From Trainee to AFL Draft Pick
Before being drafted to the Adelaide Crows, Tyler Welsh had already spent time at the club. Training with the team and working behind the scenes as a Community and Academy Trainee. Now an AFL SportsReady Alumni, Tyler reflects on how the experience helped shape his development both on and off the field.
As a Trainee, I’d be out running footy clinics in schools, doing kicking and handballing sessions. It was a great way to get involved, meet people and learn how to lead.
Each week, Tyler also focused on the education side of his traineeship, heading into the AFL SportsReady South Australian office to work through his study.
A lot of it was based around coaching and how to teach sport to kids. It gave me a structure during the week and helped me build up the skills I use now, especially around communication.
Before the traineeship, Tyler admits he wasn’t someone who naturally spoke up. But spending time leading sessions and putting himself out there changed that.
I wasn’t really loud or confident before. But going into schools, running clinics and working with different people every week helped me come out of my shell. That’s carried over into my footy, now I’m more confident organising and communicating on the ground.
One of the most important moments came at the end of the traineeship.
Once I finished all my assignments, it hit me how much I’d actually learned.
I didn’t really realise it during the year, but looking back, it helped paint a bigger picture for me, not just in footy, but in life.
Tyler was training with the Crows during his traineeship, which made stepping into an AFL environment feel more natural when he was drafted.
I already knew the people, the environment, how things worked. That helped a lot. I was confident enough to introduce myself to people across different areas of the club and build connections.
Tyler says being an AFL SportsReady Trainee gave him a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at a footy club.
I got to learn how everything behind the scenes fits together to keep the club running. That’s been really valuable.
He’s especially grateful for the support he received from the AFL SportsReady team throughout his traineeship. His supervisor, Jarrod Meers, played a key role in setting up the opportunity and offering guidance throughout the year.
Simone, his AFL SportsReady Educator and Craig, his Employment Coach, were always there to assist Tyler with his studies. They provided Tyler with ongoing support and advice on staying focused and motivated.
It was definitely a team effort to get me across the line. Jarrod kept me on track, Simone helped stay on top of the education (Certificate III in Sport and Recreation) and Craig was there to offer support.
I wouldn’t have been able to finish without the support of the AFL SportsReady team.
Now proud to be an AFL SportsReady Alumni, Tyler encourages other young people to consider a traineeship. Whether they aim to play at the top level, work in sport, or gain experience and life skills.
It helped me with time management, setting goals and building confidence. And it gave me peace of mind, footy doesn’t last forever, but I know I’ve got something to fall back on after.
All AFL SportsReady graduates are welcome to become members of our exclusive alumni.
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