Greedy, deceptive and manipulative.
Whether it’s the legacy of some isolated but very public indiscretions, the frustration of a club at war over a contract or the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, the perception of player agents is rarely complimentary.
Beyond negotiating a player’s contract, little is known about the role an agent plays. But as AFL stars Patrick Dangerfield, Luke Hodge, Nic Naitanui and Dion Prestia attest, behind every great footballer, is a great agent.
The Agents, follows three prominent accredited player agents over a 12-month period as they deal with the many challenges confronting their clients.
From injury, personal tragedy and the anxiety of the draft and trade periods, through to premiership and individual glory, The Agents provides a fascinating insight into Australia’s most popular domestic sport through a very unique lens.
There are 84 Accredited Player Agents, whose sole purpose is to help the 1000 plus AFL and AFLW players navigate their way through what is an increasingly complex AFL environment. This is their story.
Meet the cast:
Melissa Oberhofer
Rising stars, premierships, Brownlow and Coleman medals — Melissa Oberhofer has witnessed the highs in her 10 years in the AFL industry. Injuries, form slumps, sackings and retirements — she’s also seen the game at its most brutal. An accredited plater agent at Connors Sports Management, Melissa has helped some of the game’s biggest stars achieve their best on and off the field.
Andrew McDougall
Drafted in the first round, traded and then delisted, Andrew McDougall lived footballs biggest challenges in 43 games across eight injury-riddled seasons. As an Accredited Player Agent with Corporate Sports, he is now guiding some of the league’s young guns through their transition from raw teenagers to professional athletes. Based in Western Australia, many of McDougall’s charges rely on his advice as they pack up their lives to follow their dreams on the other side of the country.
Marty Pask
Sacked twice in the space of 12 months, Marty Pask knows how fickle an existence an AFL career can be. He only managed eight games at the top level, but Pask used his experience in the elite system and state leagues to develop the next phase of his life. The founder and managing director at i50 Sports Management, Pask’s stable includes AFL captains, Brownlow medallists and elite cricketers.