2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[The Runner]

Not sure I understand that. What has particularly changed in the last two years? Just the pandemic? And are you categorising Adelaide as a regional town?

The pandemic has had a pretty significant impact on Sydney as a city. A lot of people who were previously in the eastern suburbs moving up to the northern beaches, central coast and further north (Byron property is insane). The idea of needing to be near a CBD has been challenged. Workplaces are becoming ok with people living remotely.
Add on that, for our interstate players, living in Sydney hasn't been what it was previously. It wouldn't be surprising to want to be back in a smaller town.
I was meaning his home town when saying regional. But Adelaide as well - the lower cost of living there, whilst earning a high wage, is probably more appealing now than it was 2 years ago.

[Roadrunner]

There's not much more to be said about the Dawson thing. It's not looking good. We might as well just wait and see what the final outcome will be. It also would seem that Ladhams is coming our way. It may end up being an effective swap of these 2 players. Bad deals happen all the time in AFL. If we had a bit of salary cap space, maybe we could fashion a good one for us one day.

Agreed. However I still think Jordan holds a strong card which he could use- and I hope he does!

[Bangalore Swans]

Its quite amazing the US system. Adults still go to watch their college team and often barrack for them more than an NFL team.

For the players . the flip side of the US system is that if you don't get drafted or make a college team there are virtually no local or minor leagues so in essence you just fall of a cliff to nothing.

Not really. A lot of those guys become great coaches. The greatest NFL coaches be it Bellicheck, Bill Walsh, or Joe Gibbs never played at professional levels. Sean McVeigh the youngest NFL coach at 35 never played. Worked his way up as in coaching jobs.

I would like to see more opportunities in the AFL for non AFL players to coach.

[mcs]

I'm hoping we can get Ladhams for one of our picks in the 30s, so at the very least will end up with an additional first rounder after the dust has settled. Talk that we might take pick 33 as the sweetener from the Crows, which would give us something equivalent to about pick 8. Worst case we might have to bundle two picks in the 30s for something higher e.g. Collingwood's 27 or the Bulldogs 23 to get Ladhams.

Future 1st + 33 for Dawson would be an okay outcome.

Surely given Ladhams is a salary dump we should be offering a 2nd round pick and that's that. If that's not enough, we should walk away and let Port deal with any challenges that may create. He is not worth anything more than that surely.

[Ludwig]

Agreed. However I still think Jordan holds a strong card which he could use- and I hope he does!

That's what I said in a previous post. Jordan holds all the cards in this deal. If he's not willing to break the deal if it's not reasonably fair, then we're screwed. I think Adelaide are banking on that.

Future 1st + 33 for Dawson would be an okay outcome.

Surely given Ladhams is a salary dump we should be offering a 2nd round pick and that's that. If that's not enough, we should walk away and let Port deal with any challenges that may create. He is not worth anything more than that surely.

This option was mooted by Jon Ralph, I believe, and thought it was a reasonable deal under the circumstance and we should take it if it were offered.

I don't think we should take Ladhams for more than a pick in the 30s. It's not worth chasing him.

[KTigers]

While I appreciate your comparison, the situation in US Sports is so different to our situation that its hard to draw a real comparison. Players move to play College Football as you comment. This means in those critical young adult years of 18 to 22 years old they are living in a scholar-athlete lifestyle in dormitory style accomodation. They are exposed to "big time" sports playing to those extraordinary crowds that they get at College Football but are not full-time, professional athletes. If they are good enough, they are drafted into the NFL around age 22 (some go earlier if they are exceptional). The median NFL salary is reported to be around US$850,000 with the minimum at $610,000. So they are much more mature and worldly when drafted and much better paid than our players.

Yes, it is quite different in the US. The players are four, five years older by the time they get to the big leagues. I'm watching the start
of the baseball playoffs at the moment and the commentators are referring to 24 year olds as very young players. In the AFL often
your career is in it's second half by that stage. Top line baseballers can spend years in a professional environment in the minor leagues
playing hundred of games before their first game in the majors. They are men by the time they get to the majors, not boys. It is very easy
for the teams to trade players and there is a lot of trading and everyone knows that coming in. Plus of course the money in US sports
is ridiculous, so they are extremely well compensated.

