From humble beginnings to AFL State of Origin; how Toby Greene, Jack Sinclair and Nathan Broad rose through the ranks

Greene earned a football scholarship at Wesley College.

“I went in year 7. One of my good family friends looked after me. I probably didn’t deserve one (a scholarship), but he gave me one. I think I’ve paid him back.”

Sinclair flew under the radar as a teenager.

“I sort of struggled a bit. I never played for Victoria at any junior level. I didn’t get drafted when I was 18, so probably for a few years there, footy wasn’t looking likely. I was probably more focused on cricket, to be honest. I didn’t think footy was going to happen.”

Greene was also overlooked for representative squads as a teenager.

Loading

“I always thought guys who were making those teams, I thought I was better than, but I never got the opportunity, really, until year 12. So it all came very quickly. Some might have said that it wasn’t a chance for me to play AFL, but I always thought I was good enough.”

Broad did not consider himself an AFL talent as a teenager.

“Oh, geez, never, to be honest. I never made any young junior squads or anything like that. I was from the country. I played a lot of reserves footy for Swan Districts. I was fortunate in 2014 I had a really good season as a 22-year-old in the WAFL. And as the year went on, I got some interest. But even then, only two or three clubs, so to go in the national draft (No.67) was an extreme shock.”

Sinclair was invited to go back to Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup as a 19-year-old.

“I was full-time at uni, doing a Bachelor Of Business, so I had a lot of time to devote to sort of improve my footy and get a bit more up to the level, like, physically. Then I got an opportunity as 23rd man (for Port Melbourne in the VFL) to play against the Box Hill Hawks. I had some really good moments, and I thought, ‘yeah, maybe I’m a bit of a chance after that’.”

Greene knew he was going interstate in the 2011 national draft to either Brisbane, Port Adelaide or GWS.

“I was probably a tiny bit flat. I wanted to go to ‘Brissie’ at the time because I didn’t know what the Giants were. Simon Black and Jonathan Brown were at the Lions, and I grew up with them winning three flags in a row. But as soon as I got into my time at the Giants and met everyone and got to know all the boys in Sydney, I’ve loved it.”

St Kilda took Sinclair as No.1 pick in the 2015 rookie draft.

“I was home by myself, all the family was at work. I think it was like a Monday morning or something – both my sisters were out, and Mum and my stepdad, and at that time the rookie draft was streamed online. There was no broadcast or anything. Essentially, it just said ‘it’s starting at this time’, and my name popped up straight away. It caught me by a bit of surprise, I suppose. It was special, but I was home by myself so it was a bit weird in a way.”

Broad said he was determined to make the most of his chances at Richmond.

“I was at Crown Casino for the draft. My parents are separated, so we had a mutual place to watch it. I wasn’t really expecting to be picked, I was just watching for friends, to be honest. We were walking off, and I heard my name and turned around, and, yeah, absolute shock. Then you just want to put your head down, bum up, and do everything that the club asks for, and that’s all I did. When my opportunity arose, I grabbed it with both hands. I think I played my first two games (in 2016), then got dropped after that. I went back to VFL level and played a lot of VFL football and got back in 2017 and grabbed my chance again. And that was it. History.”

Sinclair, 31, felt daunted when he first set foot in St Kilda.

“I was a rookie on a one-year deal, walking in with guys like Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna. So, yeah, it was very daunting. I probably didn’t think I’d be still hanging around and playing some footy at this age.”

Greene, 32, played his first game against Sydney in round 1, 2012.

“It was a great day. Well, no, we lost by 10 goals. But it was good fun. It was awesome. More just excitement, running on adrenaline, and [my] friends and family came. I remember there was a good crew that came up to watch and a fair party afterwards, I think, as well.”

Sinclair made his debut for the Saints in Round 1, 2014, against GWS.

“I was a sub. One of the boys got injured, did his hammy, and was put on the long-term injury list. And then I got upgraded to the senior list as a rookie, which gave me the opportunity to play. I came on late in the third [quarter], played all right, but we lost by about eight points. I missed a shot late, which would have made the game a lot more interesting. But yeah, it was amazing. A lot of reward for effort.”

Garry Lyon called Greene in November to ask him to wear the Big V.

“I was thrilled, really pumped. I was probably touch and go to play for a while (hip/glute soreness), so I was trying to do everything I could to get up, and I’m here now, so I can’t wait. Hopefully [we] give WA a little touch-up.”

Sinclair, 31, said it was a special moment to be told he was playing State Of Origin?

“I spoke to Joel Selwood, and then Garry Lyon, chatted to both of them. They just sort of said, ‘You’ve earned it. You love what you do.’ I’ve never represented the state at any level for footy. So, yeah, I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”

Broad suspected the opportunity to play State Of Origin had passed him by.

“It was a shock. Obviously, I’m 33 this year, so I’m not getting younger. So it was a shock when Joel Selwood called, and I answered the phone, and he said I was in the team. I couldn’t believe it to start with, but yeah, super-stoked to be here with some amazing people, amazing athletes, and coaches.”

Loading

Sinclair keeps reminding himself of the reason he started playing footy.

“Just don’t lose sight of the enjoyment. I probably did for a few years.”

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.