Matt Ryan
Years ago
Joe Ingles was approached by AFL team in 2010
COURTESY OF ADELAIDE NOW
Richmond approached Boomers star Joe Ingles about making a shock switch from basketball to AFL.
The Tigers confirmed they targeted the 203cm powerhouse among several other basketballers in Damien Hardwick's first year as coach in 2010.
"Damien had a chat and kick with him to see if he was interested," football chief Craig Cameron said.
Although the club's adventurous recruiting plot went no further, friends are convinced the 24-year-old has the ability to make a seamless transition to the AFL.
A keen footballer as a junior, Ingles's athleticism will next month help spearhead the country's Olympic medal hopes in London.
Former South Melbourne Dragons owner Mark Cowan, who is on a sub-committee at Richmond, helped alert the club to Ingles's talent. Cowan likened his football potential to West Coast sensation Nic Naitanui.
"I've got no doubt he could do it (swap to AFL) because it is the way he moves," Cowan said.
"You can see he's got the turn of pace, the explosiveness and speed, and obviously at 203cm he's got the vertical leap side of things covered.
"I've had an occasional kick with him. He's a left footer and he's a very accurate and penetrating kick. He can kick 50 metres. The closest player to him in the AFL at the moment is Nic Naitanui."
The 2007 NBL rookie of the year - who is totally focused on basketball heading into his second Olympics - said the football club's interest in him was short-lived.
"I was about to go to Europe at the time and start that (so) it died off pretty quickly," Ingles said.
AFL players with basketball backgrounds include Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury, Melbourne's Jack Watts and North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.
Ingles is contracted to play another season for Regal FC Barcelona after becoming only the second Australian to win the 2012 Spanish league championship this month.
