By JARROD POTTER
ALTHOUGH he didn’t win The Recruit, or even finish in the top 13, the experience itself was life-changing for Luke Cody.
Cody, 21, from Narre Warren South, was part of FOX8’s program to unearth Australian rules football talent outside of the traditional pathways.
Having never played VFL football or any other top tier state league – instead choosing to play with Noble Park in the Eastern Football League – Cody was eligible to try out for the reality TV show and excelled through the initial trials to make the final 50.
He made it to the final 20 before being eliminated from the show, but found the experience to be life-changing.
“I made it to the final cut before the house so I was pretty shattered, but I can’t complain as I got a lot further than other people in Australia,” Cody said.
“It shows if you put your mind to it and go for something you want.”
“When I found out I was accepted into the top 50 I started working pretty hard and was doing gym every night as soon as I got home, strict diet and now it’s got me into a good routine and now I’m living a healthier lifestyle.”
He admits before going on the show his routine was lacklustre and his training schedule was not enough – and endured the brutish challenge of a six-kilometre run from Etihad Stadium to the MCG carrying a besser block
Former Brisbane player and coach Michael Voss is the head coach on The Recruit and told Cody to bulk up because he had the skill to make it to the top tier league, but not the necessary size.
“I was only there for the one week (on The Recruit) but you learn so much and if you put your mind to it you can get further,” Cody said.
“It just shows I wasn’t working hard enough but I work my arse off now to get my body right for the show and try to get drafted and, like Vossy said, I wasn’t big enough yet so wasn’t big enough and coming from Vossy it just makes me want to get bigger and better.
“That’s why I get up at 5.15am every morning now and go to the gym before work just because I want to get bigger and get to that next level.”
Cody said the show had changed his outlook on life and he’s now looking at his options for playing in the VFL next year and hopes he can sign up for The Recruit again in 2015.
He encouraged anyone who wanted a chance to be drafted to sign up because it was a unique opportunity.
“If you love your footy and think you want to play AFL or want to play AFL, go for it and sign up,” Cody said.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there will be guys out there regretting that they didn’t sign up so they should give it a go next year.”
The Recruit airs on FOXTEL’s FOX8 channel on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm.
