2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[707]

And all the other clubs can select the 10 kids from the Academies. Other than the northern clubs, has any other club ever selected a kid from one of the northern academies?

Yes, Richmond has a pair of Brisbane academy players, quite a number of GWS academy have ended up being selectede elsewhere, but of course none of the higher picks which are always matched.

[Auntie.Gerald]

interesting comments from Clarko

"people say just go to the draft to rebuild...........thats difficult because the draft is so compromised........so you need to use other mechanisms......rookie lists....free agency etc"

afl website interview

[mcs]

interesting comments from Clarko

"people say just go to the draft to rebuild...........thats difficult because the draft is so compromised........so you need to use other mechanisms......rookie lists....free agency etc"

afl website interview

Yawn.... wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that his draft record is pretty ordinary in terms of picking young players with the exception of the period where they hoovered up first round draft picks at the high end and got a few big calls right....

[liz]

Yawn.... wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that his draft record is pretty ordinary in terms of picking young players with the exception of the period where they hoovered up first round draft picks at the high end and got a few big calls right....

Their first round success was largely limited to 2004, the year they drafted Roughead, Franklin and Lewis (though they also picked Hodge in 2001 with the first pick). In the two drafts immediately following 2004, they had pick 6 in each year and used them on Beau Dowler (who had been in a bad car accident shortly before the draft) and Mitch Thorpe.

Though in 2005 they did make a good pick at 14 (Birchall) and also drafted Max Bailey at 18 - he was a decent ruckman but was cut down by successive knee injuries.

I reckon Clarkson's comments just make him look really silly. Even if you believe it's "unfair" that clubs have priority access to players from certain regions, those players still represent a small portion of the draft pool (and may not even exist as draft prospects if the mechanisms that deliver priority access didn't exist).

[Thunder Shaker]

Either Clarkson learns how to draft his own players for a change instead of poaching players from the other clubs in the AFL, or he's going to have to endure a few years of bottom-four finishes before being shown the door. A bottom-four club is not a "destination club" and he's going to have to rebuild his list the hard way.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i thought clarko was making two clear points during the week.......

a draft system that is unfair - as above not a draft in place that is based around a system of equality

a draft that is compromised - that he perceives that there is greater value investing in web approach rather then a mono go to the draft? ie he thinks he can use draft picks more effectively in some cases then guessing on some young talent

he didnt complain about the Hawks having the most players taken from an AFL club via Free Agency

[Ludwig]

I understand the point about the draft being compromised, but it doesn't indicate a degradation of the draft, but rather a bit of favouritism, some of it justified, some not. So the draft gets reshuffled in favour of some that may not be deserving.

• The Northern Academies priority picks tries to rectify an imbalance in the system that disadvantages the non-traditional aussie rules states. It's really not a compromise, but rather lessens the compromise of the AFL system that favours Victorian, SA and WA clubs.
• I'm not in favour of FS priorities. This disfavours GWS and GC, who haven't been around long enough to qualify for this compromise. But it seems that most of the power brokers in the AFL, and probably most of the fans like this compromise, so it goes on.
• The 3rd compromise, the NGA, is a poorly thought out gimmick to placate the whingers about the Northern Academies. Instead of recognising and addressing the disadvantages the northern clubs have to endure, like losing players to the go home factors, and having salary cap issues due to having to pay players more than they would in Victoria, the AFL have come up with this nutty thing that further compromises the draft.

Yes, the draft is compromised, but I don't think the WB will be complaining, given they will get the prize this year. Collingwood also have a gift in Reef McInness, so maybe we won't hear from Eddie this year. Even Hawthorn has one, I believe.

When there's a year like this one, where there are so many of these priority selections, the ones left out feel had done by. I'm sympathetic to some degree, but it's probably many of the those that caused the compromise that are complaining about it now.

The AFL wanted to expand into the lucrative markets of NSW and Queensland, so let them deal with the realities of fielding competitive teams in these markets. I thought all the existing clubs were in favour of this expansion, so why not just let it happen instead of clawing back concessions that are needed to accomplish what they set out to do.