[Mr Magoo]

Not really. A lot of those guys become great coaches. The greatest NFL coaches be it Bellicheck, Bill Walsh, or Joe Gibbs never played at professional levels. Sean McVeigh the youngest NFL coach at 35 never played. Worked his way up as in coaching jobs.

I would like to see more opportunities in the AFL for non AFL players to coach.

I would hesitate to say "a few" of those guys become coaches if you looked at the percentage numbers rather than "a lot".

I do agree though that we shouldnt always dismiss coaches just because they didnt make AFL level. Sometimes its not a lack of footballing nous that prevents players reaching AFL level.

The problem though is that there are very few pathways and its hard to get the opportunity if you werent "in the system" as a player.

[Thunder Shaker]

While I appreciate your comparison, the situation in US Sports is so different to our situation that its hard to draw a real comparison. Players move to play College Football as you comment. This means in those critical young adult years of 18 to 22 years old they are living in a scholar-athlete lifestyle in dormitory style accomodation. They are exposed to "big time" sports playing to those extraordinary crowds that they get at College Football but are not full-time, professional athletes. If they are good enough, they are drafted into the NFL around age 22 (some go earlier if they are exceptional). The median NFL salary is reported to be around US$850,000 with the minimum at $610,000. So they are much more mature and worldly when drafted and much better paid than our players.

Another factor is the trading and draft system is very different. The players in American sports have little say over where they are playing. In particular, they can be traded to another team without their consent. This kills any "go home" factor, as the team can trade them to a team that could be anywhere.

[The Runner]

Its quite amazing the US system. Adults still go to watch their college team and often barrack for them more than an NFL team.

For the players . the flip side of the US system is that if you don't get drafted or make a college team there are virtually no local or minor leagues so in essence you just fall of a cliff to nothing.

NBA has a G League that is effectively a reserves competition, where they are paid (often by NBA franchises).
College is huge because there are 52 states and only 22 have an NBA and or NFL team. And the cost of attending is astronomical, as well as the college being something they are more affiliated with personally.

[Mark26]

Future 1st + 33 for Dawson would be an okay outcome.

Surely given Ladhams is a salary dump we should be offering a 2nd round pick and that's that. If that's not enough, we should walk away and let Port deal with any challenges that may create. He is not worth anything more than that surely.

Agree with all of this. But will we walk away with those picks from the Crows and resist picking up Ladhams for overs? I'm unconvinced.

[i'm-uninformed2]

That's what I said in a previous post. Jordan holds all the cards in this deal. If he's not willing to break the deal if it's not reasonably fair, then we're screwed. I think Adelaide are banking on that.

This is what it comes down to, and it really is up to him. What makes it worse, is the club seems keen on Ladhams at the right price (for us). His deal potentially unlocks our capacity to do that deal, and have enough left over to still invest in the draft this year and next.

His decision really shapes our fortunes for the next few years.

[Ludwig]

I don't know if I'm missing something, but if no deal is reached for Dawson by Wednesday, things can still be done until the end of October. Picks can still be traded. If an agreement is reached on a pick swap, then Dawson can be delisted and signed by Adelaide as a DFA. If no deal is reached, then Dawson can decide to sign with us or go to the PSD.

It may impinge on a potential Ladhams deal though, since we would have to leave cap space open to potentially re-sign Dawson.

[Bangalore Swans]

Another factor is the trading and draft system is very different. The players in American sports have little say over where they are playing. In particular, they can be traded to another team without their consent. This kills any "go home" factor, as the team can trade them to a team that could be anywhere.

The AFL should implement immediately.

[TheBloods]

I have just had my daughter and grandchildren visit , havent been that emotional since the 05 flag . Stay safe everyone and do the right thing , it is worth it !

[i'm-uninformed2]

Another factor is the trading and draft system is very different. The players in American sports have little say over where they are playing. In particular, they can be traded to another team without their consent. This kills any "go home" factor, as the team can trade them to a team that could be anywhere.

I agree the balance is too far in the players' favour right now, but it all hinges on one thing - a balance of goodwill from the players.

If the above was implemented, the AFLPA would take it to court, and win in a second on grounds of unreasonable restraint of trade. They could probably blow up the draft and a host of other equalisation measures at the same time if they wanted.

A more balanced approach is the one suggested by someone earlier (and apologies for forgetting whom) - players out of contract who want to leave their club and hadn't yet reached free agency go back into the draft. Whether the players would agree to this is another thing, but it's a more subtle approach.