The commentators and fans of the AFL who fear that free agency could ruin the AFL, as reported in today’s media, are either dinosaurs, communists or both.
The AFL has been a leader in Australian sports capitalism and progression since the 1980s, when the football codes embarked on national expansion.
But fundamentally the AFL is a powerful dictatorship in which the players, clubs and fans operate under oppressive conditions.
By oppressive, I first refer to the fact there is no freedom for players to play for the club their heart desires at either the beginning or end of their career.
Rather, players are primarily at the mercy of a draft system and a trade week that largely recycles just a few lower-tier players who want out.
Secondly, players cannot take their talents to play overseas. Nor can they even represent their home state or country on a larger stage, against the very best players the game has to offer on the same field.
Take Jonathan Brown for example. He played in three premierships in his first four seasons, yet for the past eight season he has put his body through the ringer in irrelevant matches for a minor club, in front of the smallest of audiences the AFL has to offer.
Surely, deep down in Brown’s thoughts he yearns to play on the AFL’s biggest stage again where he belongs one last time.
If Brown demanded a trade at the end of this year to a contender or to at least help make a team a contender in his home state of Victoria, no-one could dare question his loyalty or integrity, given what he has done for the Brisbane Lions over the years.
In fact, it would be selfish and naïve of the Lions to request that he remains with them for the rest of his career.
Such a move from Brisbane would ensure that the final years of Brown’s career be played for a team that won’t be relevant in the AFL for the next three years.
Furthermore, in trading him for draft picks they would be accelerating their rebuilding phase.
While it can be seen as a negative for the club that free agency could have facilitated Brown’s departure years ago and left the Lions with nothing in return, the alternative view is that it frees up a lot of salary-cap room for the Lions to pursue new talent.
Alternatively, they could entice a talented player from another club, which can’t afford his services for a salary the Lions can offer.
Given the Lions recent attendances (down from 30,000 to 21,000) and performances since Fevola’s departure, it’s not likely that the Lions would have performed that much better had Brown fled.
With respect to other clubs like the Melbourne Demons, the current AFL player transfer system leaves them at the mercy of the draft.
If they don’t succeed with their selections they can end up in permanent rebuilding mode, which can definitely leave the club and fans quite oppressed.
Reports that the Demons might lose Brent Moloney and Mark Jamar at the end of the season through free agency can be seen as a concern for such clubs that free agency will see these average players seeking out careers at the bigger clubs.
But it’s hardly a death sentence for the club as it’s not like Moloney and Jamar are critical pieces in the premiership pie.
Like the rest of the sports world, it can also be an opportunity to generate new talent and recruit players from other clubs.
Sure there might be less players hanging on at the same clubs to lay claim on becoming a prestigious one-club 200 or 300 game player, but at least those that make it to that point under free agency will do so with a smaller level of oppression.
Lastly, the AFL is the only sporting league in the world that does not have free agency.
The only reason it can get away with it is due to it being a sport that is only played in Australia and that there are no competing locations or sports on the planet that desire their athletes’ services.
If the world’s biggest sports leagues, like the NFL and Bundesliga, continue to grow and flourish with free-agency systems that are not dissimilar to what the NRL adopts (and what many AFL pundits snigger at) you would imagine that the AFL has the strength to also be vibrant under a free-market system.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
while I would hate, is what I meant to write.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I'm a demons fan, and while I hate to lose Jamar and Moloney, I don't begrudge them leaving (should they do so) as they have as much right as anybody else to try to make their life better. Hopefully, they will decide that their life is bettered if they stay. But if they don't, that's their right. I'm a supporter of free agency. While I usually don't care what international competitions do, free agency is one thing that I am glad that the AFL is adopting from other competitions. What I like about it is three-fold: it gives the players freedom which many haven't had previously, it shows that traditionally one of the world's weakest player unions is finally getting some backbone, and it will hopefully make loyalty far less sacred than it deserves to be. I mentioned Jamar and Moloney, well, the last thing I will ever do is bring up their loyalty as IMO loyalty is one of the most overrated values in all of sport. The reason being that loyalty is only ever brought up when it involves players, yet coaches and clubs aren't expected to be loyal, and neither are sports fans (often, the same fan who will criticize a player for leaving his club for more money, will leave their job for more money). Additionally, people talk about clubs 'showing faith' in certain players, but they don't do so for altruistic reasons. I would also argue that many of the fears are misplaced due to the salary cap & equal list sizes as well as human nature, but also because all free agency does it make it easier for players to leave. If a player doesn't want to leave (and it is up to clubs to ensure that they don't want to leave), then it's purely academic.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"a player salary cap only works if all clubs spend all their salary cap each season. A salary cap that only the richest clubs can actually afford would be completely ineffective" Absolutely, which is why I think the AFL should mandate that all clubs spend 100%. If a club can not afford to do so, then the AFL must pay the difference. "there appears to be a significant issue to do with disparity between clubs in post AFL opportunities that can be used to attract players for slightly less money in the short term." I think that all non-footballing work opportunities that only arose because the footballer played for that particular club, even if the club didn’t have anything to do with it, should be placed under the salary cap. But once a player retires, it becomes rather difficult. Certainly, the AFL should make it illegal for clubs to promise their prospective players these kinds of opportunities (unless it's placed under the salary cap). Policing it may be far too difficult however.
