Paul Hasleby: AFL clubs should re-learn to respect state league footy after Milan Murdock debut

Milan Murdock burst onto the scene with a captivating debut in West Coast’s defeat to Gold Coast last week. The East Fremantle product ran hard, tackled fiercely, got under the skin of his opponents and converted his chances. According to Champion Data it was the third best debut by an Eagles player of all time. It came as a surprise to the AFL world, but people at the Sharks knew he had it in him. And it should serve as a lesson to West Coast — and every other club — that the WAFL and other State leagues need to be respected. The WAFL may not be the same high flying competition it was in the 70s and 80s but it still can produce talent. Murdock was a premiership player, State representative and even a three-time Simpson medalist before he was added to a list, seven years after his initial draft intake. Many smart WAFL judges had been calling for his AFL illusion 3 years ago and last weekend they were vindicated. His rise should also highlight that the Eagles need to respect how their own players perform at WAFL level and use the information to make ruthless list management decisions. Lets not forget Murdock only got his chance via an accident. If Noah Long didn’t hurt his knee during the pre season, the Murdock story may never of been written. How many more state league stories stories are waiting to be written, waiting for a even chance? Tom Gross, Rhett Bazzo, Jack Hutchinson, Harvey Johnston, Clay Hall, Harry Barnett and Jack Williams are all guys who have been at that level for a few years now and if they’re not dominating the WAFL competition, West Coast shouldn’t hesitate making hard calls on them if they don’t take the competition by storm. The WAFL will provide feedback, the eagles need to start using it. List spots are precious commodities during a rebuild and some of the guys on the Eagles list should have already been moved on based on their State league form. Murdock was another example of a player coming straight onto the Eagles’ list and instantly becoming one of their better performed players. Tom McCarthy was the other one last season who came straight into their group after the mid-season draft and had 31 touches and six marks in an impressive debut and is now playing in their midfield. McCarthy had played just half a season of VFL footy before he slotted in to Andrew McQualter’s side and Murdock even more remarkably had come straight off a pre-season with East Fremantle. Debuts for these sort of players can be funny things. Young players are thrown into an AFL match uninhibited by the structure that has been drilled into their teammates over many years. They’re out there to play footy, hunt the ball and be themselves. That was clear in McCarthy’s game last season across half-back and was the hallmark of Murdock’s effort against Gold Coast. Murdock had only been on the list for just over two weeks. For state league players who continually get left of the draft shelf it builds a certain hunger and resilience. When they get their chance, they know they must take it and play like their football life depends on it. And most of the times it does. They are not afforded the many opportunities that a high draft pick receives. I presume that most AFL recruiters saw the negatives in Murdock’s game. Not big enough, not fast enough, not an elite decision maker but I saw a strength that not all players have. Intensity. He may not be overly quick but his 10 metre speed was impressive. His will to hunt the ball and to apply pressure was first class. Murdock will need to keep improving his decision making but what a start it was. I can’t wait for Round 2 today.