The Recruit (TV series)
The Recruit is an Australian rules football reality television series that began airing on Fox8 from 16 July 2014. The winner of the show will be drafted to an Australian Football League club's rookie list via a special draft in September, at the end of each series. They will be listed as Category B rookie the same as an international player or someone who hasn't played for more than 3 years.
The first series was hosted by Ryan Fitzgerald and featured Michael Voss as the head coach. Mick Malthouse replaced Voss as head coach for the second series. Other key members of the program are former Hawthorn player Ben Dixon as Assistant Coach, Leigh Russell as the Elite Performance Manager and Port Adelaide fitness coach Darren Burgess as the High Performance Coach.
Contestants must not have been previously selected to an AFL club list, be over 20 years of age and have not played in a senior state league in the past 2 years.
On 18 September 2014, the series was renewed for a second season. Originally scheduled to air in 2015, it was later announced it would air in 2016 due to multiple factors, one of which being the departure of Voss as coach. On 3 August 2015, it was announced Gary Buckenara would be a scout in the second season, and that Fitzgerald will not return as host. The second season began on 20 July 2016.
Series overview
Season 1
Contestants
The final squad of 13 players was selected from 50 finalists.| Name | Club | State/Country | Position | Comments | Status | References |
| Tasman FC | SA | Forward | Had signed with Central District | Winner, signed with Port Adelaide | , | |
| Aspley AFC | Qld | Ruck/forward | Former captain of the AIS volleyball team | Second place | , | |
| Geelong West St Peters FC | Victoria | Midfield | Third place | , | ||
| WA | Utility | Played basketball for Gillette College | Delisted in episode 9 | |||
| Ireland | Ruck | Introduced in episode 3, Delisted in episode 9. However he was signed by Geelong. | ||||
| Rye Football Club | Victoria | Midfield/forward | 2013 Cheatley Medalist | Delisted in episode 9 | , | |
| Old Xaverians | Victoria | Forward | Delisted in episode 8 | , | ||
| Darley FC | Victoria | Midfield | Delisted in episode 7 | , | ||
| USA | Forward/ruck | Introduced in episode 3 Delisted in episode 6 | , | |||
| Billiluna Community | WA | Ruck/forward | Highly rated 2011 AFL Draft prospect | Delisted in episode 6 | , | |
| Lancelin Ledge Point FC | WA | Centre half-forward/Centre half-back | Previously played for East Perth FC Son and brother of golfers Wayne and Kristie Smith | Delisted in episode 5 | , | |
| South Launceston FC | Tasmania | Midfield | Delisted in episode 4 | , | ||
| Aspley AFC | Queensland | Backline | Delisted in episode 4 | , | ||
| Macquarie University AFC | NSW | Centre half-forward | Delisted in episode 3 | , | ||
| Manly Warringah FC | NSW | Half-forward/midfield | 2013 Phelan Medalist | Delisted in episode 2 | , |
Season 1 episodes (2014)
Season 2
Contestants
The final squad of 15 players was selected from 50 finalists.| Name | Age | Club | League | Hometown | Position | Status | References |
| 26 | Yeronga South Brisbane FC | Queensland FA | Morningside, Queensland | Full forward / ruck | Winner, signed with Brisbane Lions | ||
| 21 | Cable Beach FC | West Kimberley FA | Broome, WA | Midfield / half-forward | Second Place | ||
| 23 | Heidelberg FC | Northern FL | Macleod, Victoria | Centre half-forward | Third Place | ||
| 27 | North Broken Hill FC | Broken Hill FL | Broken Hill, NSW | Midfield | Delisted in Episode 9 | ||
| 24 | Noble Park FC | Eastern FL | Melbourne, Victoria | Half-back | Delisted in Episode 9 | ||
| 23 | East Coast Eagles | Sydney AFL | Quakers Hill, NSW | Midfield / half-back | Delisted in Episode 8 | ||
| 21 | Lindenow FC | East Gippsland FL | Lindenow, Victoria | Midfield / half-forward | Relinquished his position in the competition in Episode 7 | ||
| 26 | Mt Eliza FC | Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL | Nunawading, Victoria | Full forward | Delisted in Episode 6 | ||
| 21 | Rye FC | Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL | Rye, Victoria | Wing / half-forward | Delisted in Episode 5 | ||
| 23 | Saints FC | Newman FL | Newman, WA | Forward | Delisted in Episode 5 | ||
| 21 | Rupertswood FC | Riddell District FL | Melbourne, Victoria | Half-back | Delisted in Episode 5 | ||
| 20 | Balwyn FC | Eastern FL | Balwyn, Victoria | Wing | Delisted in Episode 4 | ||
| 25 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Essendon District FL | Point Cook, Victoria | Midfield | Delisted in Episode 3 | ||
| 22 | Diggers Rest FC | Riddell District FL | Sunbury, Victoria | Half-forward / half-back | Delisted in Episode 2 due to injury | ||
| 22 | Pyramid Hill FC | Loddon Valley FL | Kealba, Victoria | Wing / half-forward | Delisted in Episode 1 |
Season 2 episodes (2016)
Guests
| Guest | Episode |
| Anthony Koutoufides | 1 |
| Brent Harvey | 1 |
| Corey Enright | 1 |
| Dermott Brereton | 1 |
| Dustin Fletcher | 1 |
| Jason Akermanis | 1 |
| Ian Thorpe | 4 |
| Jonathan Brown | 4, 9 |
| Stephanie Rice | 4 |
| Cathy Freeman | 5 |
| Barry Hall | 6, 9 |
| Ryan Fitzgerald | 6 |
| Paul Licuria | 7 |
| David Reynolds | 7 |
| Lauryn Eagle | 8 |
| Shane Warne | 8 |
| Brendan Fevola | 9 |
| Kevin Sheedy | 9 |