The AFL’s priority pick has long been a cause for debate, ever since the years of speculation about clubs tanking in order to get themselves a prized draft pick.
Now the AFL have changed the priority pick rules where they may hand out the picks at their discretion, and it’s become an issue.
This is the first year the AFL has had the call as to which club the priority pick will go to, and the Melbourne Demons have made it crystal clear they want the pick for themselves after their poor year thus far.
Melbourne’s request has yet again opened the priority pick debate. Instead of the tanking theories of previous years it has been asked, does Melbourne actually deserve a priority pick?
People like Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss have argued against Melbourne’s request, pointing out other clubs also deserve the draft concessions:
“We’ve just come out of the greatest compromised draft in the last two or three years,” Voss said during the week.
“Our teams that have been struggling through that time have received no leg-up whatsoever and all of a sudden we find out at the back of that compromised draft that apparently priority picks are now back on the table.
“If that is the case then I think quite rightly our football club should be asking the same question as well as Port, Western Bulldogs and a few other teams.”
Some have argued Melbourne have lost their right for priority picks given their past draft failures, and that awarding Melbourne with a high draft pick would be rewarding the club for mediocrity, especially after this year’s tanking investigation into the club.
Others like Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon have argued the priority pick should be scrapped altogether.
“The sooner we have an unencumbered draft system without priority picks of any kind, the better off we will be in the long term,” said Gordon.
I for one like the priority pick, and while it may not guarantee success in any way for clubs who ‘earn’ them, they do create excitement for fans of struggling clubs.
They provide some hope that maybe the dark days are close to an end.
However they key argument for the priority pick is: just how should they be dealt out to clubs?
The AFL’s new rule of handing them out based on an AFL formula has already caused great debate, and the AFL can’t go back to a team who wins less than five games for the year earns a pick, which would only open up the tanking theories yet again.
I think the way the AFL can avoid both debates is to give the priority pick to the club that finishes ninth on the ladder and the draft order could make its way down from there.
Ninth could get the first pick and 18th would get pick 10, it then goes on to eighth with pick 11 and so on.
This would reward clubs who have had reasonable seasons but just missed on finals with promising draft picks.
It would also mean every game of the season means the four points are vital, every goal/point for percentage means something as clubs strive for higher ladder positions for higher draft picks.
It would also get rid of the tanking debate, as no club would choose to miss finals just to get a high draft pick.
This draft system would ensure clubs earn their picks.
It has been argued to me by a few mates while sitting at the bar that this would just leave struggling clubs to keep struggling, but as we’ve seen with Melbourne already priority picks don’t always equal a climb up the ladder.
What struggling clubs would need to do is look at their development and recruiting structures rather than constantly relying on AFL draft concessions to drag them out the mire.
I think this draft system would lead to a much more exciting and rewarding competition for all clubs.
Trev
Guest
Feel Melb should be granted a priority pick. The rule is in place, and if it is not granted this year to Melb then you might as well scrap it. Also believe the Bulldogs/StKilda might be in line for 1 next year. Love AFL footy and good tight close games is great for everyone who loves sport. Do not make it like the EPL.
Kev
Guest
Scrap it altogether. There's no justification for getting two shots at top talent in the same year. Think about it this way, if you're consistently bad over several years you'll be getting draft selections and any football department worth its salt should be able to develop those players. As Melbourne have shown though, draft picks are just one piece of the puzzle. If your player development and game plan aren't up to scratch, you can have all the draft picks in the world and still struggle.
joe
Guest
I cant believe the afl are considering giving the demons more freebies.does anyone know if trengroves been interviewed by asada yet(I know that's off topic cant get the info anywhere else).
Merki
Guest
Whats worse? A lop-sided competition or helping clubs that cant help themselves (Melb) at the expense of the ones who do make it work (Bris)? Personally, I would like to see over the next 10 years every club can pick a draft to get a priority pick. You run into trouble then time to pull the trigger on your pick, but if youre going along nicely you save it for when youre making your finals run. Couple of clubs per year do this (random lottery of who gets pick #1 vs pick#2 if multiple clubs choose the same year). If you blow your picks and still cant win a game, we should suck it up and let the club die/merge. Harsh yes, especially a foundation club but rewarding failure just promotes it.
Radelaide
Guest
Also you forgot to add that they gave up a number 2 pick for a 31 year old ex superstar with dodgy hammies and a year out of the game ( everytime Daniel Wells for the kangaroo's touches the ball I think there is Wayne Carey's legacy) also I could add that they didn't move on Edwards or McLeod for a high pick when they stopped passing the ball to each other on the field.
Mugpunter
Guest
Kinda my point, Crows have still had good seasons (no premierships albeit) without a priority pick and without many top 10picks. With priority picks and many top 10 draft picks, sides like Melbourne in the article, haven't had any success recently, so not sure if a priority pick actually helps?
Franko
Guest
I’m not sure that a priority pick would ever help Adelaide, they are possibly the worst drafters of top 10 picks in the country. They have only had 4, 3 of them left pretty quickly. Phil Davis - left Dangerfield – Good player. John Meeson – 2 games, left Lawrence Angwin – Seriously?
Mugpunter
Guest
Unsure if a priority pick is necessary. While my team the Crows for example haven't won a premiership since 1998, they've had strong seasons and played many finals series, and haven't had the assistance of priority picks. And the extra picks haven't helped all teams in the past. Like the theory of giving something for teams that just miss out on finals,but kind of already have that with the lopsided draw.
Tony Tea
Guest
Surely, SURELY, not another ninth-gets-first-pick pov.
Franko
Guest
That would be a good system. You get a priority pick when you finish last but give up your first pick in 5 years time. I like it a lot, well done Ash.
Ash of Geelong
Guest
Nobody should get a compensation pick , I would go as far to say that teams that have had it , Coll, WB, Haw, WC, STk, Mlb, Rich should all be relieved of their first round pick as payback to bring evenness back into the competition now the Suns & GWS have had all their priotory picks done.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Give it to Melbourne, they aren't tanking anymore they are just plain awful. Although they should improve under Craig, he seemed to allow them some freedom in their play even if it was against the Saints.
TomC
Roar Guru
This was kind of interesting, until the part about the team finishing ninth, and then it just went off the rails.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
OK, you've got a team thats getting close to premiership contention, but games against the top clubs have shown they really arent there this year - if you sneak into the finals, you'll probably be out in one. On the other hand, if we finish ninth or tenth, then we get a #1 or #2 pick, and that might give us that extra bit of class, just as our window is opening. Your new system is making tanking even more awfully tempting than it was under the old system.