2024 List Management

[Roadrunner]

I like your thinking deja but for your comment on Wicks. I think he belongs in the ressies with an occasional game to cover for injuries as he’s simply not what we need. Of course it would be great to have another forward like Paps but if that’s not available or possible, then at least let’s pick someone with more upside. One of our problems in the GF was that both our main forward weapons in Paps and Isaac (due to his injury no doubt) were covered and neither Errol or Chad really got into the game as they would usually. In fact none of our forwards played anywhere near to their ability! My point being, we really need another class forward capable of turning a game and though this may take time to unearth and develop a young player, we will never have this with Wicks. I respect what he can bring to the position he plays but he simply wouldn’t get into a top 4 side- mid table maybe. So why persevere?

[UUaswan]

I like your thinking deja but for your comment on Wicks. I think he belongs in the ressies with an occasional game to cover for injuries as he’s simply not what we need. Of course it would be great to have another forward like Paps but if that’s not available or possible, then at least let’s pick someone with more upside. One of our problems in the GF was that both our main forward weapons in Paps and Isaac (due to his injury no doubt) were covered and neither Errol or Chad really got into the game as they would usually. In fact none of our forwards played anywhere near to their ability! My point being, we really need another class forward capable of turning a game and though this may take time to unearth and develop a young player, we will never have this with Wicks. I respect what he can bring to the position he plays but he simply wouldn’t get into a top 4 side- mid table maybe. So why persevere?

Fwds were down, Mids were demolished

Even having Buddy up fwd matters little when a Midfield gets destroyed

[Roadrunner]

It’s hard to understand how our mids could be demolished like they were- even though I thought Rowie tried hard and never gave up.

[dejavoodoo44]

It’s hard to understand how our mids could be demolished like they were- even though I thought Rowie tried hard and never gave up.

I suspect that if I watched the replay, I could form some sort of opinion on that, but I haven't been able to bring myself to even cue it up. Although, I haven't deleted the recording, so I suppose I vaguely intend to have a look at it sometime?

[rb4x]

I see Joel Hamling has nominated for the draft but I can not see Aaron Francis. I understand that we have committed to take both in the rookie draft if not taken by another club but how do we take Francis if he did not nominate.

[UUaswan]

I see Joel Hamling has nominated for the draft but I can not see Aaron Francis. I understand that we have committed to take both in the rookie draft if not taken by another club but how do we take Francis if he did not nominate.

Who cares

Francis would be just ok as the 3rd defender, always comes in as 1or 2 defender, not upto it

I'll let Hamling walk, cant get a game kicking goals in 2s and can't get a game as a defender, why is he there ?

[liz]

I'll let Hamling walk, cant get a game kicking goals in 2s and can't get a game as a defender, why is he there ?

Because we gave him a two year contract. Reneging on a contract isn't going to help our cause attracting free agents in the future.

Personally I'd have let Francis go, if we needed to clear a list spot. He didn't have a contract for next season. Hamling would then have been cover for a tall defender going down, and maybe Hamling could actually play in the backline at VFL level (with Francis gone) so he was ready to go if needed.

[dejavoodoo44]

I see Joel Hamling has nominated for the draft but I can not see Aaron Francis. I understand that we have committed to take both in the rookie draft if not taken by another club but how do we take Francis if he did not nominate.

Yes, I noticed that and thought it was a bit strange, but I don't have a sensible answer for your question.

[UUaswan]

Because we gave him a two year contract. Reneging on a contract isn't going to help our cause attracting free agents in the future.

Personally I'd have let Francis go, if we needed to clear a list spot. He didn't have a contract for next season. Hamling would then have been cover for a tall defender going down, and maybe Hamling could actually play in the backline at VFL level (with Francis gone) so he was ready to go if needed.

The decent ones we attract will get a game

it's not reneging, it's the writing on the wall
May as well give him a 10yr deal, who cares if he can't get game


Play Snell, see if he is upto it, move both Francis and Hamling on.
Not in the 22 at 30, why waste another year

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Because we gave him a two year contract. Reneging on a contract isn't going to help our cause attracting free agents in the future.

Both valid points, perhaps someone will take him off our hands.

Hamling would then have been cover for a tall defender going down, and maybe Hamling could actually play in the backline at VFL level (with Francis gone) so he was ready to go if needed.

The acquisition and usage of Hamling is a puzzle. It's almost as if there's a miscommunication between the ressies coaching staff and the recruiters. I'm going to assume that it isn't that, then there's something we don't know, which explains his strange deployment.

