U18 Div 2 Championships

[1PR]

It will be made worse by the fact Norf is involved as well, with that whining President of theirs, who while not quite at the 'Eddie level' of painfulness, he will take every opportunity to whine about it.

Could there be a bidding war between North and the Swans for Blakey if he continues his Heeney Academy form? Are draftees permitted to be offered longer contracts than the initial two years?

[Boddo]

Could there be a bidding war between North and the Swans for Blakey if he continues his Heeney Academy form? Are draftees permitted to be offered longer contracts than the initial two years?

From my understanding his decision will be known at the beginning of next year because if plays for the academy next year he has no choice but be picked up by Sydney in the draft. If he's not in the academy at the beginning of next year he's either a lion, at norf or is entering the draft.

[Meg]

From my understanding his decision will be known at the beginning of next year because if plays for the academy next year he has no choice but be picked up by Sydney in the draft. If he's not in the academy at the beginning of next year he's either a lion, at norf or is entering the draft.

Boddo, just for clarification:

Is it your understanding that if a player is in an academy during the season leading up to the draft at which he nominates, that the academy has first draft priority rights (subject to the other draft rules re academy picks)?

However if a player has been through an academy in earlier years, but not in the year of his draft eligibility, the academy has no priority rights?

(The draft booklet is frustratingly vague, simply referring to 'draft-eligible academy players.)

[Boddo]

Boddo, just for clarification:

Is it your understanding that if a player is in an academy during the season leading up to the draft at which he nominates, that the academy has first draft priority rights (subject to the other draft rules re academy picks)?

However if a player has been through an academy in earlier years, but not in the year of his draft eligibility, the academy has no priority rights?

(The draft booklet is frustratingly vague, simply referring to 'draft-eligible academy players.)

Point 1 - yep correct so for Blakey or Scott must be in the academy at the beginning of 2018 & then Sydney & GC will have first rights to both.

Point 2- all the years must be continuous. So both those respective players must have been registered and participating in their academy programs continuously, It was 5 years but may have been changed to 3 like the NGA's have but I have not read anywhere that it has been changed. It's why Rogers would not be eligible for Sydney to match a bid on him due to not spending enough years in the academy.

[Boddo]

I will also add we have the rediculous situation where Blakey is eligible under the F/S for Brisbane even though he has not put 1 minute of development/training at the club and Brisbane Bears & Fitzroy did not merge. Fitzroy still play in the Victorian amateurs, the Bears just took over Fitzroys records & just rebranded themselves the Lions with a jumper change.

[Meg]

U18 Div 2 Championships

Point 1 - yep correct so for Blakey or Scott must be in the academy at the beginning of 2018 & then Sydney & GC will have first rights to both.

Point 2- all the years must be continuous. So both those respective players must have been registered and participating in their academy programs continuously, It was 5 years but may have been changed to 3 like the NGA's have but I have not read anywhere that it has been changed. It's why Rogers would not be eligible for Sydney to match a bid on him due to not spending enough years in the academy.

Thanks Boddo, very helpful, I've been trying to find that info. for some time.

The academy draft qualifying period was 5 years in the rules dated May 2016. I haven't seen an update of the rules publication (so perhaps it will be released next month) but wouldn't expect the 5-years to be relaxed. Hence another example of easier qualification for NGA priority drafting.

"a Club may include a Club Academy Player on its Primary List or Rookie List if he has been domiciled in the Club?s Academy Region for a period of 5 continuous years immediately prior to attaining draft eligibility age, unless otherwise approved by the AFL (with further words re bidding etc.)

[Boddo]

Thanks Boddo, very helpful, I've been trying to find that info. for some time.

The academy draft qualifying period was 5 years in the rules dated May 2016. I haven't seen an update of the rules publication (so perhaps it will be released next month) but wouldn't expect the 5-years to be relaxed. Hence another example of easier qualification for NGA priority drafting.

"a Club may include a Club Academy Player on its Primary List or Rookie List if he has been domiciled in the Club?s Academy Region for a period of 5 continuous years immediately prior to attaining draft eligibility age, unless otherwise approved by the AFL (with further words re bidding etc.)

Exactly!! You hear n read all the jumping up n down about the northern academies but when you look closely at it all its all so imbalanced. Nothing getting said about Carltons NGA product who is possible 1st round draft pick this year in Penrith. Aboriginal player who did not have any pathway problems n grew up around a footy exactly like Thomas from tassie but not one mention of him in exactly those arguments against GWS Riverina academy products. Hypocrisy at its best!!!

http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/19072469/knightmare-afl-draft-wrap-ethan-penrith-making-strides

[1PR]

Are there academy structures in place to keep Heeney and Blakey level kids at the academy if one of the parents gets an overseas or interstate work posting during the final two seasons of an academy career?

