By AAP
November 7th 2009 @ 3:55am
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Malthouse calls on AFL to resist free agency push
The AFL’s longest-serving coach, Mick Malthouse, says player calls for free agency should be resisted for the sake of maintaining an even competition.
The Collingwood coach says giving senior players the chance to join the team of their choice risked creating a league dominated by a select few clubs.
“If we had free agency, would we start to get back to what we were in the ’60s and ’70s where four clubs dominated the competition because they had the money and all the clout?” Malthouse asked on the AFL website.
“Unfortunately, I’ve got to say that will take place.”
The AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA) has been campaigning for a limited form of free agency and says it has almost unanimous backing from the players.
The association wants players with seven years of service to be able to move to the club of their choice.
The AFLPA used St Kilda midfielder Luke Ball’s failure to get his wish to join Collingwood in October’s trade period to help justify their push.
But Malthouse said the fact that 23 other players had managed to switch clubs indicated it was not needed, urging AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson to “hold firm”.
“This year has been an extraordinary year in player movement,” Malthouse said.
“So free agency, in effect, can be almost put on the backburner because of the sheer numbers that have changed clubs.
“I’m at the end of my career, but I want to see this game develop and be the greatest game. The only fear I have is a two-tiered system which could develop from a free agency factor.”
The AFLPA has argued that the salary cap and a limit on the size of clubs’ player lists will ensure the evenness of the competition is not jeopardised.
Malthouse, who will enter his 26th season as an AFL coach in 2010, added there were aspects of trade week he did not like, saying it “brings out the worst in people”.
“Unfortunately I’ve been involved in it from the word go. I’ve never seen it change,” he said.
“There are too many suspicions, too many undertone whisperings … everyone wants a $10 player and only wants to give $5 up.”
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John Ryan said | November 7th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
I always thought they abolished slavery even well paid slaves are slaves,I wish some one would take it to the High Court,that would settle a lot of arguments
bever fever said | November 7th 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
I think slavery is far to mild a term JR, it really is inhumane how professional footballers are treated.
At any rate going to court never really seems to settle a lot of these problems, they are best left to the players union and management to sort out …. you would agree with that wouldn’t you John ? .
Justin said | November 7th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
I’ll be a slave! Blokes get paid small fortunes to play sport…
BigAl said | November 8th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Would you include prostitutes in that ?
John Ryan said | November 7th 2009 @ 5:44pm | Report comment
Well if you want to live your life as a sheep,be told where to play, what team, what state, in the real world if your working for a company and another offers you more money you would refuse it because you have to ask permission to leave,come off it you would be out the door the next day.
If its good for you why not AFL footballers
bever fever said | November 7th 2009 @ 7:25pm | Report comment
Perhaps you are too young to remember when just a few teams had all the money, so JR are you against the salary cap and the draft … 2 of the most equalising factors that in reality give everyone a fair go…… socalist as it may be.
Justin said | November 8th 2009 @ 3:06am | Report comment
It aint the real world!
I’ll cop where I am told to live and who to play for for 5-10 years at 300k plus a year. Set for life and thats not good enough? Bloody hell…
Richard said | November 7th 2009 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
I agree with Malthouse. Look what’s happened to the English Premier League, where basically Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal dominate the competition because basically that’s where the cash is. Disappointed as I am that Luke Ball probably won’t get through to the ‘Pies, I think the even competition is a much better way to go for AFL, competing as it is against world games. Just protect us from tanking.
Freud of Football said | November 8th 2009 @ 5:25am | Report comment
It’s wrong to suggest that free-agency will create “super” clubs, the AFL has a salary cap, look at Essendon around the turn of the century, they had a ridiculously talented line-up but struggled to keep them due to the cap while Brisbane were in the same boat a few years later and they had players taking pay-cuts to stay on and win more flags.
I can’t see a bunch of the best players all taking pay-cuts to play at any particular club.
BigAl said | November 8th 2009 @ 7:38am | Report comment
A ‘qualifying’ free agency for players is inevitable and the AFL had better get one sorted(with the AFLPA) before the current arrangements get tested in a court of law – with the distinct possibility of . . . all hell breaking loose !
Combined with the draft & salary cap, I can’t see how it would be ‘ruinous’ to the competition.
Pippinu said | November 8th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
It’s an interesting philosophical question.
If there was no draft and salary cap and complete free agency, and Collingwood generated twice the support and dollars as most other clubs – would they continue to be useless on the field?
BigAl said | November 8th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Pip – shame ! As a Saints supporter I am not afraid to admit that Collingwood are a mighty team & club !
– always in the finals, great bunch of supporters etc. … they just can’t win premierships !
You and I would understand this.
Pippinu said | November 8th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Big Al
There ain’t too much for me to skite about is there!!
Ben Somerford said | November 8th 2009 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
That’s the thing Pip, Collingwood are in the business of selling memberships not winning premierships.