Dale Thomas of Collingwood marks over Daniel jackson of Richmond during the AFL Round 04 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG, Melbourne. Slattery Images
When Mark Robinson compared Jack Watts and Michael Hurley in his Herald Sun piece this week, perhaps the question he should’ve asked was would the former number one draft pick have developed quicker as a player somewhere else than he has at Melbourne?
The topic of player development is becoming more pertinent in AFL circles these days.
Collingwood’s 2010 premiership success has given great credence to a school of thought that their unrivalled resources in player development has enabled them a leg-up on the rest.
After all, this is a club who’ve turned a long list of rookie-listed players into seasoned AFL stars, such as captain Nick Maxwell along with five others from their 2010 Grand Final team including All-Australian defender Harry O’Brien.
We also shouldn’t forget Dane Swan, arguably their best player, went at pick 58 in 2001. The Pies are clearly doing something right.
Resources certainly play their part in hiring the best people for the job to develop young talent but there’s also cultural elements inside footy clubs which encourage youngsters to get the best out of themselves.
Some clubs don’t seem to have this, and in the past Richmond and Fremantle have been accused of this. We’ve certainly seen a lot of Tigers or Dockers head to other AFL clubs and do well.
It was only last week, Collingwood president Eddie Maguire poked a jibe at Richmond on radio when he said troubled Tigers youngster Troy Taylor would probably end up playing good footy somewhere else if Richmond delisted him.
It was a cheap shot but it points to this whole issue of player development and how some clubs get it right and some don’t.
At the moment, it appears Collingwood are leading the field in getting it right.
Only last week AFL columnist Garry Lyon wrote a piece pointing to the fact Collingwood have a VFL side as being crucial to the club’s ability to develop players into their system.
Lyon also wrote: “It’s no coincidence the two dominant teams of recent years (Collingwood and Geelong who’ve won three of the past four flags) field their own VFL teams.”
Personally I think there is an element of coincidence to that fact, but there’s no denying having those ‘reserves’ teams in the VFL has benefitted both clubs. I think that’s clear when you look at the depth of Collingwood’s list.
As a result, we’ve seen a push from West Australia’s two AFL clubs to introduce ‘reserves’ teams in the WAFL.
There’s also been more recent talk about South Australia’s two AFL clubs doing the same in the SANFL, even if Adelaide coach Neil Craig strangely poured cold water on the idea this week.
In WA, the WAFL clubs aren’t particularly keen on the idea as there’s little in it for them but they are willing to listen to what the AFL clubs have to offer.
If West Coast and Freo – who are two of the financially-stronger AFL clubs – put a significant financial incentive on the table to the WAFL clubs, then who knows?
Collingwood used their financial resources to their benefit in 2008 when they created their ‘reserves’ side in the VFL. Arguably, we’re now seeing the benefit of their investment.
The fact Collingwood have those resources at their disposal disturbs the natural equalisation of a salarp cap in some respects.
They can only spend so much on player wages, but they are spending more on their footy department. The clubs in a weaker financial position don’t have the option to do the same and are falling behind.
So when you hear clubs like Port Adelaide or the Western Bulldogs organising drives to wipe out debt, you begin to realise how uneven the playing field is.
Richmond recently acknowledged this recent trend, with their research stating no club that has been in the bottom four of AFL clubs on football department spending has played in a grand final let alone won a premiership in the past decade.
It’s a modern trend as it’s arguably a way around the salary cap’s (which was introduced in 1987) equalising effects for the financially-stronger clubs.
For what it’s worth Richmond have initiated a fund to eradicate their debt and begin investing in their football department. But they are a long way behind.
So does the AFL leave each club to their devices and let the financially stronger build on their advantage, or is it time for intervention?
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It is time that the tribunal became more simplistic, closed defence loopholes, and became representative of the game that it is trying to serve.
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