When the VFL/AFL introduced the salary cap and draft in 1987, the game as we knew it was changed forever. As part of their long overdue equalisation policy, both were implemented to bring parity between clubs and in doing so, neutralise the ability of the rich clubs like Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond to dominate the competition.
The party was over, with the big four hamstrung and unable to open their fat wallets to lure the best available talent, equality had finally arrived.
After 100 or so years, all clubs were suddenly on an even playing field.
It was a masterstroke that should have been implemented years earlier and one that should be considered in crooked sports like Soccer to relieve us of the tedium of watching Manchester United win the title every other year.
Since then, aside from the odd breach, the intended objective has been achieved but now, on the horizon there is an AFL initiated loophole that will surely have the ‘big four’ salivating in anticipation as order may yet be restored. And you can bet your life that the clubs will already be conjuring up sly ways to manipulate this new system.
The AFL, in their wisdom, has introduced a policy of free agency, due to commence at season’s end 2012. But what does it mean? Well, simply, it means that a player, provided he has served his club for a certain period will have the right to field offers from rival clubs, accept the offer from the highest bidder and automatically move to his club of choice.
There are of course a few minor variations but you get the idea. This is a huge step for the AFL and it’s players and one that will have both winners and losers but like it or not, it’s coming and soon.
The question though is this. What will be the deciding factor for players when entertaining possible suitors? There will be several considerations for players to ponder but aside from the obvious, cash; the one that goes hand in hand with future premiership success is club culture.
What is culture though? It’s the predominating attitude and behaviours that characterise the club as a whole. Every club has one, some have positive, winning cultures built over years of sustained success and where failure in unacceptable.
Others have the opposite where despite their best efforts continue to be pedestrian, doing nothing more than making up the numbers. From the evidence before us year after year, changing club culture is tantamount to impossible.
When the biggest names in footy become eligible for free agency it will be the culture of their prospective club that will influence their decision more than any other factor. For arguments sake, let’s look at Brendon Goddard.
When his contract expires in 2012, the Saints best player will be one of the first high profile free agents on the market and having served 10 seasons at St Kilda will be in the enviable position of considering lucrative offers not just from GWS but from any other club intent on securing his services.
Let’s assume for a moment that he won’t go to GWS and really aside from the cash, why the hell would you? After a decade at the Saints and if I’m honest, no chance of ever playing in a premiership, it will be time to go. And he will. Clubs with winning cultures and cash to burn will again become front runners in securing big name players, bringing into the equation with devastating force, Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon.
Can you really imagine someone like Goddard leaving the Saints to move to a similar environment with a history of mediocrity and one where just making it is good enough?
Some clubs have success in the blood.
Sure, they have their lean times but when they once again climb to the top of the ladder history says they win more finals than they lose. That’s a winning culture and along with wheel barrows full of cash will see players of Goddard’s ilk waiting at the front door.
Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond once ruled the competition. The AFL, which set about bringing equality to the game, may have just shot themselves in the foot and provided a wonderful opportunity, if handled properly, for the ‘big four’ to throw their significant weight around like they once did.
With good list and contract management, wealthy clubs will lay in wait for the Goddard type to ring the door bell. Provided they’ve done their homework, they might just have the red carpet rolled out for his arrival.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I'm pretty certain that the Big 4 refers mainly to membership, not simply on-field performance. If you go by on-field performance, the big 4 would include Melbourne instead of Richmond. Melbourne has won 12 flags to Richmond's 10. Also, it has been rare that that Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton & Richmond have all dominated at the same time. In fact, the last time the four clubs won flags within ten years was more than 90 years ago.
Bazza
Guest
I'm staggered at some of these comments. Some of you people take things so literally. Firstly, Andrew, the writer at no stage called it a criminal act in reference to Man Utd. He simply pointed out it's boring watching the same club/s win everything simply because they can afford it. He also wrote 'every other year' so I suggest you perhaps read the article and understand it before making comment. Secondly to The Cattery, AFL footy traditionally had a Big 4, the Hawks aside from the 80s were never even close. He didn't say anything about Hawthorn's chances this year, he pointed out that the traditional big 4 of days gone by were Carl, Coll, Ess and Rich. Did he even mention Hawthorn? The article has nothing to do with them. Oh and by the way, if Soccer isn't crooked, what is?
