Falcons give Floyd extra season to grow
ETHAN Floyd has been given a TAC Cup lifeline after being overlooked in last month’s AFL rookie draft.
Floyd will play as a 19-yearold at the Geelong Falcons next season after AFL clubs requested he stay in the system.
Sydney Swans and Carlton were among the clubs who believed Floyd would mature with another year at the Falcons.
“When he missed, I didn’t think we’d be able to get him as a 19-year-old because he had played for two years, had played for Vic Country and been pretty highly exposed,” Falcons talent manager Michael Turner said.
“But as soon as the draft was over, Sydney, Carlton and some other AFL clubs contacted AFL Victoria and requested that he stay in the TAC Cup for another year.
“They were very, very close to drafting him and the thing that probably cost him was the fact he was a little bit immature physically and they thought another year in the comp he would benefit from.”
The 19-year-old rule is generally for late maturing players who haven’t previously been in the system — such as Josh Jaska this year — or for those who had injury-interrupted seasons.
The Falcons have access to six players who turn 19 next year. Titit Nyak, Sam Conway, Zac Knights (Matthew Knights’s son), Dane Hollenkamp and Brayden Ham are the other over-age players set to be listed.