St Kilda’s Leigh Montagna and Simon Black of the Brisbane Lions contest the ball during the AFL Indigenous Round 09 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Brisbane Lions at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images
There’s been a lot of discussion in the AFL world about the idea of a mid-season draft. Alistair Clarkson and Michael Voss have both voiced their willingness for such a concept, and Jason Akermanis wrote a piece supporting the idea in the Herald Sun in June.
The AFL have already acknowledged they are looking into the idea and are considering certain models to make it work, which suggests the concept of a mid-season draft is supported in the footy community.
But, with the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) pushing for free agency by 2012, perhaps what Australian rules needs is not only a mid-season draft, but also a mid-season trading period.
For instance, whereby a mid-season draft allows clubs to sign players from state competitions, a trade period would allow AFL players to move from one AFL club to another in the middle of the year.
And there are many reasons for players and clubs to support such a concept as AFL footy moves into ‘the new world of free agency’.
Starting with players, the perfect example of someone who may enjoy such an idea is St Kilda’s Matt Maguire.
Maguire, selected by the Saints at pick 21 in the 2001 AFL Draft, infamously broke his leg in two places in a horrific incident in late 2006.
Since then Maguire has experienced a number of leg and foot problems which have frustratingly thwarted his attempts to comeback at AFL level.
This year though, the 25-year-old defender has been able to return to fitness and push for a senior run with St Kilda. But with the Saints’ 2009 success, Maguire hasn’t been able to break into the 22.
Considering the limited career span for AFL footballers, it would be naïve to think someone like Maguire, despite his good nature, wouldn’t be irritated and frustrated by the situation.
But a mid-season trade period would allow someone like Maguire, who has spent the last three years battling injuries, to seek a new opportunity elsewhere while he can, especially considering several clubs are reportedly interested in his services should he be available at the end of the season.
And a move may not be Maguire’s only interest in the introduction of a potential trade period. A trade period would also place pressure on clubs to keep their players happy and keep morale up, otherwise risk players leaving. A good way for clubs to address that, is to give players a chance in the seniors.
But this argument isn’t based purely on Matt Maguire. There are other good cases such as Richmond pair Mark Coughlan and Nathan Brown who’ve spent years on the sidelines battling injuries, while there’s been others in years gone by from top teams such as ex-Geelong pair Tim Callan and Brent Prismall who are both at new clubs nowadays.
Coughlan though, in particular, has battled knee, groin and hamstring injuries for years but finally in 2009 has found fitness only for new Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings to claim he is surplus to requirements.
It seems unfair, that one man’s opinion means the 27-year-old Richmond midfielder’s career is on hold yet again.
Indeed, under the current rules, AFL players are ridiculously disempowered as employers and a mid-season trade period may restore, or develop, some room for players (and agents) to bargain.
But all the points above are in the interests of the players and something the AFLPA might pursue, so it may seem difficult to fathom why the clubs might want this concept.
But after the recent claim by AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale that ‘free agency is inevitable’ and with the admission by the AFL that they were working on a model for free agency which could be implemented by 2012, the clubs need to prepare for change.
And the idea of a mid-season trade period is a change which would benefit clubs in the world of free agency.
Essentially, what free agency means is players are not bound to any club once their contract with a team expires, therefore allowing them to dictate their own futures and potentially leave a club without compensation.
But with the introduction of a mid-season trade period, clubs may be able to avoid losing players without compensation.
By that I mean, currently AFL players are signed to contracts on a yearly basis whereby the deal expires after a regular season. With free agency these players would be able to leave a club when their contract is up at the end of a season without compensation in the form of trades or draft picks.
But with a mid-season trade period, players would typically be under contract in the middle of the season. Therefore clubs could put players on the market whilst they are contracted in order to receive compensation for a player before they become a ‘free agent’ at the season’s end.
Indeed, there would need to be some work done on how to determine compensation in the shape of draft picks, as the specific selections wouldn’t be allocated at that stage, but clubs could potentially trade for players, a certain round-pick (ie. 2nd round pick or 3th round pick) or even money which may interest some of the less financially-secure clubs.
There would also need to be some adjustments made to the salary cap for the second-half of a season, but that is inevitable with a mid-season draft anyway.
Nevertheless, it seems free agency is going to arrive in the AFL, despite past resistance, and preparations need to be made.
Richmond veteran Matthew Richardson recently said on FM radio station Vega, “I think that free agency should come in, definitely.
