Unlike many former AFL stars, the lure of local football was never there for Jordan Russell.
Having played 125 games at the top level in a career spanning nine years, the defender could have commanded whatever price he wanted in some of the state’s cashed-up metropolitan or country leagues.
But after being delisted by Collingwood last year and without offers from AFL ranks, Russell still wanted to pit himself against the best players he could find.
He signed with the Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL and, early in the season, has been one of the club’s best players.
“Going from a professional full-time job as a footballer to training a couple of times a week and having a bit of fun and a kick with some mates, it wasn’t really for me,” Russell said.
“I still wanted to test myself at the best level I could.”
It wasn’t just playing that attracted Russell to the VFL. In the latter stages of his career, he became a mentor to younger players at both Carlton and Collingwood.
When his time at the Magpies was up, although he remained hopeful of a third chance in the big time, he knew a career in coaching was his next step.
“I had a gut feeling that it [being re-drafted] wasn’t going to work out so I was preparing myself for the worst but hoping for the best,” Russell said.
“The longer the process went on, the more I realised that it wasn’t going to happen, but I felt like I had a plan B – to get into coaching.”
Russell has become a VFL development coach at the Bulldogs, charged with developing some of the club’s best young talent.
He’s hoping to see a number of the club’s VFL stars fight their way on to AFL lists.
“I have a group of five or six of the young kids I’m just trying to pass on as much of my experience to from certain situations throughout my career,” he said.
“It is up to us to fast-track these younger guys to the point where AFL clubs are hopefully looking at rookie-listing them or drafting them at the end of the year.”