Matt F
Roar Guru
I disagree. Collingwood, for example, aren't going to be able to throw huge money at players because they're having a hard enough time trying to keep their current players (i.e. Cloke.) As long as the salary cap is properly enforced the "bigger" clubs shouldn't have a significant advantage at all. The NRL has managed to maintain an incredibly even competition despite having total free agency so I think that the AFL can manage on its watered down version, especially when you consider that clubs will still get compensated in the draft.
Gr8trWeStr
Guest
While I substantially agree with what you say, - a player salary cap only works if all clubs spend all their salary cap each season. A salary cap that only the richest clubs can actually afford would be completely ineffective - there appears to be a significant issue to do with disparity between clubs in post AFL opportunities that can be used to attract players for slightly less money in the short term.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I don't agree. What you are talking about should be blamed on salary cap rules, not free agency. There is no reason why any club should be negatively impacted by free agency if the AFL tightens the salary cap, and removes the advantages that the bigger clubs have, such as access to business owners, such as Chris Judd with Visy. If WCE can beat the system, it's the fault of the salary cap system, and if it is fixed, then free agency shouldn't be a problem for any club. You talk about Carlton 'buying' flags, however that was pre-salary cap. As long as we maintain a rigid salary cap, maintain equal list sizes, and accept that human nature dictates that many, if not most, players will not accept substantial pay cuts, I fail to see how any club will be able to buy a flag. Yes, Collingwood spends more on its football department than North does, but Collingwood hasn't had substantially more success than North in recent years, apart from the past two years. Anyway, free agency critics often talk about how Collingwood could use its Arizona trips and superior facilities in its bids to free agents, however it won't do Collingwood much good. They still have the same salary cap and list sizes as everybody else, and even if opposition players agree to take pay cuts in order to join the Magpies (and many won't), there will be current Collingwood players who will either demand more money or will go elsewhere for more money. In fact, considering how success makes players more valuable, less successful clubs may be better positioned- salary cap wise- than Collingwood to pursue certain free agents, and among its own players, it may not be able to keep all of its free agents due to its salary cap restraints. "You can get around the salary cap by buying luxury houses and income producing assets like what West Coast does to beat the system." Which is why the salary cap has to be better enforced. As well as more consistently enforced. Jud's deal should never have been allowed, West Coast should not be allowed to help its players attain any asset producing assets, and the 95% minimum should be raised to 100% (even if the AFL pays for the difference itself.) There is no reason why the AFL can't force clubs to place all non-footballing work opportunities under the salary cap, if these opportunities only arose because the footballer played for that particular club, even if the club didn't have anything to do with it. Judd's Visy deal is the perfect example. "Free agency is a death sentence for North Melbourne and Footscray. They will lose their stars everytime and will be priced out of the market for any new talent." I already talked about how the salary cap will prevent this, but I just want to note that many people who are critical of free agency base their criticism on international competitions which have free agency. However, very few international competitions have a hard salary cap like the AFL. As such, I don't think it'll be a death sentence for any club. "The AFLPA will get their way, but the downside is their will be fewer professional footballing jobs going around." That doesn't make sense. Even if one accepted your fears free agency relating to smaller clubs being priced out of the market for any new talent, clubs like North and the Bulldogs will have survived far worse situations than this. Not to mention that the AFL will make sure that every club survives. No, I think that there being fewer professional jobs going around is the last thing anybody should worry about.
Gr8trWeStr
Guest
The AFL are bringing in free agency for the 2013 season. Players who have played at a club for 8 seasons and are coming out of contract will have limited free agency, they can leave unless their current club matches the other clubs offer, at end of contract after 10 seasons at a club they have the right to accept any offer they want. Personally, I think free agency favours the larger and more popular clubs and works against maintaining and equitable competition so am not a huge fan of it but think the system being introduced by the AFL is a reasonable compromise.
DH
Guest
TomC, you don't think it's fair to say Brown may have just some regret not taking up that option? Or even not seeking a trade in more recent years?
Bludger
Guest
We had free agency up to 1986 and everyone was upset with Carlton 'buying' flags. Bring it on! You can get around the salary cap by buying luxury houses and income producing assets like what West Coast does to beat the system. Free agency is a death sentence for North Melbourne and Footscray. They will lose their stars everytime and will be priced out of the market for any new talent. The AFLPA will get their way, but the downside is their will be fewer professional footballing jobs going around.
TomC
Guest
'Surely, deep down in Brown’s thoughts he yearns to play on the AFL’s biggest stage again where he belongs one last time.' Brown turned down an enormous offer to join Collingwood a few years ago, so I think it's fair to say you've picked a very bad example.