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AFL teams starting up the tank

3rd August, 2011
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Roar Rookie
3rd August, 2011
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After the sacking of Dean Bailey during the week, the issue of tanking has reared its ugly head yet again; with the AFL still denying it exists.

The argument comes after Bailey admitted that in the closing rounds of the 2009 season, Melbourne players were played out of position and rested, to ensure that Melbourne receive a priority pick in draft rounds one and two.

Despite this admission, and the admission from Tony Liberatore that Carlton adopted similar tactics in their 2007 loss to Melbourne (that in the end netted them Matthew Kruezer), the AFL remains steadfast that tanking is yet another footy myth, like the tooth fairy.

Tanking exists in the AFL, and history has shown that it can result in premiership glory. But the question remains; what is tanking and what is list management?

Back in 2000 and 2001, the West Coast Eagles chose to “bottom out” finishing 13th and 14th respectively. In doing so they also picked up Daniel Kerr, Chris Judd and Dean Cox, who it could be argued, won them a flag in 2006.

In 2004 and 2005, Hawthorn also decided to replenish its list, finishing 14th and 15th, but in the meantime picking up Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead. The result was that they won a flag three years later.

During this same time, Collingwood also bottomed out by finishing 13th and 15th and receiving reward for doing so, in Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury; two players who were pivotal in last year’s flag victory.

The next team to allegedly tank was Carlton. Salary cap breaches forced them to rebuild as a club, and their time at the bottom from 2002 to 2007 earned them Andrew Walker, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Matthew Kruezer and Chris Judd.

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It’s no wonder many AFL pundits predict future flags for Carlton.

And finally we come to Melbourne. Losing pivotal games in 2008 and 2009 (be it by choice or not) earned them Jack Watts, Tom Scully, Jack Trengrove and a list that will certainly challenge and win a premiership in years to come (if they all stay together).

Of course there are teams that do not follow this idea of slipping down the ladder to rebuild the club. Sydney is the main club that follow this method. They prefer to trade for quality, and focus on good drafting, and as shown in 2005, it can earn you a flag.

Geelong is the other team that doesn’t like to dip down the ladder to replenish its list. They always remain thereabouts, and rely on good trading and good drafting to make premiership sides, rather than relying on bonuses from the AFL.

Finally in 2009 the West Coast Eagles sat on four wins going into round 18. If they had kept that win tally at 4, then they would have received a first round priority pick, as well as pick 18.

They went on to win four more games for the season, and ended up with pick eight in the national draft, when in reality they could have had pick two (Dustin Martin), pick four (Anthony Morabito) and pick 18 (Nathan Fyfe).

Given the season they are having in 2011, adding those three players to the line-up could have made a team that could challenge Geelong and Collingwood, and potentially win a premiership.

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So you would be stupid to suggest that tanking or bottoming out does not have its benefits, it clearly does.

Unless you have superb list managers like Geelong and Sydney, almost every team will continue to tank, as long as it’s beneficial to do so.

It’s up to the AFL to make it less beneficial to do so, and protect the integrity of the game.

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