The impending introduction of free agency into the AFL has been brought to light again in the wake of the Phil Davis controversy, and once again people seem to be predicting doom and gloom for the AFL once it is introduced.
Look, I get where Brett Ratten is coming from. The idea of loyalty to a team is a romantic one, and playing your whole career at one club in most cases grants you legend status almost instantaneously.
Additionally, no self-respecting, Aussie Rules-loving Australian wants to see the AFL turn into the mirror image of the American professional sports leagues, where players seemingly go to the highest bidder.
But the free agency model that will be used does a lot to prevent this from happening.
Just because the words ‘free agency’ are used, does not mean the league will become a merry-go-round of players changing clubs every year.
Here are some points from the AFL site on the upcoming free agency and what impact it will have on players:
“Players delisted by a club on or before 31st October each year will be unrestricted free agents.”
This one is simple. Basically, if a club does not want a player, then any club can make a bid for their services, and established players don’t have to re-enter the game through the draft.
“Players who are not in the top 25 percent of salaries at their clubs will be eligible for unrestricted free agency if they have served eight years on the primary list of the club”
This point says, that if a player is not a top player (or not being paid like a top player) at his club and their contract expires, then he is available to go to the club of his choice.
This point is one that could mean a few players will move between clubs, but those players won’t be their top 10 players, based on pay grade.
By the time the player has played eight years, the club would know how important the player is and should be paying them what they deserve.
“Players who are in the top 25 percent of salaries at their club will be eligible for restricted free agency for their first new contract after they have served eight years on the primary list of the club. This is the case regardless of when the first new contract arises.
“For example, a player who is contracted after his seventh year for two, three, four or years will still only be eligible for restricted free agency for his next contracts as a 9, 10, or 11 year player.
“Restricted free agents have the right to move to a club of their choice subject to the current club’s right of first refusal over their services.
That is, if the current club can match the offer from a rival club, the player must stay or enter the draft. The tabled offer only includes capped salary and capped ASA (Additional Service Agreement) amounts.”
Here is where the top players on each list are affected. Once their contract is over, after serving eight years as a player, then they become a restricted free agent.
So any teams whose restricted free agents get a contract offer can match it if they choose. Or if the player really wants out of the club, they can choose not to take any offers and move on through the draft.
“A top 25 per cent player will then be eligible for unrestricted free agency for his next contract, provided that a player can’t be an unrestricted free agent until completing at least ten years service at one clubs.”
A player only becomes an unrestricted free agent once his contract expires after serving ten years at a club. The player will be coming towards the end of his career, and will probably be remembered for the ten years service at his first club, not the few years of service at following clubs.
This gives long serving players who have given a great amount of service to one club a chance to win a premiership that may not have presented itself at said club.
Alternatively, they have the opportunity to stay at their club and finish their careers at the one club.
What matters here is they have played enough to earn the right to have a say in where they want to play.
“Compensation in the form of AFL allocated draft picks will apply to clubs with a net loss of free agents. This will be based on a formula to be determined by the AFL.”
Even if you do lose players, you are compensated accordingly and have a chance to replace who you have lost through the draft.
Free agency might seem like a big deal, but it really isn’t going to destroy loyalty in the AFL.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Why would it? I very much doubt that. I think you'll find that free agency will have next to no effect on your future success at all.
Old in the tooth Dog
Guest
The Bulldogs 32000 in 2011 will be their high water mark thanks to the great work of Smorgan, Rose and Eade. Free agency will mean established stars will follow emerging stars like Harbrow and Ward out the door along with members and supporters hopes for success.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
:D I got to tell you, while it's not the first time you wrote this, and while I am a Melbourne supporter, I completely agree. :D Caroline Wilson, and others, recently spoke of how free agency is wrong. I completely disagree. I think there is nothing wrong with it. All free agency means is that those who want to leave will be allowed an easier exit from their club. It may, perhaps, encourage more players to leave, however ultimately, there are three things which will stop the bigger clubs from using free agency to rule over the smaller clubs: 1)Salary cap- at the end of the day, every club has the same salary club. While not all clubs use 100% of their salary club, and some clubs have access to third party agreements (cough..Carlton..cough), salary cap is neutral ground. Also if Collingwood and the Bulldogs both approach a free agent, it may actually be in the Bulldogs' favour, since they may have more salary cap room than Collingwood. 2)List sizes- Let's say that Collingwood found a way to include every player under the salary cap, once they hit the maximum number of players allowed on a list, that's it. Clubs can't horde players, and so, combined with the salary cap, it will be an impossibility that all the great players end up at one club. 3)Human nature- One of the arguments brought up by critics of free agency is that the wealthier clubs can advertise their superior facilities. So Collingwood can say to a free agent, "we can't give you more money than the Bulldogs, however we can promise you much better facilities. We can promise you camps in Arizona, the greatest training facilities money can buy, and we can assure you that we will invest more money in winning a flag than any other club. If you want to win a flag, become a Magpie! :D" Sounds wonderful? There's just one problem. To win a flag you need talent, and even if these free agent might be willing to take a pay cut, not every player on Collingwood's list will feel the same. Some will, quite understandably, want to be paid according to their worth. As such, it will be impossible for Collingwood to say under the salary cap without shedding players, and as such, Collingwood's advantage will be minimised.
brad
Guest
AFL, welcome to the world of professional sport.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
The defection of Melbourne's premiership winning captain to Carlton for more money is a blight on the game and a disgrace ! I tell you, Ron Barassi's treasonous conduct towards his Melbourne club will be a step towards the destruction of our great game.