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Draft misses not giving up yet
BRENT DIAMOND
November 29, 2009
MAJAK Daw had been touted as the first potential Sudanese AFL footballer. After the national draft - on the same night as his Mackillop College school graduation - the athletic Western Jets utility said it felt as if he had ''lost something''.
Teammate Sean Tighe, who was also out of luck, had spent the night alone with his family. The 2009 best and fairest had held out hope right up until the Brisbane Lions' last pick, where they chose former St Kilda defender Matt Maguire.
''I've met Brisbane Lions [officials] twice and they showed the most interest and indicated probably a later pick,'' Tighe said, adding that he wasn't completely disappointed, knowing he had given it his all.
''When I got cut from Vic Metro, that was probably the turning point, just seeing my dream of playing AFL slowly slipping away. I just thought, 'Nah, I'm not going to let this happen','' he said.
''The following week I got 35 touches and kicked three or four goals. I just remember thinking to myself, 'Stuff this, I've got no pressure and nothing to lose'.
''I can't really say, I should've done this or I should've done that, there was nothing more that I could do.''
Daw, on the other hand, seemed to have plenty of support and had been featured in newspaper spreads, on Channel Nine's TAC Cup Future Stars and on radio.
''For all the hype I've had around me, it probably gave me a good indication that I'd be taken in the draft, but it's just hype and that's all it is,'' Daw said.
North Melbourne had shown interest in Daw, St Kilda had nibbled, as had Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
''I thought North Melbourne would pick me up, but they went with a tall earlier on at pick 26 and things didn't go my way after that,'' he said. ''There's no guarantees.''
Jack Fitzpatrick was the lone Western Jet of his five teammates at Mackillop College to be selected.
Daw said advice from his parents had helped him through the night.
''My mum and dad were sitting beside me at graduation and said there's another chance and don't give up your dreams. They were very supportive.''
Source: The Age
BRENT DIAMOND
November 29, 2009
MAJAK Daw had been touted as the first potential Sudanese AFL footballer. After the national draft - on the same night as his Mackillop College school graduation - the athletic Western Jets utility said it felt as if he had ''lost something''.
Teammate Sean Tighe, who was also out of luck, had spent the night alone with his family. The 2009 best and fairest had held out hope right up until the Brisbane Lions' last pick, where they chose former St Kilda defender Matt Maguire.
''I've met Brisbane Lions [officials] twice and they showed the most interest and indicated probably a later pick,'' Tighe said, adding that he wasn't completely disappointed, knowing he had given it his all.
''When I got cut from Vic Metro, that was probably the turning point, just seeing my dream of playing AFL slowly slipping away. I just thought, 'Nah, I'm not going to let this happen','' he said.
''The following week I got 35 touches and kicked three or four goals. I just remember thinking to myself, 'Stuff this, I've got no pressure and nothing to lose'.
''I can't really say, I should've done this or I should've done that, there was nothing more that I could do.''
Daw, on the other hand, seemed to have plenty of support and had been featured in newspaper spreads, on Channel Nine's TAC Cup Future Stars and on radio.
''For all the hype I've had around me, it probably gave me a good indication that I'd be taken in the draft, but it's just hype and that's all it is,'' Daw said.
North Melbourne had shown interest in Daw, St Kilda had nibbled, as had Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
''I thought North Melbourne would pick me up, but they went with a tall earlier on at pick 26 and things didn't go my way after that,'' he said. ''There's no guarantees.''
Jack Fitzpatrick was the lone Western Jet of his five teammates at Mackillop College to be selected.
Daw said advice from his parents had helped him through the night.
''My mum and dad were sitting beside me at graduation and said there's another chance and don't give up your dreams. They were very supportive.''
Source: The Age
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