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I agree. One of the reasons I don't have any problem with free agency is that the salary cap and the list sizes will still be in place. Even if every player want to go to Collingwood or whichever club wins the flag, they won't be able to. All free agency means is that it will be easier for those who already want to leave to do so and to go to their preferred destination.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"Bring it on, and dump the salary cap too!" The salary cap is arguably the most important factor that determines the integrity of the competition. Getting rid of it would be disastrous. "Want to see Carlton get to 20 flags as quick as possible." Yeh, who cares about the integrity of the competition? "Really is it a bad thing to see Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon up top every year?" It is if you don't barrack for them. Why do you presume that non-Carlton/Collingwood/Essendon fans want to see your clubs up top every year, or any year for that matter? There are 17, soon to be 18, clubs in the competition you know.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
If they are such a successful business, how come they are greatly in debt?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
You might have a star player who has won premierships come out of contract and sign as a captain-coach for another team with an increased salary. Oh Noes, how will the game survive this ! Ron Barassi's defection to Carlton for more money will ruin Melbourmes chance of a premiership in 1964 ! Its the end of the league, I tell you !
Football United
Guest
have to agree. united win titles because they are a successful club, other clubs don't win as many because they are not. it's simple as that, if you're good then you win. winners come and go, in the 80's it was forrest, liverpool and leeds in control, now its united, chelsea and co. AFL has this mindset that everyone deserves to win because thats the nice thing to do, similar to how every kid get a trophy after a season even if they didn't win anything all year. and crooked sport? rookie indeed.
Uncle Bob
Guest
Bring it on, and dump the salary cap too! Want to see Carlton get to 20 flags as quick as possible. Really is it a bad thing to see Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon up top every year?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Good point. I guess one possible scenario is that clubs will be able to rejuvenate themselves more quickly by filling gaps as more expensive players retire, etc. Of couse, with the mature players already getting cap concessions, your basic point still holds true. Occasionally, a gun player has to retire prematurely because of injury, releasing a good chunk of salary cap.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I agree that the expression "crooked sports" was uncalled for in the context of the article, afterall, he wasn't focussing on FIFA, and there has never been a suggestion anywhere from anyone that the EPL is in any way "crooked". But I don't think Manchester United has a turnover of $3 billion, although I could be wrong.
Swampy
Guest
With a salary cap in place still, how will the rich clubs utilize their financial advantage through free agency exactly? Call me simple but I would have thought that free agency would work more as an equalizer of clubs. If lists are managed properly then clubs experiencing success would then surely be paying out close to 100% of the salary cap and therefore not be able to sign the likes of a Goddard at a high salary without having to give up other players on their list to accommodate a new star salary under the cap. Conversely, a club not experiencing success, if managed properly, should have room under the cap to accommodate a big name signing such as Goddard without having to give up other players. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Andrew
Guest
"crooked sports like Soccer to relieve us of the tedium of watching Manchester United" , gee Andrew I didn't realize, being a successful business like Manchester united was a criminal act. I am not sure what law they have broken, they work within a system where if you have money you can spend it as you see it. A market system based on capitalism , sort of like the system we live by in this country, Very wrong I know!!!!!! Funny I also remember Arsenal and Chelsea winning titles over the last 6 years, i think. Let me see in the EPL Man U , Man C , Arsenal , Chelsea were all in the hunt to win the title this year , Spurs were up there also, Liverpool with all their issues at the start of the season managed to make there way back to fight for a top 4 spot , and you would be expecting them to fight for the title next year. How many teams can win the AFL Flag this year ???? having a look so far only 3 the same three that have won it over the last 5 years( except for the slightly happy via specially induced drinks, victory of west coast), and this under the communist system of Andrew D. Lets face it if a player was to take the AFL to court for restraint of trade the AFL would have huge issues, but hey it is a small game played in half a country, so it can survive in it's own little world. You call the EPL crooks and yet they exist in a international free market , they have nothing to learn from the AFL. The AFL is so great and perfect and yet those crooks at Man U have a turn over three times that of the whole AFL. LOL yep they are crooks and a global failure of a club! The EPL must hate the fact that they are watched by hundreds of millions every week in over a hundred countries, what a bunch of crooks those soccer people are.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
A few home truths there Andrew! Let's not forget that two clubs below the traditional "big 4", Geelong and Hawthorn, have won premierships recently and are still in the top four today as we speak. In fact many would argue that the likes of Hawthorn constitutes a new "big 5". For a complete change of scenery, the Eagles have good resources and have been the most successful team since the formation of the AFL in 1990. Finally, we have two Northern clubs looking to rejuvenate themselves, both have won premierships in the past decade, and both have a knack of nailing gun recruits when they both need them. One question: has the AFL determined what the qualifying period is to become a "free agent"?