IN THE LEAD-UP to NAB AFL Rookie Draft, melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan catches up with former Demon Daniel Ward, who was part of the inaugural meeting in 1997 ...
DANIEL Ward has the distinction of being part of - arguably - the best group of players selected by an AFL club at a Rookie Draft.
Back in 1997, in the inaugural AFL Rookie Draft, Ward was one of six players chosen by Melbourne. And it proved to be a very handy list: Nathan Bassett (at selection No.3), Ward (No.18), Matthew Bishop (No.33), Russell Robertson (No.48), Duncan O’Toole (No.63) and James McDonald (No.78). Only Tasmanian O’Toole did not play a senior match.
When you consider how many AFL clubs opted to pass after selection No.23 - just 24 players were chosen from picks No.24 to No.90 (the last choice) - it only adds to the story.
“We had six picks and a lot of clubs didn’t partake in it, or they didn’t take many players,” Ward told melbournefc.com.au.
“We got six players, including James McDonald, Russell Robertson, myself, Matthew Bishop and Nathan Bassett. I don’t know of too many other rookie drafts that had that many 100-game players. And there were a few more games from James McDonald and Robbo.
“The club had a lot of focus on youth back then, so we came through together and played in a few finals together, so that was good.”
McDonald and Robertson in particular became etched in Melbourne’s history.
McDonald, who was the third last player selected in that Rookie Draft, played 251 matches, captained Melbourne and won the Best and Fairest twice.
Robertson played 228 matches and kicked 428 goals, also winning the 2003 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy along his journey.
And, although Bassett didn’t play a match for Melbourne, he became an All-Australian player with the Crows. He now sits eighth on Adelaide’s all-time games record.
Bishop also found success with Port Adelaide, playing in its first premiership in 2004.
As for Ward, who played in Melbourne’s 2000 grand final team, the dashing half-back became a fine servant for the Demons.
“To play 136 games - I was no star by any means - and to work that hard and get through, I was lucky. But I had a lot of support with the likes of [former coach] Neale Daniher, who was a great supporter of mine. But you had to put in the hard work as well,” he said.
“I was overlooked in the main drafts a few times, so to get through the other end and have my name on the locker and become a life member is something to look back on later in life.
“Hopefully, I can watch my son run around for the Dees as a father-son [selection] one day. But I was proud to reach that level.”
Overall - and remarkably - 975 AFL matches were achieved from five of Melbourne’s six selections. That number is set to extend in 2012, when McDonald makes his AFL comeback for Greater Western Sydney.
When Ward looks back on that period, he realises he was part of a changing football period.
“I was on Fitzroy’s supplementary list in 1996 and they merged with Brisbane at the end of that season,” he said.
“I missed out on that draft, so by that stage I was 19. I did a pre-season with the Kangaroos after they won the flag in 1996, so that was good experience.
“Then it was the first year of the Rookie Draft in 1997, so I was lucky enough that Melbourne picked me up. They rang me up and said ‘we’ve picked you up with our second pick in the Rookie Draft’ and that was when it all started.”
Ward had no idea Melbourne was interested. In fact, he hadn’t even had a meeting with the Demons in the lead-up to the Rookie Draft.
“From what I can gather these days, players might speak to nine, 10 or 11 clubs, but I was just basically doing a pre-season at the Kangaroos and then I got a call from Melbourne. They said ‘come down to the Junction Oval’, and that was how it came about. It’s a lot different to now,” he said.
Although he overcame adversity to forge a 10-season senior career with Melbourne, Ward faced greater challenges off the field.
In April this year, Ward spoke publicly about his addiction with gambling.
Although Ward was fined for betting offences in 2007, his real problem was highlighted when he conducted a confronting interview with the Herald Sun.
Now, eight months on, Ward reflects on his battle, and decision to speak publicly.
“To be honest, living with those challenges in the public eye is a bit tougher, but that comes with it,” he said.
“I went through a fair bit there, but addiction - whether it’s drugs or alcohol or in my case gambling - can destroy so many lives, including myself.
“That was hard going through [my playing career], but I’m lucky enough to come out the other end and I’m by no means cured. But on Christmas Day, I’ll be 18 months clean, so life is getter better and I’m heading in the right direction, which is great.”
Still, Ward, who is now account manager with Konica Minolta, said he was proud that he had worked through a difficult and troubling period in his life.
“Everyone has got their faults, but you want to move on with your life. Even though I had a perfect opportunity and got messed up with the gambling side of things, hopefully I’ve still got another 50 years of life to go, so I’m not looking back,” he said.
“I’m doing some talks with the AFL Players’ Association, in terms of problem gambling, so I’m trying to get that message across.
“I know what it’s like to go through it, so I want to help people turn a negative into a positive. Hopefully it’ll help the younger players.
“Even though I don’t like to look back, if someone had have gotten through to me at 22 or 23 - and had I not gone through 10 years of pain, it would’ve been lovely. If I can pass that message on - I’d be rapt, even if I could help one person.”
Despite his challenges, Ward remains a passionate Melbourne supporter today, keeping in regular contact with several players, including former rookie teammates McDonald and Robertson.
“I’m still an avid footy watcher. The Demons are still pretty close to my heart, so I hope they do well every year,” he said.
“They’ve had a tough couple of years, but they’re heading in the right direction. They now have facilities and resources in coaching departments and there is a lot of full-time staff at the club.
“The players now look as though they’re ready, after getting a lot of games into a lot of kids. So hopefully in two or three years, they’ll be contenders and I’ll certainly be cheering them on, so I wish them all the best.”
