# The Recruit (Australian TV series)

The Recruit is an Australian rules football reality television series that aired on Fox8 from 16 July 2014 to 21 September 2016.
The winner of the show was drafted to an Australian Football League (AFL) club's rookie list via a special draft in September at the end of each series. They were listed as a Category B rookie (i.e. the same as an international player or someone who had not played for more than three 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 two 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 was 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 (although he did return as host for the live finale). The second and final season began on 20 July 2016.

## Series overview

| Season | Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Originally aired |
| Season | Season | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale |
| | 1 | 10 | 16 July 2014 (2014-07-16) | 17 September 2014 (2014-09-17) |
| | 2 | 10 | 20 July 2016 (2016-07-20) | 21 September 2016 (2016-09-21) |

## Season 1
### Contestants

The final squad of 13 players was selected from 50 contestants.
| Name | Club | State/Country | Position | Comments | Status | References |
| Johann Wagner | Tasman FC | SA | Forward | Had signed with Central District | Winner, signed with Port Adelaide | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Bradie Foster | Aspley AFC | Qld | Ruck/forward | Former captain of the AIS volleyball team | Runner-Up | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Chris Moreland | Geelong West St Peters FC | Victoria | Midfield | | Delisted in Episode 10 | The Recruit, Geelong Advertiser |
| Reece Maxwell | | WA | Utility | Played basketball for Gillette College | Delisted in episode 9 | The Recruit |
| Padraig Lucey | | Ireland | Ruck | | Introduced in episode 3, Delisted in episode 9. However he was signed by Geelong. | The Recruit |
| Ryan Semmel | Rye Football Club | Victoria | Midfield/forward | 2013 Cheatley Medalist | Delisted in episode 9 | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Brendan Goss | Old Xaverians | Victoria | Forward | | Delisted in episode 8 | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Nathan Jackel | Darley FC | Victoria | Midfield | | Delisted in episode 7 | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Mark Cisco | | USA | Forward/ruck | | Introduced in episode 3 Delisted in episode 6 | The Recruit, US combine |
| Waylon Manson | Billiluna Community | WA | Ruck/forward | Highly rated 2011 AFL Draft prospect | Delisted in episode 6 | The Recruit, WAFL |
| Ryan Smith | 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 | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Daniel Johncock | South Launceston FC | Tasmania | Midfield | | Delisted in episode 4 | The Recruit, |
| Michael Hutchinson | Aspley AFC | Queensland | Backline | | Delisted in episode 4 | The Recruit, AFL draft profile |
| James Brackin | Macquarie University AFC | NSW | Centre half-forward | | Delisted in episode 3 | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |
| Tyrone Armitage | Manly Warringah FC | NSW | Half-forward/midfield | 2013 Phelan Medalist | Delisted in episode 2 | The Recruit, Fox Sports Pulse |

### Season 1 episodes (2014)

| No. | Title | Original air Date | Overnight Australian viewers |
| 1 | "The Cut" | 16 July 2014 (2014-07-16) | 119,000 |
| 2 | "Drop Zone" | 23 July 2014 (2014-07-23) | 94,000 |
| 3 | "Leap of Faith" | 30 July 2014 (2014-07-30) | 88,000 |
| 4 | "Child's Play" | 6 August 2014 (2014-08-06) | 105,000 |
| 5 | "Survival of the Fittest" | 13 August 2014 (2014-08-13) | 123,000 |
| 6 | "Stranded at Sea" | 20 August 2014 (2014-08-20) | 130,000 |
| 7 | "Follow the Leader" | 27 August 2014 (2014-08-27) | 88,000 |
| 8 | "Recruits at War" | 3 September 2014 (2014-09-03) | 119,000 |
| 9 | "Swimming with the Sharks" | 10 September 2014 (2014-09-10) | 133,000 |
| 10 | "The Draft" | 17 September 2014 (2014-09-17) | 162,000 |

