Up and coming Aussie rules stars shrug off private schools' grip on AFL draft

Dominance of private school prospects in AFL draft expected to continue in 2024 - ABC NewsSkip to main contentABC NewsJust InFor YouPoliticsUS ElectionWorldBusinessAnalysisSportLifestyleEntertainmentMoreSearch the news, stories & peopleLog inNews HomeJust InFor YouAnalysisRuralWatch LiveHealthIndigenousPoliticsUS ElectionScienceElectionsWorldEnvironmentInvestigationsBusinessFact CheckLocal newsSportAFLNRLFootballTennisCricketNetballLifestyleWellbeingRelationships & FamilyFood & RecipesPersonal FinanceHome & GardenEntertainmentTV & MoviesBooksMusicPop CultureArtsYour ABC AccountPersonalise the news andstay in the knowLog in to personaliseFacebookYouTubeInstagramTwitterEmergencyBackstoryNewsletters中文新闻BERITA BAHASA INDONESIATOK PISINABCABC iViewABC ListenTriple JABC KidsABC NewsABC News News HomeDominance of private school prospects in AFL draft expected to continue in 2024Share Thu, 5 Sept54138→Fri, 6 Sept6299→Sat, 7 Sept8882→Sat, 7 Sept9971→Fri, 13 Sept7572→Sat, 14 Sept100105→Fri, 20 Sept9559→Sat, 21 Sept8595→Sat, 28 Sept60120→ AFL Score Centre Dominance of private school prospects in AFL draft expected to continue in 2024By Erin MarsicovetereTopic:AFL4h ago4 hours agoSun 17 Nov 2024 at 1:42amHarvey Langford and Cooper Hynes are hoping to land on an AFL list in this week's national draft.  (Instagram: dandenongstingrays)In short:About 36 per cent of students attend private schools but private school students form the majority of AFL draftees.This year about 25 players from the top 30 selections in the AFL draft are expected to come from private schools around the country.What's next?The draft will be held across Wednesday and Thursday, with Richmond holding the coveted number-one pick.abc.net.au/news/afl-national-draft-private-school-representation-langford-hynes/104611300Link copiedShareShare articleHarvey Langford and Cooper Hynes are best mates, co-captains of the Dandenong Stingrays, lifelong Tigers fans and likely future rivals on the footy field.They are just two of the more than 1,000 players who've nominated for the 2024 AFL national draft, which takes place on Wednesday and Thursday nights this week.Harley Reid was the number-one pick in last year's AFL draft. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)Richmond holds the coveted number-one pick after finishing on the bottom of the ladder this season. The club also traded its way to six more selections inside the first round.Langford and Hynes — who are widely tipped to finish the week on an AFL list — are outliers among their peers, with both finishing their studies this year at public schools.Private school students form majority of AFL draft classIn 2023, 17 of the top 30 picks were fresh out of the private school system.This year, it is likely that 25 players inside the top 30 will come from private schools around the country, primarily from Melbourne.The numbers do not align with broader statistics that show only about 36 per cent of Australian students attend private schools.Harvey Langford has developed a reputation as an impactful midfielder with an accurate left foot. (Getty: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)Langford, a 190-centimetre midfield/forward from Mornington, fielded offers from private schools, as is the norm with top-rated players at under-age level.But the family consensus was to stay put."Me and my family sat down and had a pretty deep chat about it but yeah … [it was] definitely the right decision for me to stay at a public school," Langford said.Hynes, also standing at 190cm tall, completed year 12 in Rowville in Melbourne's outer east.Cooper Hynes is considered a likely first-round selection along with Harvey Langford. (Getty: Will Russell/AFL Photos)He spoke highly of his time with the Dandenong Stingrays, one of 13 clubs in the AFL's under-age Talent League."It's an elite environment … [I] definitely don't think I've missed out from a development point of view," Hynes said."Me and Harvs have been pretty lucky to have such good coaches at Dandenong."'Recruiters just go where the talent is'David Trotter, who was taken at pick nine by North Melbourne in the 2003 draft and now works in talent management, does not think public school boys are at a disadvantage come draft time, despite the numbers favouring the private-school-to-AFL-list pathway.AFL draft 2024 previewPhoto shows Sam Lalor poses for a photo at the draft combine holding a whiteboad with personal profile details on itWith the AFL draft just around the corner, see which picks each club has to work with and the players they could select.Trotter grew up in the