[bennyfabulous]

I want De Kooning from Carlton. He looks awesome.

Absolutely. Should be the only Carlton player involved in any Papley trade talks.

[Markwebbos]

I understand the point about the draft being compromised, but it doesn't indicate a degradation of the draft, but rather a bit of favouritism, some of it justified, some not. So the draft gets reshuffled in favour of some that may not be deserving.

• The Northern Academies priority picks tries to rectify an imbalance in the system that disadvantages the non-traditional aussie rules states. It's really not a compromise, but rather lessens the compromise of the AFL system that favours Victorian, SA and WA clubs.
• I'm not in favour of FS priorities. This disfavours GWS and GC, who haven't been around long enough to qualify for this compromise. But it seems that most of the power brokers in the AFL, and probably most of the fans like this compromise, so it goes on.
• The 3rd compromise, the NGA, is a poorly thought out gimmick to placate the whingers about the Northern Academies. Instead of recognising and addressing the disadvantages the northern clubs have to endure, like losing players to the go home factors, and having salary cap issues due to having to pay players more than they would in Victoria, the AFL have come up with this nutty thing that further compromises the draft.

Yes, the draft is compromised, but I don't think the WB will be complaining, given they will get the prize this year. Collingwood also have a gift in Reef McInness, so maybe we won't hear from Eddie this year. Even Hawthorn has one, I believe.

When there's a year like this one, where there are so many of these priority selections, the ones left out feel had done by. I'm sympathetic to some degree, but it's probably many of the those that caused the compromise that are complaining about it now.

The AFL wanted to expand into the lucrative markets of NSW and Queensland, so let them deal with the realities of fielding competitive teams in these markets. I thought all the existing clubs were in favour of this expansion, so why not just let it happen instead of clawing back concessions that are needed to accomplish what they set out to do.

I find it interesting that you see the Academies as equalisation tools rather than pure talent pathways.

The AFL could do in Sydney what I believe it plans to do in Victoria, which is take over the running of the academies from the clubs. In that case, Sydney wouldn't have invested in the academy players, the AFL would, so we wouldn't have any ownership over them.

In the interim I can see a push to remove the discounts coming in the very near future.

[Ludwig]

I find it interesting that you see the Academies as equalisation tools rather than pure talent pathways.

The academies are equilisation tools via the provision of talent pathways in the northern states.

[Markwebbos]

The academies are equilisation tools via the provision of talent pathways in the northern states.

I guess that was my question. If you deny the northern clubs priority access to local talent, but you still bring in more talent from NSW and QLD, is that still going to work as equalisation? Or in the short term, is it also necessary to give us first refusal on Swans academy players?

[Legs Akimbo]

I'm guessing Clarkson didn't talk about father son...

[Nico]

interesting comments from Clarko

"people say just go to the draft to rebuild...........thats difficult because the draft is so compromised........so you need to use other mechanisms......rookie lists....free agency etc"

afl website interview

They will have a go at Daniher.

[Nico]

I guess that was my question. If you deny the northern clubs priority access to local talent, but you still bring in more talent from NSW and QLD, is that still going to work as equalisation? Or in the short term, is it also necessary to give us first refusal on Swans academy players?

Lets not forget that having academies in the northern states is designed to promote the game in the northern states. Take away the ability of boys being able to play in their own state and interest drops off quickly. The more home grown boys the less chances that parasites like Clarkson will have to pick off players at the end of their contracts.

[Markwebbos]

Lets not forget that having academies in the northern states is designed to promote the game in the northern states. Take away the ability of boys being able to play in their own state and interest drops off quickly. The more home grown boys the less chances that parasites like Clarkson will have to pick off players at the end of their contracts.

I'm imagining two options: Version 1 is the present one where clubs run the academies and have priority access to the players they produce. Version 2 is one where the AFL runs the academies and the clubs therefore have no priority access, but you still get more talent coming through. Do people have a problem with the second version?