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Ugh. If it should benefit all clubs, then all clubs can put their money in. To be fair, Bulldogs money is basically "all clubs" money anyways so they wouldn't really be paying anything at all. Doggies should be more concerned about how the Magpies are hoarding revenue and taxes rather than what the Swans are doing.
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Did he have his head up his backside when he said that. I didn't understand a word he said. How hypocritical of the flog. How many times has the AFL bailed the Doggies out? I suspect it is an ongoing project. Maybe it is time the AFL said stand on your own feet from now on or fold.
He talks about purity. What about purity in the fixture.Comment
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If there were no Sydney Swans, that is, only the other 3 northern clubs had academies, there wouldn't be an issue. It would be business as usual. The problem is specifically one related to the Swans. The Swans Academy is considerably advanced, including financing, as compared to the other clubs. The AFL encouraged the academies and raised no objection to the Swans investing sizeable resources into their academy. Now suddenly, we have both a successful club on-field along with an academy that's producing some top notch players. Basically, the Swans academy is producing the kind of results the league wanted when they set up academy rules.
So you would think everyone would be cheering. But no. If Heeney went GWS or Brisbane, there wouldn't be a problem. Same as there wouldn't be a problem if Buddy went the Giants. The simple fact is, that the old Victorian establishment are upset that the Swans have managed their recruitment and academy so well that it's actually led to a very successful franchise. No matter that it was all done within the rules that they approved. If it leads to Swans' success, just change the rules.
If wouldn't be so blatantly discriminatory, the AFL would have a special restricted bidding system just for the Swans and leave the rest alone. A special system for how the Swans access local talent, a special system for how the Swans' access F/S recruits and special restrictions on the Swans' ability to trade. Peter Gordon can talk all he wants about Purity. I think the way the Swans' are treated is Pure Bulls@@t (Bulldogs style in this case).Comment
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"The purity of the draft", what a tosser!Comment
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They do. They deepen the talent pool, which therefore benefits all clubs. It's that simple. The academies should mean that the player available at pick 50 is better than what it would have been otherwise.
Additionally, northern states have suffered via losing players to homesickness for years. One of the side benefits of the academies is that this will be ameliorated.Today's a draft of your epitaphComment
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Leon Cameron talking good common sense.
'LEON Cameron has called on the AFL to continue with the present bidding system for father-son and academy recruits, saying the proposed changes were a result of people "jumping at shadows".'
We're jumping at shadows: Cameron on proposed bidding system - AFL.com.auComment
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McGuire has enabled Gordon into a false sense of entitlement. He should stfu and learn about respect.Comment
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And the Suns want a bigger discount than that given to the other three Academy clubs.
"The Suns have broken ranks with the other members of football?s Northern Alliance ? the Lions, Swans and GWS ? arguing they have special needs and need an extra discount."
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan pledges to keep northern academies but changes are still likelyComment
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Good, McLachlan has said academies are staying and more importantly that they will continue under the banner of the four clubs, obviously recognising that kids are drawn to the clubs brand and not to the AFL brand.
That is a very important development in the discussion.
The AFL now need to get the mathematics right to ensure the clubs continue to fund and run the academies. On the metrics we've seen so far, to lose all picks this year and next to get Mills and Dunkley seems too steep.
BTW, a nice article in the SEN Inside Footy paper out today chatting to Josh Dunkley. He comes across as so driven and professional but obviously aware of the politics doesn't mention the Swans. He has a younger brother Kyle.Comment
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He respects Eddie.
Leon Cameron's comments are very much on the mark. Well said from our crosstown cousins (rivals?).
I think the Suns have got it wrong. A bigger discount is not going to add more talent to their system. They can get a 100% discount, but if there's no one to draft, what good is it. What Gold Coast need is more financial support from the AFL. A bigger program covering a wider area will be required to make the GC academy a success, and the AFL should realise this. The GC have territories least likely to attract kids interested in AFL. GC are in the worst situation regarding getting access to talent from both the academy and FS selections, so the AFL can compensate for this by allocating say 1 million dollars a year toward making their academy a highly professional and attractive option for young athletes. Some more money for Brisbane would also help the QLD program.Comment
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Purity of the draft is comprimised by Free Agents compo picks. You have earned a pick according to your ladder position then its pushed further out by compo picks given to teams finishing below you. Tankers get pick 3 for Frawley and everyone else's picks are pushed back, Hawthorn taking Frawley nothing.
And your further out picks might be pushed out by 6 or 7 if a whole heap of Free Agents change clubs. Free Agency is the biggest non level playing field problem in the AFL, F-S and the academies are a secondary problem to that!
Fre agency pushing out picks really hurts those bidding for academy and F-S players because your original picks get diluted in value as the compo picks land.Comment
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Am I the only one on here that understands where Gordon is coming from?
Take the Geelong Falcons for an example of a talent pool that if the Cats had first crack at would definitely damage the integrity of the draft.. (first round picks and F/S)
1994 - Scott Lucas
1995 - Matthew Primus
1996 - Chris Heffernan
1997 - Matthew Scarlett
1999 - Jonathan Brown
2001 - Gary Ablett Jr, Luke Hodge, Jimmy Bartel
2004 - Jordan Lewis
2005 - Shaun Higgins
2006 - Travis Boak
2007 - Patrick Dangerfield
2008 - Ayce Cordy
2009 - Ben Cunnington, Gary Rohan
2010 - Billy Smedts
2011 - Taylor Adams
With all that talent coming off the production line, Geelong would be unstoppable. While we need to create a greater talent pool in the north eastern states, we need to find a compromise. Gordon is willing to give up the talent that is coming the Dogs way, through father and son, to keep the competition on a level playing field, we need to find a way to do the same.C'mon Chels!Comment
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That's just it, that's not the only factor at play here. That is purely from our point of view, but the competition as a whole needs still needs a level playing ground. I know that there are many factors that make that near impossible, but I for one do not want to see a competition dominated by a handful of clubs. And the very fabric of the draft means that the weakest clubs get access to the best talent. Frankly, the acadamies, with the way the system stands at the moment, dilutes that idea. We've done extremely well to not have to bottom out and to maintain an era of success, but if Heeney, Hiscox and Davis become the next Ablett, Hodge and Bartel, as far as talent is concerned, I think we have damaged the competition.
By no means am I saying scrap the acadamies, but I think there is credence in having to offer up a fair price at the draft for talent that we have access to.C'mon Chels!Comment
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