I've scanned in this article about Darrou that is in the Melbourne Weekly.
Tiger enjoys purple patch
Ben Darrou works hard to kick off his career in the AFL.
By Daniel Paproth
Melbourne Weekly
January 16, 2012
If you’re looking for a pathway into the AFL, you could do worse than attend Wesley College. In 2011, no fewer than six year 12 students were drafted to AFL clubs through the national and rookie drafts. It’s a record for the school, which won the 2010 Associated Public Schools of Victoria premiership and finished fourth in 2011.
One of those students was Ormond resident Ben Darrou (pictured right), who was drafted to Richmond with pick No. 25 in the rookie draft. Darrou attended the college’s St Kilda Road campus and admits he was late to football, only taking it up in year 7.
“I played tennis and soccer but all my mates were playing footy and I didn’t want to be the odd one out,” he says.
His talent soon became apparent, and he was soon in the under-15 development squad for TAC Cup side Sandringham Dragons.
In 2010 he played bottom-age for the Dragons in the official TAC Cup competition, and last year played representative football for Vic Metro, also fitting in school football.
Darrou says it’s been a whirlwind few years, which culminated in a drought-breaking premiership for Wesley College in 2010.
“We didn’t really have much respect in terms of being a good footy school,” he admits. “But my year level and the year above us were pretty good and as we got older, our firsts became really good and we delivered the first premiership for the college in 31 years.”
Playing TAC Cup football provides a good platform for hopeful draftees, and it wasn’t long before some AFL clubs came knocking at the door.
Darrou was approached by a number of clubs, but the Richmond selection was an 11thhour development.
“They were the last club I spoke to,” he says. “They rang me the Wednesday before the draft and asked if I wanted to check out the club.
“So I went down to Punt Road and they showed me around … that was the only real contact I had with them and now here I am.”
He has been at the Tigers since midDecember and says he is settling in comfortably.
“They’ve been really good, nice people,” he says. “Because the list is so young, the players are good at giving out advice and helping you because it’s not that long ago they were in the same position.”
Darrou says his first AFL pre-season has been a huge step up from TAC Cup and school football. “They go flat out the entire time, concentrating 100 per cent and matching the intensity of a match.
“Then you’ve got all the running and the weights … it’s pretty tough but you get through it.”
Darrou’s first goal is to establish a regular senior spot at Coburg, Richmond’s VFL affiliate.
“I need to be playing good footy and from there we’ll see what happens but I have to give myself the best possible chance by working as hard as I can.”
