Schammer, Hasleby pitch online footy venture

Former Fremantle football stars Byron Schammer and Paul Hasleby have teamed up to launch what they hope will be the AFL equivalent of Facebook.

A company linked to the pair has established the domain name myfootyhub.com.au and embarked on a soft launch to gather interest in the website they claim will connect lovers of the game and could also play a role in player recruitment.

“It’s a social platform for the wider football community from fans to junior footballers, physios, trainers, directors, anyone.” said Mr Schammer, who was drafted at just 17 and played nine years for Fremantle before starting in a career as an investment advisor in private wealth at Bell Potter Securities.

“Whether a physio is looking for a club to get a start and get some work experience, or whether a fan is there to interact with players… it’s a place for anyone involved in football to interact online”

Mr Schammer and Mr Hasleby developed the idea last year as the coaches of Old Collegians and South Fremantle respectively.

“We both needed to get players mid-way through last year… and we realised there was a gap in the marketplace for this service and this site,” said Mr Schammer.

The founders intend to provide an efficient tool for recruiters, who currently find it difficult to contact and verify the history of potential players, particularly at smaller clubs.

To encourage interest in the site, the two have engaged in a major social media campaign, offering a series of prizes, including a competition opening today offering two tickets to the AFL Grand Final.

Mr Hasleby, whose career was ended by a knee injury in 2008, was the winner of the AFL’s Rising Star award in 2000.