## Season 2
### Contestants

The final squad of 15 players was selected from 50 contestants.
| Name | Age | Club | League | Hometown | Position | Status | References |
| Matt Eagles | 26 | Yeronga South Brisbane FC | Queensland FA | Morningside, Queensland | Full forward / ruck | Winner, signed with Brisbane Lions | The Recruit |
| Daniel Cox | 21 | Cable Beach FC | West Kimberley FA | Broome, WA | Midfield / half-forward | Runner-Up | The Recruit |
| Jordan Treloar | 23 | Heidelberg FC | Northern FL | Macleod, Victoria | Centre half-forward | Delisted in Episode 10 | The Recruit |
| Jayden Kelly | 27 | North Broken Hill FC | Broken Hill FL | Broken Hill, NSW | Midfield | Delisted in Episode 9 | The Recruit |
| Jackson Sketcher | 24 | Noble Park FC | Eastern FL | Melbourne, Victoria | Half-back | Delisted in Episode 9 | The Recruit |
| Jack Dimery | 23 | East Coast Eagles | Sydney AFL | Quakers Hill, NSW | Midfield / half-back | Delisted in Episode 8 | The Recruit |
| Darren Allen | 21 | Lindenow FC | East Gippsland FL | Lindenow, Victoria | Midfield / half-forward | Relinquished his position in the competition in Episode 7 | The Recruit |
| Justin Van Unen | 26 | Mt Eliza FC | Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL | Nunawading, Victoria | Full forward | Delisted in Episode 6 | The Recruit |
| Brady Egan | 21 | Rye FC | Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL | Rye, Victoria | Wing / half-forward | Delisted in Episode 5 | The Recruit |
| Dillan Jones | 23 | Saints FC | Newman FL | Newman, WA | Forward | Delisted in Episode 5 | The Recruit |
| Rhett Coots | 21 | Rupertswood FC | Riddell District FL | Melbourne, Victoria | Half-back | Delisted in Episode 5 | The Recruit |
| Jeconiah "Jay Jay" Peni | 20 | Balwyn FC | Eastern FL | Balwyn, Victoria | Wing | Delisted in Episode 4 | The Recruit |
| Shylo Smith | 25 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Essendon District FL | Point Cook, Victoria | Midfield | Delisted in Episode 3 | The Recruit |
| Jason Williams | 22 | Diggers Rest FC | Riddell District FL | Sunbury, Victoria | Half-forward / half-back | Delisted in Episode 2 due to injury | The Recruit |
| Fabian Brancatisano | 22 | Pyramid Hill FC | Loddon Valley FL | Kealba, Victoria | Wing / half-forward | Delisted in Episode 1 | The Recruit |

### Season 2 episodes (2016)

| No. | Title | Captain's challenge | Captain's challenge winner | Original air date | Australian viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Run around The Tan and kayak the Yarra River | Rhett Coots | 20 July 2016 (2016-07-20) | 118,000 |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Abseil down the wall of the Gordon Dam in Tasmania | Jay Jay Peni | 27 July 2016 (2016-07-27) | 106,000 |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Run a football clinic for children in Darwin, Northern Territory | Darren Allen | 3 August 2016 (2016-08-03) | 102,000 |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Walking a tightrope across Etihad Stadium with a football to drop on a target | Jack Dimery | 10 August 2016 (2016-08-10) | 97,000 |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Discus, long jump and relay race with Little Athletics children | Matt Eagles | 17 August 2016 (2016-08-17) | 75,000 |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Race through a tough obstacle course | Jayden Kelly | 24 August 2016 (2016-08-24) | 95,000 |
| 7 | "Episode 7" | V8 Supercar tyre change | Matt Eagles | 31 August 2016 (2016-08-31) | 76,000 |
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Helicopter water escape | Jackson Sketcher | 7 September 2016 (2016-09-07) | 78,000 |
| 9 | "Episode 9" | Holding a 10 kg football above head | Matt Eagles | 14 September 2016 (2016-09-14) | 86,000 |
| 10 | "Final - Live draft" | N/A | N/A | 21 September 2016 (2016-09-21) | 150,000 |

### 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 |