St Kilda coach Scott Watters’ comments this week on the need to introduce a mid-season draft are not new but they should be looked at more closely by the AFL.
St Kilda go into this week’s fixture against the Swans with no fit full-time ruckman and this situation is one that we might see more of in weeks and years to come.
Sure, the Saints have Justin Koschitzke who is more than competent but usually as a backup ruckman who plays forward. His form in the forward line recently dictates that the Saints wouldn’t want him too far from goals for too long.
Whilst ruckman are often derided for their output, the importance and value of a good ruckman cannot be understated. Furthermore, a normally less dominant ruckman can become a vital player in a game when rucking against players who rarely play the position.
A mid-season draft would allow clubs who have long term injury lists sign players on temporary contracts for the remainder of the season to cover their losses. Eligibility for the draft would mean no current affiliation to a current club list.
The recent trend of mature aged recruits and the feel good stories that emanate from the success of these players could be enhanced further when the WAFL footballer who is having a blinding year all of a sudden finds himself lining up at the MCG the next weekend.
It is dangerous territory for the AFL to allow players to be wearing the jumpers of two different clubs in the one season and the rules would have to stipulate that there be no changing from one AFL list to another midyear.
Rules would also determine you can only draft a player if you have someone on the long term injury list. With more congested and high impact footy, there seem to be more long term injuries at each club thus creating a window of opportunity.
The AFL might argue that this is what the rookie list is for. The rookie list has been a great success but you cannot cater for all positions on the rookie list and mostly rookie listed players are younger speculative picks, not necessarily players that are in career best form at a lower level that year.
The order of the draft would be need to be determined. Ladder position is not necessarily a way to establish this. Your club can be injury ravaged when at the top of the ladder just as much as you can at the bottom.
The fairest way, is for clubs that want to take part in the draft would nominate at the start of the week. All nominations would go into a bucket and the order of the draw would be decided.
Fox Footy would love it as they could televise the draw to determine the order and indeed the draft itself. All of a sudden the Foxtel Cup takes on a bit more significance with players from these games getting more exposure as potential mid season draftees.
A mid-season draft is an obvious step just as Friday night football was, as expanding the competition was and as video technology was.
The opportunity for clubs and players alike is one that the custodians of the game should introduce as soon as possible and this change is one that fans of the game would welcome.
bolloxx
Roar Rookie
A mid season trade period is an obvious alternative.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
I think a mid season draft is a fantastic idea. It would give great attention to competititions like the Foxtel Cup and the VFl and the media coverage of these competitions would go to another level. It can only benefit the AFL as a whole.
swannies05
Roar Pro
I love the idea. I must say I agree with Tom though, on the point of the Saints being solely to blame for the predicament they currently find themselves in. Talking from a fan's point of view, which is all I am, I would love to watch the mid-season draft and it would most definitely give more credibility and attraction to the Foxtel Cup. Not being too up to date on the rules of the draft, would it also be possible for clubs to put up current players for drafting? (eg. Could Mark Neeld put up Sylvia, Davey, Morton etc etc. up for trade)?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I wouldnt use a mid-season draft - I'd simply allow an AFL club with open spots in it's Rookie List to sign any player not contracted to another AFL club, with cash compensation of, say, $50 000 paid to their existing non-AFL club. Any player cut from the rookie list before their contract expires should, of course, be paid out their contract, just as happens with coaches.
TomC
Roar Guru
'The AFL might argue that this is what the rookie list is for.' That's what I'd argue too. The Saints knew they were going into this season without much ruck depth but they chose to give their mature rookie spots to Dunnell and Shenton. I don't have a problem with a mid-season draft like you've described, Andrew, but the Saints have no one to blame but themselves for this situation. You can't cater for all positions on the rookie list but if you've only got two recognised ruckman in your entire squad, and one of them is eighteen, you should probably make an effort to cater for that particular position.