Alex Dodson

[diddley]

SNAPSHOT: “A talented dual-sport athlete and this year’s top ruck prospect; boasting clean hands, mobility which defies his height, and enormous upside.” – Michael Alvaro
The ‘basketball background’ infatuation in AFL circles is set to continue in 2024, as South Australian Alex Dodson stakes his claim to be the top ruck prospect available. After making the state Under 16 squad in 2022, Dodson put his footballing commitments on hold in favour of his first love, basketball, and missed the entire 2023 season.
Dodson had paved a credentialed path in basketball, captaining SA and even representing Australia at Under 18 level. Most notably, he missed game one of the AFL Under 18 National Championships this year having jetted off to Germany to help his country take out gold in the world renowned Albert Schweizer Cup.
Returning to Sturt, Dodson made his SANFL Under 18s debut in Round 6 and went on to play nine games. He also slotted straight into the Croweaters’ representative side to run out the rest of the championships, which culminated in All Australian honours. It was there where Dodson’s star truly rose, on the big stage.
He and the Double Blues also earned a finals berth, with the 203cm talent proving integral on the back of an average 24 disposals and 27 hitouts over the last month of the season. He could hardly have been more impressive given the context of how little high-level football he has played, and has chosen to pursue the native code over basketball.

[StNoodles]

Sensational pick-up

[chook23]

A slider for sure

A few rucks before him selected

Any concerns known?

[nostalgicsaint]

Even our ruckman are mobile.

We are going to run some teams into the ground over the next few years.

[B.M]

Bargain

[B.M]

He will take a few years

[diddley]

He will take a few years

Surely you jest.
Seems like a plug n play sort of 18 year old 203cm ruckman.

[Otiman]

Any concerns known?

Fox Footy suggested Basketball might sway him, had offers from US colleges.

[Otiman]

He will take a few years

That's OK we have a few years of Marshall.

[chook23]

Any concerns known?

Fox Footy suggested Basketball might sway him, had offers from US colleges.

Thanks for that

Played for Australia earlier in year ?(u18)

Only decided to concentrate on footy few months back

[Otiman]

Give him jumper #40 - has the Troy Schwarze hairdo going on.

[Killa]

The caveat as always with these kids is that exposed form is at Underage levels - where height and weight can give an advantage not on offer at Senior levels

That said, the expectation is that this kid would be Drafted so to get thru to where he got to gives the prospect we have jagged a bargain

The exact opposite to Boyd who was promoted on this forum by some - young, tall and athletic- and at Underage level gets the ball

The age profile of our List has significantly changed over this off season - and if 2/3 of these kids come on so will the assessment of the class on our List be enhanced

Kids always excite - they are the lifeline of any Club (and not only Clubs but families))

[Killa]

And you n terms of jagging talent with these later picks, Sam Fisher I think was 55 as a mature age undersized key forward from the Riverland and West Adelaide

And look at his football career

[B.M]

Got a bit of Tom Hickey about him

Tall gangly and thin with good mobility and good hands

[Banger9798]

Looks incredibly nimble for a big man, taps it well.

Great value

[remboy]

Any concerns known?

Fox Footy suggested Basketball might sway him, had offers from US colleges.

Adelaide 36ers offered him a development spot on their list. Sounds like he’s all in on football now.

[SaintWiki]

Any concerns known?

Fox Footy suggested Basketball might sway him, had offers from US colleges.

I would suggest that if that could have swayed him, why didn't he go that way? I have more confidence in the club to have fully investigated that angle.

Fox Footy jumping at shadows to fill the air space imho.

[Saints58]

Any concerns known?

Fox Footy suggested Basketball might sway him, had offers from US colleges.

He turned down the colleges and would only play as a power forward anyway in Basketball College anyway. College Basketball does not pay so he would have to pay for schooling and board with some discounts depends what sort of scholarship he is on if its a full scholarship or part scholarship and there are no guarantees he gets drafted to NBA.

Then when he finishes college he will be 22 or 23 so a AFL career is almost gone. He can make more money now in AFL as a 18 year old then in the US right now at college so that may be a contributing factor why he stays plus he obvious loves AFL and can play sooner at the top level here I would say then the US smart Kid.

[Sanctorum]

That's exactly my point too, as a first year player in the AFL and pick 53 Alex Dodson wll be earning $105,000 starting today, not bad for an 18 year old kid fresh out of school!

Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru at picks 8 & 10 will be on $130,000.

James Barrat (32) and Hugh Boxshall (45) on $110,000

Patrick Said (60) same as Dodson

Rookies are on $90,000

[CQ SAINT]

If he has chosen to play AFL, he has not received a decent enough College offer or he is fair dinkum about AFL.

Higher division players almost certainly attract full scholarships and external sponsorships, which are now allowable for college athletes who can benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness. Some players are receiving in excess of $1000000 a year.

$105k Australian dollars wouldn't go far in that environment.