For some players missing out on the Vic Metro squad for the national championships can be the end of the line, for Western Jets’ Oskar Ainsworth it was what led to him being on the AFL draft radar.
Ainsworth was one of the big improvers in the back part of the Coates Talent League season after a move forward.
He would eventually find himself playing for Vic Metro along with being invited to the AFL draft combine.
Come later this week, he could find himself on an AFL list.
“If you had said this time last year that I would be having meetings with however many clubs and having been at the combine, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said.
“I’m happy with my progress and everything that has happened.
“I’ve put my best foot forward and could not be happier.”
For Ainsworth, the biggest thing in his development was just focusing on football.
Having been a handy basketballer, Ainsworth just focused on football this year.
“I was a big basketballer,” he said. “Last year I made the Jets as a bottom age while still playing basketball.
“This year I just straight focused on footy.
“I did a pre-season at VFL [Victorian Football League] as well. I got a lot more experience and a lot more of the footy in my hands.
“The learning and growth come rapidly and peaked this year.”
Ainsworth said the decision to just focus on the football had been the right one and he was happy that he made it.
The footy season started a bit slowly for Ainsworth as he found his feet.
“I was open to coming into the season and play whatever role,” he said. “That was mid-half back and I worked on my size and fitness over the pre-season to help out Tom and Tom [Burton and McGuane].
“I trialed for metro and it didn’t go my way and I missed the original squad.”
Ainsworth then sat down with his manager and his Jets coach Christian Stagliano about what would be best for his game going forward.
A move back to the forward line where he played last year was the decision.
“It was best for me and the chemistry of the team,” he said.
“I got back to playing my best footy and got all these opportunities at the end.”
Ainsworth’s form was so good that he was selected for the final couple of games of the national carnival, with selectors saying his form meant that he couldn’t be overlooked.
Looking back, he said missing the original metro squad was the best thing for him.
“It was the goal at the start of the year,” Ainsworth said. “I made 17s metro last year.
“What separates me is that I went even harder.”
Ainsworth was also rewarded with an invite to the national draft combine.
He said he had to double check that it was the national combine he was invited to, not the state one as he didn’t believe it.
“It was he best boys in the age group,” he said. “Meeting them was another amazing experience along with talking to clubs at the MCG.
Ainsworth has spoken to 11 or 12 clubs in the lead up to the draft.
He said he’d done everything he could now and it was now a nervous wait until the drafts.
While Ainsworth would be happy to go to any club, there’s one in particular where he would love to land.
“My grandfather [Geoff Ainsworth] captained Geelong in the 1970s,” he said.
“I’m Geelong mad.
“If I got selected by them, you would have to pinch me.”