Francis showed what he had at the Bombers, and has pretty much just done the same at the Swans. So yes his retention, even as a rookie is weired. One persons "insurance" is another's "list clogger."

[dejavoodoo44]

The AFL site has put out this explainer of all the current draft rules. It answers any possible procedural question that you might have on the upcoming draft.

AFL Draft explainer: Everything you need to know - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1253636

Unfortunately for us, it does explain how more difficult it will be to take multiple academy players in a single draft. Coming in next year, the discount will be reduced from 20% to 10%, less picks will have points attached, lower picks will have comparatively less points value and there will be a reduction in the number of points that a club can go into deficit.

It's possible that we'll see how much of a problem that could be in next year's draft. Currently we have three players, Carmichael, Chamberlain and King, who are potentially first rounders. While it's probably unlikely that all three will thrive enough next season to be high picks, it's still quite easy to see a situation, where we only take one or two of that group, because we're unable to match all the bids.

Though some people wouldn't be overly concerned about that, because there's a thought that the ones that got away, could be lured back through the go home factor. Which is possible, but it's obviously a safer proposition to have the players on our list straight away.

[Blood Fever]

The AFL site has put out this explainer of all the current draft rules. It answers any possible procedural question that you might have on the upcoming draft.

AFL Draft explainer: Everything you need to know - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1253636

Unfortunately for us, it does explain how more difficult it will be to take multiple academy players in a single draft. Coming in next year, the discount will be reduced from 20% to 10%, less picks will have points attached, lower picks will have comparatively less points value and there will be a reduction in the number of points that a club can go into deficit.

It's possible that we'll see how much of a problem that could be in next year's draft. Currently we have three players, Carmichael, Chamberlain and King, who are potentially first rounders. While it's probably unlikely that all three will thrive enough next season to be high picks, it's still quite easy to see a situation, where we only take one or two of that group, because we're unable to match all the bids.

Though some people wouldn't be overly concerned about that, because there's a thought that the ones that got away, could be lured back through the go home factor. Which is possible, but it's obviously a safer proposition to have the players on our list straight away.

Thanks for this clarification

[KSAS]

It's possible that we'll see how much of a problem that could be in next year's draft. Currently we have three players, Carmichael, Chamberlain and King, who are potentially first rounders. While it's probably unlikely that all three will thrive enough next season to be high picks, it's still quite easy to see a situation, where we only take one or two of that group, because we're unable to match all the bids.

Though some people wouldn't be overly concerned about that, because there's a thought that the ones that got away, could be lured back through the go home factor. Which is possible, but it's obviously a safer proposition to have the players on our list straight away.

Is it possible for one of these 3 Academy player to hold off their nomination till the 2026 draft if they know we'll be most unlikely able to match their bid?

This is of course assuming the player is willing to sit out a year rather than playing elsewhere, plus it may also depend on any other Academy players coming through in 2026. So it's not straightforward (i may've answered my own question!)

Edit; I just realised a big flaw with the above scenario, is that if the player sits out a year he is no longer an Academy player (i.e. playing in the VFL), therefore open to be drafted without us having the lever to match bid.

[dejavoodoo44]

Is it possible for one of these 3 Academy player to hold off their nomination till the 2026 draft if they know we'll be most unlikely able to match their bid?

This is of course assuming the player is willing to sit out a year rather than playing elsewhere, plus it may also depend on any other Academy players coming through in 2026. So it's not straightforward (i may've answered my own question!)

Edit; I just realised a big flaw with the above scenario, is that if the player sits out a year he is no longer an Academy player (i.e. playing in the VFL), therefore open to be drafted without us having the lever to match bid.

I haven't really thought of that, but I suspect that you've answered your own question well.

And on the 2026 draft, we currently have a couple of very promising prospects in Aidan McCartney and Mason McGroder. I say currently, because McCartney is the son of Jason McCartney, and therefore might choose North as a F/S. While McGroder is an elite athlete, who if he opts for athletics rather than AFL, would probably make the Olympic team in either long jump or 400m. We also have a number of others who could easily improve enough over the next couple of seasons.

[KSAS]

Seems unfair F/S and Northern Academy players are bound by the same draft rulings, considering one is a lucky freebie from an established AFL pathway & the other is a club investment where no AFL pathways exist (don't get me started on the NGAs!).