DANIEL Ward has the distinction of being part of - arguably - the best group of players selected by an AFL club at a Rookie Draft.
Back in 1997, in the inaugural AFL Rookie Draft, Ward was one of six players chosen by Melbourne. And it proved to be a very handy list: Nathan Bassett (at selection No.3), Ward (No.18), Matthew Bishop (No.33), Russell Robertson (No.48), Duncan O’Toole (No.63) and James McDonald (No.78). Only Tasmanian O’Toole did not play a senior match.
When you consider how many AFL clubs opted to pass after selection No.23 - just 24 players were chosen from picks No.24 to No.90 (the last choice) - it only adds to the story.
“We had six picks and a lot of clubs didn’t partake in it, or they didn’t take many players,” Ward told melbournefc.com.au.
“We got six players, including James McDonald, Russell Robertson, myself, Matthew Bishop and Nathan Bassett. I don’t know of too many other rookie drafts that had that many 100-game players. And there were a few more games from James McDonald and Robbo.
“The club had a lot of focus on youth back then, so we came through together and played in a few finals together, so that was good.”
McDonald and Robertson in particular became etched in Melbourne’s history.
McDonald, who was the third last player selected in that Rookie Draft, played 251 matches, captained Melbourne and won the Best and Fairest twice.
Robertson played 228 matches and kicked 428 goals, also winning the 2003 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy along his journey.
And, although Bassett didn’t play a match for Melbourne, he became an All-Australian player with the Crows. He now sits eighth on Adelaide’s all-time games record.
Bishop also found success with Port Adelaide, playing in its first premiership in 2004.
As for Ward, who played in Melbourne’s 2000 grand final team, the dashing half-back became a fine servant for the Demons.
“To play 136 games - I was no star by any means - and to work that hard and get through, I was lucky. But I had a lot of support with the likes of [former coach] Neale Daniher, who was a great supporter of mine. But you had to put in the hard work as well,” he said.
“I was overlooked in the main drafts a few times, so to get through the other end and have my name on the locker and become a life member is something to look back on later in life.
“Hopefully, I can watch my son run around for the Dees as a father-son [selection] one day. But I was proud to reach that level.”
Overall - and remarkably - 975 AFL matches were achieved from five of Melbourne’s six selections. That number is set to extend in 2012, when McDonald makes his AFL comeback for Greater Western Sydney.
When Ward looks back on that period, he realises he was part of a changing football period.
“I was on Fitzroy’s supplementary list in 1996 and they merged with Brisbane at the end of that season,” he said.
“I missed out on that draft, so by that stage I was 19. I did a pre-season with the Kangaroos after they won the flag in 1996, so that was good experience.
“Then it was the first year of the Rookie Draft in 1997, so I was lucky enough that Melbourne picked me up. They rang me up and said ‘we’ve picked you up with our second pick in the Rookie Draft’ and that was when it all started.”
Ward had no idea Melbourne was interested. In fact, he hadn’t even had a meeting with the Demons in the lead-up to the Rookie Draft.
“From what I can gather these days, players might speak to nine, 10 or 11 clubs, but I was just basically doing a pre-season at the Kangaroos and then I got a call from Melbourne. They said ‘come down to the Junction Oval’, and that was how it came about. It’s a lot different to now,” he said.
Although he overcame adversity to forge a 10-season senior career with Melbourne, Ward faced greater challenges off the field.
In April this year, Ward spoke publicly about his addiction with gambling.
Although Ward was fined for betting offences in 2007, his real problem was highlighted when he conducted a confronting interview with the Herald Sun.
Now, eight months on, Ward reflects on his battle, and decision to speak publicly.
“To be honest, living with those challenges in the public eye is a bit tougher, but that comes with it,” he said.
“I went through a fair bit there, but addiction - whether it’s drugs or alcohol or in my case gambling - can destroy so many lives, including myself.
“That was hard going through [my playing career], but I’m lucky enough to come out the other end and I’m by no means cured. But on Christmas Day, I’ll be 18 months clean, so life is getter better and I’m heading in the right direction, which is great.”
Still, Ward, who is now account manager with Konica Minolta, said he was proud that he had worked through a difficult and troubling period in his life.
“Everyone has got their faults, but you want to move on with your life. Even though I had a perfect opportunity and got messed up with the gambling side of things, hopefully I’ve still got another 50 years of life to go, so I’m not looking back,” he said.
“I’m doing some talks with the AFL Players’ Association, in terms of problem gambling, so I’m trying to get that message across.
“I know what it’s like to go through it, so I want to help people turn a negative into a positive. Hopefully it’ll help the younger players.
“Even though I don’t like to look back, if someone had have gotten through to me at 22 or 23 - and had I not gone through 10 years of pain, it would’ve been lovely. If I can pass that message on - I’d be rapt, even if I could help one person.”
Despite his challenges, Ward remains a passionate Melbourne supporter today, keeping in regular contact with several players, including former rookie teammates McDonald and Robertson.
“I’m still an avid footy watcher. The Demons are still pretty close to my heart, so I hope they do well every year,” he said.
“They’ve had a tough couple of years, but they’re heading in the right direction. They now have facilities and resources in coaching departments and there is a lot of full-time staff at the club.
“The players now look as though they’re ready, after getting a lot of games into a lot of kids. So hopefully in two or three years, they’ll be contenders and I’ll certainly be cheering them on, so I wish them all the best.”
