AFL (non-Swans) off-season moves - 2022 edition

[The Big Cat]

That's what the 'one day wonder' recent Essendon CEO did, interviewed a heap of aspiring CEO's then took the job himself.

I keep saying it, we follow a wonderful club!

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Jon Ralph sticking it to the VFL on this in his Sliding Doors column today

Damien Barrett?

[wolftone57]

This is an excellent post and raises many of the concerns about the current draft/salary cap/trade situation that I also have had for some time.

Many respected people in the industry argued at the time of the introduction of free agency, that it would heavily favour a few big clubs over the rest and that is exactly what has transpired. In demand players have much more power than ever before and they are increasingly using it! The AFL is scared of legal challenges based on restraint of trade so they will not abolish it now.

However, our system can be improved to somewhat restore equalisation. I see the three major problems being:
1. An imbalance of players coming from just one State, 60% from Victoria on average.
2. Developing clubs being at a competitive disadvantage in non-AFL States.
3. Salary caps undermined by deals outside of the Cap.

1. This is the hardest to overcome and requires continued investment in, and support for, Academies, junior development and retention allowances.
2. Similar solutions to 1. Brisbane and the Swans seem fairly settled now so its GWS and the Suns that need the most help in terms of player retention. We needed that help in the 90s and got it.
3. Much more stringent enforcement of the Cap by significantly investing in surveillance of clubs and player payments. Forensic accountants could use their magic to uncover rorts and side deals. There appears to be systematic rorting of the Cap going on by some Clubs . It needs to be identified and punished. The AFL knows what each player is paid under the official Cap. Those players who clearly are being under-paid relative to their market worth are where the investigators should start. Look at bank records, tax returns, property titles etc. Players will need to agree in their contracts that they are subject to these investigations just like a bank makes you sign a waiver for it to investigate you before lending money to you. Close relatives, girlfriends etc also need to be investigated although that's a little harder legally. I would also toughen up the rules on marketing deals, especially where club sponsors are involved. A lot of rorting going on there too!

I agree totally. There is a total rort and the big Vic clubs are using all of the loopholes big time. But the AFL has not got the will to do anything about it. If you look at the clubs who are most prevelent in the rorts, think top 7 Vic clubs, then you see those clubs have the most power in the AFL. Why have they been able to strengthen their hand at the expense of GWS & GCS? Because they just use those clubs as feeder clubs. Those two clubs develop the player and the top Vic clubs get them as soon as they come out of contract. Already match ready and stars or potential stars.

The AFL could not give a @@@@e.? As long as GWS & GCS don't fold. But the problem is they are eventually going to fold. Because they just feed the other clubs, their chances of winning a premiership are slim. GWS got to the GF but we all know what happened. This year was a repeat of a Sydney club in that position. I think the AFL has been run, much like all political parties, on short term thinking. Short term solutions to long term problems. There is not a real equalisation plan. There is a plan that they introduced then stuffed by next year introducing Free Agency. That has killed equalisation completely.

The salary cap situation needs an investigation by a team, not one, of Forensic Accountants. I think what some of the clubs are doing might actually be in breach of the Trade Practices Act as well. For instance, if an industry is controlled by a cadre to the detriment of the other players in the industry, that is illegal. In other words they have created an uneven playing field. ICAC might want to know about this.

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[Ludwig]

I watched segments of the last few hours of Trade Radio on Wednesday. The thing I found most annoying was the continual justification and sentiment for the 'go home' factor. Especially true for Steve Silvani, but Matty Lloyd was also doing his part. This is followed up by even more commentary and articles written which are sympathetic to players wanting to go home and the strong pull of family. I can't think of a single condemnation of the practice; only some calls for making it harder to leave, like longer contracts for draftees, which just sets up the colonized club to invest more resources in a player who will still leave.

I will add another suggestion to the ones already posted on finding a solution to the player retention problem at expansion clubs, and in general for addressing the go home factor.

If you leave your club crying 'I want to go home to my mummy' or something similar, you should have to wear a patch on your jumper for the rest of your career which identifies you as a mummy's boy. Maybe something like this:

[707]

Damien Barrett?

I stand corrected, they all sound the same to me!

[KSAS]

You know the Saints will go for Ross Lyon or Beveridge, because their lunatic losers.

Heard Grant Thomas on SEN yesterday endorsing both these coaches as his desired replacement, as well as James Hird.

[Captain]

Ross Lyon would actually be pretty good for the Saints.

[liz]

Heard Grant Thomas on SEN yesterday endorsing both these coaches as his desired replacement, as well as James Hird.

How can Beveridge be the replacement? Does he not already have a job?

[KSAS]

To put into context, Grant was expressing his high admiration of Beveridge and he would be perfect for Saints if gettable. Lyon & Hird are of course available.

[i'm-uninformed2]

How can Beveridge be the replacement? Does he not already have a job?

Ross Lyon had a job when he went to Fremantle.

[KSAS]

Heard on Ch 7 news last night that Harley remains on the short list for Gill's replacement along with Gale and former Swan Simon Garlic (Bulldogs CEO) has now also entered the fray.

[liz]

Ross Lyon had a job when he went to Fremantle.

Timing was different. Circumstances were different.

[KTigers]

I note that Ratten was previously an Assistant Coach at Hawthorn prior to joining the Saints. I wonder if the sacking has anything to do with his time at the Hawks with reference to the current investigation involving that Club? Purely speculation of course.

Yep, that's what I was thinking. To fire him just three months after he got a new contract. Something is amiss.

[707]

Ross Lyon had a job when he went to Fremantle.

Not quite correct, he was OOC and the Saints board was slow in getting a new contract to him.

Meanwhile Freo swooped and two years later could have won the flag, except for the woeful kicking for goal of Nat Fyfe

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Heard on Ch 7 news last night that Harley remains on the short list for Gill's replacement along with Gale and former Swan Simon Garlic (Bulldogs CEO) has now also entered the fray.

Harley has too much integrity to be head of the VFL.

[Kafka's Ghost]

Disqualify. You obviously did not read the @@@@e about him from the Banking Royal Commission. Robbing, yes stealing, money from bank customers in the form of fees that didn't exist or were illegal. He could very easily have landed in gaol. Probably should have.? He created one of the biggest financial scams in the history of banking. All at the expense of NAB customers.

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Agree. Can’t see how someone with this corporate baggage could possibly have been considered appropriate for the job. His assistant also defrauded the bank of some millions of dollars as well, so his oversight was as appalling as his ethics. Have also thought he should have gone to goal, but I’m a disgruntled NAB customer.


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[Bloods05]

Harley has too much integrity to be head of the VFL.

I would have thought so too....but he did apply for it.