10 clubs to attract them and as much as it hurts to say... we are at the bottom lists when it comes to desired destinations. Even when we wont the flag we were not very desirable. If you take your Dees glasses off, why would a player pick the Dees over the Pies, Carlton, Cats etc. The bigger clubs are better place to hold onto interstate players too.

Player movement is only going to increase as it has for the past 10 seasons or so, And an increase in trading doesn't help us in the slightest. We should be doing what the interstate clubs do and prioritize local talent. 

you always 'draft for talent, trade for need'

retention of wantaway players is just something that has to be managed in a national compettion

  On 20/01/2025 at 03:17, whatwhat say what said:

you always 'draft for talent, trade for need'

retention of wantaway players is just something that has to be managed in a national compettion

Correct. Look at Bailey Smith, Vic boy but he has still left the Doggies. You have to back in your club to create a fantastic environment so players want to stay. Won't work out every time, but if you are too scared to pick players because they grew up in another state then you have big issues as a club.

Edited January 20Jan 20 by DistrACTION Jackson

  On 20/01/2025 at 02:58, Brenno said:

I feel like we need to start avoiding interstate players whenever possible. I don't mean completely ignore them, but we should be prioritizing Vic kids IMO. Especially top end picks. The constant speculation surrounding our club and players going home hurts us in so many ways. And for those who think "it goes both ways"....It really doesn't. 

If a top end talent wants to come back to VIC, we are competing against another 10 clubs to attract them and as much as it hurts to say... we are at the bottom lists when it comes to desired destinations. Even when we wont the flag we were not very desirable. If you take your Dees glasses off, why would a player pick the Dees over the Pies, Carlton, Cats etc. The bigger clubs are better place to hold onto interstate players too.

Player movement is only going to increase as it has for the past 10 seasons or so, And an increase in trading doesn't help us in the slightest. We should be doing what the interstate clubs do and prioritize local talent. 

You pick the best Talent available and run a Professional organisation 

stop being so insular 

  On 20/01/2025 at 03:17, whatwhat say what said:

you always 'draft for talent, trade for need'

retention of wantaway players is just something that has to be managed in a national compettion

Agree.

And the reality is we haven't lost that many players in the last few years because they wanted to return to their home state.

Working backwards, nibbla, Jackson and maybe Hogan?

Am I missing someone?

If not, that's 3 in aprox 10 years. 

I reckon in that same period we've traded in more vic players from interstate sides than vice versa - langdon, Lever, sharp all immediately come to mind.

  On 20/01/2025 at 04:22, binman said:

I reckon in that same period we've traded in more vic players from interstate sides than vice versa - langdon, Lever, sharp all immediately come to mind.

+ may + tomlinson + frost + tyson + bugg, if you exptend it back to the 'since roos' era, and i'm sure i'm forgetting some more

the big one was getting 100 fantastic games outta proud south oztrayan bernie vince when the crom decided he was surplus to requirements and he immediately brought a fantastic attitiude and became a much-loved team member at his second club

  On 20/01/2025 at 03:17, whatwhat say what said:

you always 'draft for talent, trade for need'

retention of wantaway players is just something that has to be managed in a national compettion

Neither of those lines contradict what I said. 

'draft for talent, trade for need' - Ok, but prioritize drafting Vic Talent whenever possible.... And by doing so are we not "managing" the chances of go home factor?

  On 20/01/2025 at 04:02, Sir Why You Little said:

You pick the best Talent available and run a Professional organisation 

stop being so insular 

Limiting the chances of players wanting to go home is not "being Insular" is called being pragmatic and objective as to  address an issue.  With all the talk of Kozzi wanting to go home I would be shocked if these discussions are not happening internally with the list management team at the club.