“People say they’re worried that all the big stars would leave clubs and move clubs, but over the history of the game not a lot of the real big names have actually moved clubs.
“Most players would like to be one-club players, but there is going to be circumstances where free agency would be very, very good, so I’d support it.”
Indeed, Richardson is right. While free agency is about giving AFL players some power in their occupation, the modern Australian rules culture exists whereby leaving a club is frowned upon as disloyal and players probably won’t jump from club-to-club with its immediate introduction.
But what ideas like free agency and mid-season trade periods do, is empower players and in certain circumstances (ie. Maguire, Coughlan, Callan, Prismall) enable them to find new opportunities and further their limited professional careers as a footballer.
The fact of the matter is the players are the AFL’s key asset, so they need to look after them and free agency does that. The clubs need to realize free agency is coming and in doing that, they need to prepare to make changes to enable themselves to cope with its effects.
One of those ideal changes would be a mid-season trade period.
Redb
Roar Guru
Mushi, Not 100% sure i understand your question. "5 day move across the country?" There has been an increasing number of draft picks staying in their home state or being swapped to allow players to remain in their home state. Some kids don;'t care where they play like Harry O'Brien from WA but went to Collingwood, others like Josh Kennedy prefer to play at a home state club (WA). Kennedy was offered up by Carlton to facilitate the move of Judd back to Victoria. No system is perfect and fits all circumstances. Redb
Mushi
Guest
Yes RedB both sides have to agree, so why put in place something which is going to alienate players who are forced to do a 5 day move across the country? To do so aren't you going to have to offer something up?
Michael C
Guest
Mushi - the irony is the current system is in no small part DUE to players who went to court during the 80s, Paul Morwood and Silvio Foschini. The system ain't perfect - there's always an element of uneasy truce about it. However, the main factor in allowing it to survive on such a basis is the lack of a 3rd party - - - i.e. such as a superleague is to the NRL player/club relationship.
Redb
Roar Guru
Mid season trades along with free agency all sound good in theory but create other problems. I don't like mid season trades, most AFL fans hate players changing jumpers mid season - club loyalty is an intangible that should not be forsaken becuase a couple of coaches like the idea. Free agency is being looked at 2012, it will hardly be the new model to replace the draft,etc. My understanding is there maybe some form of free agency but it will be the exception not the rule. For clarity, the salary cap and draft are only a restraint of trade if all parties don't agree. The AFLPA know the benefits outweight the costs for their players. Interestingly, draft picks, particularly the number 1 or 2 picks have really started to grab the attention of fans - in the past players were notable for being Brownlow medalists or Premiership players, having the title of a 'Number 1 draft pick' plays well with the marketers and is good for the individual players in terms of off field income. Redb
Gibbo
Guest
in addition to my post above, forcing players into the draft if they opt out of their current club just fits so well with the socialist structure of the comp. Top up the bottom ranked teams. Players like Maguire aren't clamouring for 1st team football due to career progressions, like in futbol. And i'd reckon he's sitting pretty, keeping himself fit & healthy for an opportunity toward the pointy end of the season.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
sheek I think most AFL fans would agree with you (although, equally, we would accept that a coach is a different species again). Mushi the AFL system has survived remarkably well for over two decades now (with minor tinkering). Maybe we shouldn't be surprised recalling that they basically pinched the whole idea from the NFL - who have a similar position to the AFL in the US (but on a much, much bigger scale of course). The NRL has competition for players in the UK, and that makes thinks a bit more complicated for them. In the AFL, we now have a situation where every pimply 15 year old kid in the country understands that to be an AFL footballer, you start your career in the draft, full stop. So it has been an accepted part of one's career choice for a long time now. For a long time, I wondered too how a 17 year old kid, who's top of his class, would feel like getting drafted by a bottom team on the other side of the country. I recall back in 2004, wondering how Adam Cooney would feel like having to leave SA to move to Footscray as no. 1 draft choice, thinking that he'd surely try and leave first opportunity. Incredibly, he has been remarkably loyal to the bullies, made his intentions known from the outset that that was his club. Maybe part of the mentality is knowing that any club, over a 15 year journey, has a chance at reaching a grand final on at least one occasion (of course there are no guarantees, as the bullies know only too well!!). Look at Nathan Buckley - gets drafted to the then Bears on a one year contract on the understanding that they would trade him to Collingwood - never won a premiership with the pies (although he did make two grand finals), in the meantime, the his team mates when on to win a hatrick of premierships in one of the best teams ever.
