Adelaide's Shaun McKernan is one of four South Australin-based big men in trouble, according to Michelangelo Rucci. Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Corp Australia
BY the AFL's figures, the average career in the big league lasts 6.2 years.
The average salary is $265,179. And even with Treasurer Joe Hockey's hit on the hip pocket, the average player will collect more than a million dollars playing the game he loves.
Not too many 24-year-olds enjoy such a start in life.
But — as Power ruckman-defender Jackson Trengove noted so well last week — it can be a very short first chapter in life.
And filled with many regrets for those who fail to become the much-wanted "10-year player" every AFL club recruiting manager craves to find in the draft pool each November.
McKernan at training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
In Adelaide today there are four players who have reached or are closing in on that 6.2-year milestone and find themselves at football's unforgiving crossroads. Shaun McKernan and Angus Graham at the Crows. John Butcher and Brent Renouf at Port Adelaide.
Of all four, Renouf can at least hold an AFL premiership medal — from his part in Hawthorn's extraordinary campaign in 2008 — and say his career was fulfilled. But will every premiership reunion at Waverley bring that moment of looking in the mirror and asking: "What more can there have been?"
That question today haunts McKernan and Butcher.
McKernan is in his AFL sixth season. The ruckman-forward wanted out of Adelaide last year, but could not find an AFL club to complete the homecoming trade to Melbourne. So, with nowhere to run, McKernan returned to West Lakes where the Crows needed insurance while Josh Jenkins recuperated from a serious ankle injury and Taylor Walker from his knee surgery.
Adelaide's Angus Graham in action during a SANFL game. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia
Adelaide offered only a one-year contract. And new hope emerged in the summer, Crows list manager David Noble left the impression this would be McKernan's breakout season.
Just a third of the way into the AFL premiership season, McKernan resembles a broken man.
McKernan has played just two AFL games this season. He has not been seen in AFL company since he was dazed and perhaps concussed in the Showdown against Port Adelaide in the re-opening of Adelaide Oval.
All those who saw McKernan's three-disposal effort in the Adelaide loss to West Adelaide in the SANFL at Richmond Oval on Saturday night may wonder if McKernan will add to his 34-game tally.
At Alberton, the summer promised the same new hope with Butcher. The player dubbed by his teammates as "The Future" appeared ready to deliver in the present when Port Adelaide needs to find the third key forward to work in tandem with Jay Schulz (who has certainly beaten the "6.2-year" gravestone since leaving Richmond).
John Butcher in action in the SANFL. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
Butcher is in his fifth AFL season and quickly approaching the 6.2-year marker for the average AFL player with many questions to answer.
As Power coach Ken Hinkley famously said last year, "You walk on a twig with Butch". The issue that posed that response — Butcher's infamous erratic kicking for goal — is now a subplot as the AFL world waits to see if Butcher can turn that curse of "potential" into a reality.
Hinkley played Butcher for the Power's first three AFL games. Staying true to his theme of no favourites and no gold passes at Alberton, Hinkley has parked Butcher in the SANFL where his numbers have not been imposing — and left the jury outside Port's inner sanctum less convinced.
Back at West Lakes, Graham is in his seventh year as a senior-listed AFL player. The former Richmond ruckman passed the 6.2-year marker by having a contract at Adelaide this season.
But — with both Sam Jacobs and Josh Jenkins standing sound — Graham may finish the year as the first player traded to Adelaide who fails to play an AFL game.
Port Adelaide's Brent Renouf rucking against star Fremantle big man Aaron Sandilands. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
Renouf was last year delisted from the Power's senior squad and retained as a rookie-listed ruckman for this season.
He is now an invaluable insurance policy at Alberton where young ruckman Jarrad Redden has had his season wiped out by two rounds of knee surgery and lead ruckman Matthew Lobbe may need to be rested — as he was on Saturday.
Renouf's chances to stay at Alberton for his ninth season in the AFL system now hinge on him seizing opportunity — and he need not look far to appreciate how players who take control of their destiny usually thrive.
As Hinkley says of Schulz who left Richmond after crossing the 6.2-year marker with 71 games in seven seasons: "On his own admission, Jay in his early days in football was not focusing on everything as he should have. But once he sorted that out ..."
WHERE NEXT?
SHAUN McKERNAN
Age: 23
AFL games: 34
This season: 2
Prospects: Wanted out last season, but could not find an AFL club in Melbourne prepared to trade for him. Returned to Adelaide to sign a one-year contract and started the season in the lead for the role of back-up ruckman working from a key forward role. Was concussed in the historic Oval Showdown with Port Adelaide in round two and has not stood out in the SANFL. Seems a broken man.
JOHN BUTCHER
Age: 22
AFL games: 23
This season: 3
Prospects: Dubbed "The Future" but needs to quickly become part of the Port Adelaide's present, particularly as the Power craves that third key forward to release Justin Westhoff and back-up Jay Schulz. Coach Ken Hinkley may have faith in Butcher, but he does not play favourites nor issue the "gold passes" that existed in the previous era at Alberton. Time on his side, but only just.
ANGUS GRAHAM
Age: 27
AFL games: 48
This season: 0
Prospects: In the last year of a two-season contract with the Crows — and has not played an AFL game with Adelaide since joining the Crows from Richmond at the end of the 2012 season. Could become the first mature player traded to Adelaide to never play an AFL game unless injury strikes lead ruckman Sam Jacobs. Difficult to see Adelaide offering a new deal.
BRENT RENOUF
Age: 25
AFL games: 68
This season: 1
Prospects: Discarded from Port Adelaide's senior list last year, but kept in reserve on the Power's rookie list. Was upgraded at the start of the season as the Power lost young ruckman Jarrad Redden for 10 weeks after knee surgery and was left with one specialist ruckman (Matthew Lobbe). He is now critical to Port's insurance plans on Lobbe after Redden's season ended last week with more knee surgery.
Four big men at the crossroads
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