By Adam Cooper
November 24th 2009 @ 3:20am
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This year’s AFL draft a big one for recycling
The 2009 national draft looms as the biggest recycler of AFL talent in a decade given the amount of players looking for new homes and an even draft pool.
A total of 52 players delisted by clubs since the end of the 2009 season have nominated for Thursday night’s draft, where they will cross fingers hoping to earn lifelines.
Former St Kilda captain Luke Ball heads a list which also comprises ex-teammate Matt Maguire and Luke Ablett, a member of Sydney’s 2005 premiership side.
In a draft containing what is considered an even depth of talent among teenagers hoping to start AFL careers, experts believe there could be an increase in recycled players on previous years.
“We’re guessing six or eight (selections) might be ex-AFL players, it might be more,” AFL talent manger Kevin Sheehan told AAP on Monday.
“You work your way through some of the names to see Maguire, Luke Ablett, Luke Ball, there’ll be others there as well.
“It will reflect on the age and potential of some of these guys, they’re young enough to still offer three or four years.”
About 70 players are expected to be drafted, and if eight are from AFL clubs it would make this year the biggest for delisted players since 2000, when seven players found new clubs.
Ball, 25, wants to join Collingwood but might be thwarted by Melbourne or Essendon, who have a combined seven picks before the Magpies’ first selection at No.30.
Collingwood are hopeful Ball’s reluctance to join another club will deter rivals drafting him, but Melbourne football manager Tim Harrington said the Demons were not afraid of selecting him even though the two parties had not spoken.
“Luke, as you well know, has been resistant to all clubs who want to speak to him so far,” Harrington told radio station SEN.
“We just made the decision, well, we know what we’re going to get with Luke Ball.
“We’ve done enough background work to suss out the type of person he is, and what he would bring to Melbourne. We’d be comfortable to call his name out.”
Maguire has been training with Carlton but on Monday met with Hawthorn in a bid to extend a career that has sat on 99 games since early 2008.
“I’ve got to keep my options open and I’d be happy to go anywhere,” Maguire told the Ten Network.
Of the other players looking to continue their AFL careers, former Blue Jake Edwards could become a fourth-generation Bulldog, ex-Brisbane Lions goalsneak Rhan Hooper has been training with Richmond and former Crow Aaron Kite has trained with Carlton.
Fremantle could consider one of Matt Riggio (formerly of North) and Danny Stanley (ex-Collingwood), while another ex-Kangaroo, Jesse Smith, has been training with Hawthorn.
The Hawks are set to select one of five ruckmen delisted by rivals in Cameron Cloke (ex-Carlton), Chris Bryan (ex-Collingwood), Wayde Skipper (ex-Bulldogs), Adam Pattison (ex-Richmond) and John Meesen (ex-Melbourne) to bolster their division of big men.
Meanwhile, Carlton announced an operating profit of $752,442 for 2009, but the Lions recorded an operating loss of $528,207.
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Paul J said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:24am | Report comment
“..but the Lions recorded an operating loss of $528,207.”
How did the Lions post a loss with such healthy crowd figures?
Pippinu said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
With a $10 mill annual player wage bill (and that’s before we get to the salaries of the coaching staff and other support staff and associated costs), it’s not hard to post a half mill loss in AFL footy, even if you’re getting 25,000+ crowds.
About half the clubs post quite decent profits, including Richmond who has only made two finals in 27 seasons, the other half fluctuate around the half mill loss mark, occasionally going into the black, occasionally posting $1 mill+ losses.
Michael C said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
The corporate hospitality sector – back in September they predicted about $500K loss.
Turned out just over $600K.
Last year, they had a technical loss of $2.2 million due to writedown on share values (due the GFC), but, still had cash trading profit of over $100K.
Paul J said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
I think it’s best to keep player salaries as high as possible even if it contributes to clubs going into the red. The AFL can help any club who needs it and the players are happier making the code healthier.
Michael C said | November 24th 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
How many recycled players will be put on the mature age rookie lists.