Gibbo
Guest
Free agency will tend to favour the strong clubs and weaken the weak. If there was free agency then R O'K would have walked out on Sydney and straight into defending premiers Hawthorne. And, for example, if a Pavlich ended up at Collingwood or, perenniel cheats, Carlton, you'd hope somebody was keeping a look out on whether Pav was suddenly driving a new lexus the day after signing...
sheek
Guest
I'm opposed to mid-season changes in any sport, regarding anything - players, coaches, rules, laws, etc. You sign on to play with a club for a season, or several seasons, & that's what you do. You have plenty of time beforehand to figure out if you're going to gel with that club. If you signed only for the money, & didn't read the other signs, pity you! If it doesn't work out, you wait until the end of the season, or when your contract expires. I was totally against Terry Wallace being given the flick mid-season, or in-season. At the end of the season, trade all you like. I agree with the 10 year rule, but again, at the end of a season. People need to accept responsibility for their own decisions, good or bad, & their obligation to a contract.
Mushi
Guest
Onside there are plenty of professional leagues that have trades but no transfer fee. I find the concept intruiging but at the end of the day difficult. You essentialy take all power off the player as to where they may ply their trade. The draft system, from what I understand, only survives because the palyers allow it to. I think this would lead to a couple of break away players being forced to move their family mid season challenging the rules. this is what happened in the NRL
Pippinu
Roar Guru
onside we got rid of the concept of transfer fees a long, long time ago - and thank goodness for that!!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Ben Firstly, congrats on tackling a tricky subject from somewhere in the middle of Europe! I'm sympathetic to the view of some that we don't want a situation where players swap clubs mid-season. In AFL circles, we really do like the idea of players staying wtih the one club for the season (and minimal change at the end of a season). It's hard to explain why we're like that - I guess we are very, very protective of our own club, of our own players, and hate everybody else, and, well, there you have it!! Regarding free agency, I'm trying to remember what the situation is currently. If a player and club can't come to terms (in renewing a contract), the options are: 1. club does a trade with another club, agreeable to the player, for draft choices and/or player(s); 2. player goes into the draft at end of season and takes pot luck. So what we're saying is that option 2 should not exist, and that a player simply contracts with whoever he wants at the end of his contract? I guess this also means that option 1 is effectively no longer an option either, and that does start to sound a bit unfair to the club that has nurtured the player. Bottom line - I agree with having some sort of 10 year rule, effectively meaning that around the age of 28, still in his prime, a player could go to any club of his choosing without impediment. If need be, reduce it to 8 years, to give the player another 5 years or so to play with the club of his choice. Otherwise, I'm not sure if the present system needs a lot of tampering, recalling that no one has had boo to say about it since Morwood and Foschini went walkabout way back in the mid 80s.
onside
Guest
If players are assets ,why is there no transfer fee.
BigAl
Guest
Jarryd basically says all I would say. I would back free agency but at less than 10 years - a player could well be past his best and therefore lose some bargaining power. Also his point about ... half a team move on - is very relevant. It would be no good whatsoever having a guy playing against one team when he has been contracted to play for that team in the near future. Let all that business happen at the end of season. It just goes a bit too much against the culture of 'club loyalty' which is a huge part of AFL. Fair enough, let players transfer, but at end of season - and hopefully not at the level they do in the NRL
Kick2Kick
Guest
I also do not like the idea but think a 3 way trade of Seaby to Essendon (back up ruckman), Lucas to Bulldogs (need a forward) & someone with pace to West Coast (need pace). All 3 teams get what they need. Think the main problem with this idea is players having to move interstate and you cant then say that only Victorian teams can swap players and the other states swap with each other. This would be unfair and uneven for the other 6 non-vic teams.
Jarryd
Guest
I do not support this at all!! Your argument that that moving clubs is frowned upon is a good one and something that i agree with. However i think over time this stance would slowly diminish... What I do support is Free Agency when a player has played more than 10 seasons with the one club... WIth this model the player has rewarded his club for taking the gamble on him in the draft as well as spending the money to develop him. I also believe if a player has been at a club for 10 years then he is less likely to want to move unless there are major issues between himself and the coach. After all we dont want the AFL to become like the NRL and have half a team move on at the seasons end...