Page 43 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

BATTY BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON A TALENTED CAREER
State Talent Manager, Bob Batty, is calling it quits after more than two decades with the AFL.
Batty decided to retire 26 years after first joining the AFL as a promotions manager in Victoria.
In 13 years in Victoria, Bob left an indelible
mark, helping to grow the popularity of footy in regional Victoria, and establishing a league for intellectually disabled footballers, which continues today.
Bob was the regional manager in charge of the Oakleigh Chargers from 1995, overseeing their creation and inclusion in the TAC Cup.
Under his leadership, Batty saw a number of prospective draftees go through the TAC Cup system, including Brisbane Lions triple premiership player, Luke Power.
Bob rates Power as the best player he has been involved with over his career.
Batty moved up to Queensland in 2001, becoming the game development manager, overseeing the growth of the game throughout the state, before moving into a role as the AFL Operations Manager, acting as the liaison between clubs and AFLQ.
His extensive experience in football led to his secondment as football logistics manager for GC17, now the Gold Coast SUNS, in their establishment.
Since 2009, Bob has been the AFLQ State Talent Manager, identifying and developing the next crop of Queensland AFL players.
A former accountant, Bob said he felt blessed to be able to work in a sport he loves for so long and the code in Queensland has been pretty lucky to have him.
Bob rated the top 10 Queensland players he has seen since he came to Queensland, as well as three to watch.
BOB’S TOP 10 QUEENSLAND PLAYERS 2001-2013
1 DAYNE BEAMS COLLINGWOOD VERY SKILFUL AND HAS AN X-FACTOR
2 DAVID HALE HAWTHORN A DOMINANT BIG MAN WITH A GREAT RECORD IN BIG GAMES. HAS HAD AMAZING LONGEVITY.
3 DANIEL MERRETT BRISBANE IN THE BEST 2-3 KEY DEFENDERS IN THE COMPETITION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS
4 KURT TIPPETT SYDNEY SWANS THE BEST POWER FORWARD FROM QUEENSLAND AFTER NICK RIEWOLDT
5 BRENDAN WHITECROSS HAWTHORN
VERY SKILFUL AND VERSATILE UTILITY WHO HAS OVERCOME SOME BAD INJURIES
6 MICHAEL OSBORNE HAWTHORN GREAT RESILIENCE AND A PROVEN COMPETITOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
7 COURTENAY DEMPSEY ESSENDON AN EXPLOSIVE AND SKILFUL RUNNING DEFENDER WITH SILKY SKILLS
8 ZAC SMITH GOLD COAST GREAT WORK ETHIC AND BALL HANDLING SKILLS BELOW HIS KNEES ARE EXCEPTIONAL
9 DAVID ARMITAGE ST KILDA HIS ATTACK ON THE FOOTY IS SECOND TO NONE
10 DAYNE ZORKO BRISBANE NOT ONLY FOR HIS SPEED AND GOAL SENSE, BUT FOR HIS PERSEVERANCE AND BELIEF
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THE NEXT BIG THING
Andrew Boston (Gold Coast)
Josh Thomas (Collingwood)
Lachlan Weller (Broadbeach)
BOB BATTY