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Re: Future Father/Sons
Western Bulldogs son of a gun embracing the pressure of famous West pedigree
HE HAS the famous West name and he could end up out west by the end of the year, but this son of a gun is embracing the pressure that comes with his pedigree.
Calder Cannons midfielder Rhylee West isn’t just another prospect in this year’s draft pool.
He is the son of seven-time Western Bulldogs best and fairest winner and five-time All-Australian midfielder Scott West, who retired from the game after 324 games at the end of 2008 when Rhylee was seven.
After collecting 31 possessions in a best on ground performance against the Eastern Ranges last Thursday night, West has strengthened his draft credentials early this season.
“There’s a bit of pressure trying to live up to the name and whatnot, but at the end of the day it’s all about the want to get drafted full stop, not worrying about the specifics too early,” West said on AFL 360 on Tuesday night.
“There is a bit of pressure, but you’ve just got to take it on your stride and brush it off.”
Since the day West was born at the start of this millennium, he has been dreaming of playing on the MCG, just like his old man used to.
On Saturday, West and the AFL Academy will face North Melbourne’s VFL side on the hallowed turf, as they take one step closer to November’s NAB AFL Draft.
“It’s hallowed turf and I’ve wanted to be out there since the day I was born,” he said.
“Seeing Dad on TV gives you that extra want for that.
“Going out there in the middle on Saturday is going to be pretty special.”
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Re: Future Father/Sons
Sons to carry on famous fathers' rivalry
WHEN Scott West was flying through Penleigh Essendon Grammar School on his way to AFL stardom, there was another kid in the school team who stood out.
Long arms, rangy physique, red hair.
His name was Dustin Fletcher.
The pair went on to play a combined 724 AFL matches, 16 times meeting at the top level after two years of school footy together.
Fast forward 26 years and West is seeing double.
Just like that 1992 school team, the combination of West and Fletcher is at it again, this time for under-18 TAC Cup team Calder Cannons.
And in 12 months’ time, Western Bulldogs and Essendon clashes could take on new meaning for two of football’s most famous families, sons Rhylee West and Mason Fletcher in line to be drafted as father-son selections.
“If you walked into a game of footy and you said Dustin Fletcher’s kid was playing, it wouldn’t take you long to work out which one he was,” Scott told the AFL Record this week.
“He’s his dad, just a bit younger. People might say that about Rhylee (and me), the way he runs.”
Rhylee is already making recruiters stand up and take notice with his ferocious attack on the football.
The midfielder spent a month with the Bulldogs over summer honing his craft before a trip to the United States with the AFL Academy under coach Luke Power.
By November, he will have spent time with the Academy, played with the Cannons, school football with St Kevin’s and represented Vic Metro before potentially having his name read out by the Dogs.
“There’s a lot of different voices, a lot of different commitments,” Scott said.
“Having so much scrutiny on these kids who are trying to balance their lives, grow up, get their licence, do Year 12 and try to play good footy, it can be overwhelming, even as parents.”
At 199cm, Mason is already taller than his famous father and shows no sign of slowing down.
He’s added three centimetres in the past 12 months and was last year added to the Vic Metro squad as a bottom-age defender.
Should the Dogs and Bombers select the duo before rival clubs in this year’s NAB AFL Draft, it would continue a long-running history of family connections.
Meanwhile, West would love to see Rhylee follow in the footsteps of sons of his teammates Mark Hunter (Lachie), Tony Liberatore (Tom) and Stephen Wallis (Mitch).
“To see him wear the red, white and blue would be just an amazing thing,” Scott said.
“If he gets there, it would be an absolute bonus. I’d love him to play at the Bulldogs, but he just wants to get drafted.”
It might not stop there. Liberatore’s son Oliver is in the Cannons squad and eligible for next year’s draft while Max Fletcher is making waves in the under-16 team.
And the Wests could be controlling the Bulldogs midfield in years to come. Twins Cooper and Cobi will turn 15 this year, while youngest son Levi will be 10.FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Re: Future Father/Sons
Report on AFL website re the AFL Academy game that Rhylee played in yesterday. See link here.There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist.
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Re: Future Father/Sons
Is the AFL academy side in the VFL this year ?Bring back the biffComment
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Re: Future Father/Sons
West will be a good AFL player. His ball winning ability shoukd transition nice at the senior levelWestern Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Future Father/Sons
Will be interesting to see how highly he is rated come draft time. I'm sure we will be pragmatic if, in what has been mooted to be a strong draft, we have to make a tough call.Comment
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Re: Future Father/Sons
Some father/sons at VU Whitten Oval including Libba's, Croft, Johnson, and West
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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