[Meg]

I will also add we have the rediculous situation where Blakey is eligible under the F/S for Brisbane even though he has not put 1 minute of development/training at the club and Brisbane Bears & Fitzroy did not merge. Fitzroy still play in the Victorian amateurs, the Bears just took over Fitzroys records & just rebranded themselves the Lions with a jumper change.

I think Brisbane will say they spent development time (about one day) with Blakey. They clearly are keeping him (and other F/S prospects) in mind.

This is from Jan. 2017:

?We?re really excited to have the boys up, especially given their strong connections with the Brisbane Lions, Bears and Fitzroy,?.

?They?ll train with our Academy squad and spend some time around the Club, we?ll track their progress over the next year or so and see how they progress and develop from there.?

The sons of some serious guns - lions.com.au

[Boddo]

I think Brisbane will say they spent development time (about one day) with Blakey. They clearly are keeping him (and other F/S prospects) in mind.

This is from Jan. 2017:

?We?re really excited to have the boys up, especially given their strong connections with the Brisbane Lions, Bears and Fitzroy,?.

?They?ll train with our Academy squad and spend some time around the Club, we?ll track their progress over the next year or so and see how they progress and develop from there.?

The sons of some serious guns - lions.com.au

Their connection is like a lot of things you hear in the AFL a fabrication. I believe to be eligible for F/S the player should have 3 years of continuous mentoring/training with the club not just a one day tour of a facility.

[Boddo]

I think Brisbane will say they spent development time (about one day) with Blakey. They clearly are keeping him (and other F/S prospects) in mind.

This is from Jan. 2017:

?We?re really excited to have the boys up, especially given their strong connections with the Brisbane Lions, Bears and Fitzroy,?.

?They?ll train with our Academy squad and spend some time around the Club, we?ll track their progress over the next year or so and see how they progress and develop from there.?

The sons of some serious guns - lions.com.au

Do you know of Sydney having F/S days like this?

[Meg]

Do you know of Sydney having F/S days like this?

I don't - others may know more. I don't know if the Swans have ever had a group of potential draft F/S coming through together.

North Melbourne certainly do have these sort of sessions plus a F/S academy (as do Carlton and possibly other clubs).

From July 2016:

?Both Blakey and Scott, along with Joel Crocker (son of Darren) are in our Father-Son program, which is run by Mark Finnigan and formerly Brady Rawlings,? North National Recruiting Manager Bryce Lewis told AFL.com.au.

?As they get older, the AFL rules permit you having more access to them. Football commitments and school commitments permitting, we?d be looking to get them in to do more with them at the club, similar to the National Academy kids who spend a week or two at AFL clubs.

?To think that those two boys (Scott + Blakey) could possibly be playing for North Melbourne in 18 months is very exciting.?

Sons of guns - NMFC.com.au

A lot of competing pressures on a young man!

[Meg]

Further to the F/S draft rules - I don't support the existence of this rule because of the sheer random luck of it. (However I am not a vocal opponent as it only leads to arguments about the Swans' academy.)

This is an interesting article along those lines from July 2016.

Is the AFL father-son rule fair Moore Silvagni Sons of guns

[Boddo]

Further to the F/S draft rules - I don't support the existence of this rule because of the sheer random luck of it. (However I am not a vocal opponent as it only leads to arguments about the Swans' academy.)

This is an interesting article along those lines from July 2016.

Is the AFL father-son rule fair Moore Silvagni Sons of guns

I must admit I like the F/S but don't like the 100 game qualification. I'd like to see it as 66 or 88, 3 or 4 full seasons. Also coaches sons should qualify after 132 or 172 games coached, premiership players sons, and if a player has captained the club for a season as I think the premiership or captaining the club is part of the clubs history. But I'd like to see it all tied to how academy is bid on n they should have to spend 3 seasons getting trained or mentored from the club at regular intervals during the year. It's utterly rediculous that a player may not have even stepped foot in the club but that club is eligible to have rights for them.

[Boddo]

Oh and I'd add your are eligible to what rules you were born under. Same as academy but under the rules you signed up to the academy under. It's a very bad and unprofessional situation when you sign these 12 year old kids up to a program and at the last minute you change the rules.