Tommy Sheridan is a great example of what plagues talent scouts in the AwFL. He's the right build/size, well raised and schooled, plays pretty good as a junior and expresses a drive to succeed in the bigs. He gets drafted, moves over to Fremantle, trains hard, never shows up late, has an amiable character that gets along with everyone and brushes his teeth every night. He listens to the coaching staff carefully, can adjust to play a number of roles, bulks up and adds to his strength, builds his tank and durability and is consistently in the top times in preseason time trials. He goes ok, has some blues/pulls off some good play involvements over the years, but essentially has no real impact to your team year after year. He keeps brushing his teeth and tries harder than most, but confronted by a really gifted footballer in an important moment in an important game will squeal like his little sister and cough the ball up like an Auskicker. He looks the goods, plays heaps of games but just languishes in the bottom third of your playing list before starring in the magoos and moving along.
I'm not sure, but I think he was our top pick in the draft one year. It's a tough game but you gotta get the really good ones into your team lists - you don't let Big Kev from the Bummers come over and knick Paddy Ryder off somewhere else just because he knows what to look for.
So you draft Hill and let that Butters bloke brush his teeth somewhere else.