small town of Lockhart in the NSW Riverina and moved to Kilmore's Assumption College to finish high school and play for the Calder Cannons.He says it can be helpful to have connections formed at private schools, where the coaching ranks are often flush with ex-AFL coaches and players.But he also believes the best players will not be overlooked, no matter what school they attend."I think what happens is a lot of talented kids from the country that do get offered the scholarships and move down, I think a lot of those players if they stayed where they were would end up being really good players and early draft picks as well," Trotter said.Harvey Langford says he is happy with his decision to stay at a public school. (Getty: Will Russell/AFL Photos)Langford is likely to stay close to home next year, with Melbourne-based clubs holding 10 of the first 11 draft picks. But a move to South Australia could be on the cards, with Adelaide's first selection at pick four.Night one of the draft on Wednesday is dedicated to first-round selections, with invited players and their families and friends in attendance at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium.All remaining selections will be made on Thursday.Posted 4h ago4 hours agoSun 17 Nov 2024 at 1:42amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesDaughters cling to hope Japan will acquit Perth mum who they say was victim of romance scamTopic:Courts and TrialsPhoto shows A photo on a table showing Donna Nelson with her arm around her eldest daughter Ash and another daughter off to the sideXi Jinping tells Biden China 'ready to work' with Trump administrationTopic:APEC Economic Leaders' MeetingsPhoto shows Joe Biden and Xi Jinping wearing dark suits and shaking hands in front of US and Chinese flagsAustralia struggling with oversupply of solar powerTopic:Energy IndustryPhoto shows A solar system on a roof with foliage in the foreground.'It was a mistake': UK residents regret shared home ownership as Australian scheme back in parliamentTopic:Housing PolicyPhoto shows A man with short brown hair wears a pink shirt while looking neutrally at the cameraAlbanese unlikely to detail emissions target before next electionTopic:Environmental PolicyPhoto shows Anthony Albanese wearing a dark suit and red spotted tiePopular nowWith Prince Andrew given a reprieve from an 'anonymous donor', William inherits his father's real estate woesTopic:RoyaltyPhoto shows Prince William leans down with an overgrown beard and his lips pursed.Australia struggling with oversupply of solar powerTopic:Energy IndustryPhoto shows A solar system on a roof with foliage in the foreground.After Jake Paul mocked Mike Tyson, he uttered four words that nobody wanted to hearSAnalysis by Simon SmalePhoto shows Mike Tyson sits with a towel around his neckRelated topicsAFLAustralian Rules FootballMelbourneVICTop StoriesDaughters cling to hope Japan will acquit Perth mum who they say was victim of romance scamTopic:Courts and TrialsPhoto shows A photo on a table showing Donna Nelson with her arm around her eldest daughter Ash and another daughter off to the sideXi Jinping tells Biden China 'ready to work' with Trump administrationTopic:APEC Economic Leaders' MeetingsAustralia struggling with oversupply of solar powerTopic:Energy Industry'It was a mistake': UK residents regret shared home ownership as Australian scheme back in parliamentTopic:Housing PolicyAlbanese unlikely to detail emissions target before next electionTopic:Environmental PolicyJust InInvestigations underway into plane crash that killed 20yo pilot, two teenagers in VictoriaTopic:Air and Space Accidents and Incidents30m ago30 minutes agoSun 17 Nov 2024 at 5:49amAirbnb's plan to host 'gladiator' battles at Rome's Colosseum causes outrageTopic:Travel and Tourism (Lifestyle and Leisure)50m ago50 minutes agoSun 17 Nov 2024 at 5:29amFemale pedestrian dies after being hit by ute in Jerrabomberra Topic:Road Accidents and Incidents1h ago1 hours agoSun 17 Nov 2024 at 5:05amWhat is Bluesky, the fast-growing platform welcoming former X users?Topic:Internet Culture1h ago1 hours agoSun 17 Nov 2024 at 4:57amMore Just InBack to topFooterABC News homepageMore From ABC NEWSWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.SectionsABC NEWSJust InWatch LivePoliticsWorldBusinessAnalysisSportScienceHealthEntertainmentLifestyleFact CheckOtherNews in language中文Berita Bahasa IndonesiaTok PisinConnect with ABC NewsFacebookInstagramYouTubeApple NewsX (formerly Twitter)More from ABC NewsContact ABC NEWSThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)Editorial PoliciesAccessibilityHelpContact UsAbout the ABCPrivacy PolicyTerms of Use© 2024 ABC