The AFL will consider an expected request from Brisbane for a priority draft pick, but chief executive Gillon McLachlan has ruled out reinstating salary cap concessions for the embattled club.
The Lions have suffered through a miserable year on and off the field, with coach Justin Leppitsch lamenting after their 138-point smashing by Adelaide that Brisbane have been “given nothing as a footy club” by the AFL.
McLachlan says the AFL is committed to working with Brisbane, pointing out it has already made a significant financial investment in the struggling club.
The league gave expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney salary cap relief to help them through their infancy but said all clubs would operate on a level playing field in terms of the cap from 2017.
“I think Justin was probably talking about the additional salary cap, the concessions,” McLachlan said of the coach’s remarks.
“I can be clear on that – everyone in 2017 will be playing with the same salary cap. We’ve worked hard over the past two or three years to take the swings and roundabouts and the advantages out of our game, so let’s be clear about that.
“But I think with football clubs, like small or large businesses, success relies on having the right people in the right slots and having a good culture.
“We’ll work with the Lions to help them have a great group of people to lead this club forward.”
Brisbane and Sydney have previously enjoyed salary cap relief, which was ultimately removed after a push by several Victorian clubs, notably Collingwood.
The Lions have announced a far-reaching review into the whole club’s operations at season’s end, with Leppitsch considered unlikely to continue in his role despite being contracted for 2017.
Leppitsch guided his side to 15th in 2014 (his first season in charge) and 17th last year, with the Lions languishing in 17th spot after round 20 this season after only two wins.
The Lions’ request for a priority pick in 2015 was denied, and McLachlan said he hadn’t yet looked at the merits of their case this year.
The matter will be decided at the discretion of the AFL Commission, who have yet to grant a priority pick request since the rules were changed in 2012.
Birdman
Guest
"The Lions’ request for a priority pick in 2015 was denied, and McLachlan said he hadn’t yet looked at the merits of their case this year." I'm calling BS on this statement from Gil. The AFL would def. have a position on the merits of a PP for the Lions this season and I reckon it might get a tick this time around although I'm not 100% convinced it should even though the club is bleeding badly. You can be sure whatever assistance is made available the AFL will have strings attached.
R'n'R
Guest
The AFL's thinking on priority picks is just as thoughtless and panicky as usual. They gave too many away, indeed this profligacy probably caused the tanking controversy, because they set the criteria too low. The AFL was then criticised for it. Their response was a hysterical over correction. And now none will be given out. Additionally the AFL won't tell anyone what the criteria is - which makes it hard to criticise. A stronger/better leader than Gilligan or the Fat Controller would have simply have adjusted the criteria. The most sensible would be if priority picks were given out when team won 12 games or less over a period of three seasons or something similar.
steve
Guest
TBH, I'm not sure any club deserves to land a priority pick at all. I don't like them, I don't think they help. From the outside looking in, it seems that a lot of the Lions problems are self inflicted, as has been the case with other teams over the last five to 10 years. I'm not certain that clubs should be rewarded for not running them well. While the Lions list isn't particularly good, I don't think its actually that bad and coupled with injuries to some key players things appear worse than they are in reality, though there seems to be quite a few list cloggers there and some players that simply aren't up to AFL standard. I get the feeling more and more, that the players are just no longer playing for Leppa and haven't been for a while now.
Paul D
Roar Guru
It may not be a formal request yet but I'm certain they will ask for one. The main aim though is a new coach, funding and agreement to start work on the facility and a rebuild of the off-field support staff. Steve...yes it's very obvious that a priority pick won't do anything to help us right now but it will help us in a few years time when we've got more depth and competition for spots coming through, which we have not had for years. If we don't get one now I don't know when any club would ever qualify for one ever again.
steve
Guest
Paul, a priority draft pick isn't going to help the Lions at this point. The Lions need the AFL's help off the field at the moment. That's what needs to change for the Lions at present, apart from the obvious coach problem.
TomC
Roar Guru
I don't believe they've asked for a priority pick yet. Hopefully, they're still pushing for more off-field support, firstly with the facilities (how on earth do we get less than St Kilda?) but also with getting some well-regarded coaching staff on board. If the AFL fails to come to the party on that, perhaps then ask for a priority pick. One would think it'd just be a formality but who freaking knows. I still can't get over that the go-home five happened three years and the AFL has done nothing at all in response.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Not an AFL expert but what has changed at the club to deserve one now? Are the foundations in place for the boys to succeed on the field? I think work off the field must be done first before they succeed on the field. I look at what the Titans were facing last year and but through hard work done by Rebecca Frizelle andGraham Annesley, they were able to get the club back on track. By no means is club out of the troubled waters but at least there is some optisim at the club. I am not getting that feelings from the Lions at the moment.
Paul D
Roar Guru
We have asked for a priority pick - again - but this time I think we are a chance of getting it. Previous seasons it would have been a waste, we didn't have a program or foundation in place to retain and develop draftees anyway. Surely we deserve one now.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
If McLachlan can't see that he has a club on his hands that is just about to implode and is in desperate need of help, whether that is financial help or priority picks, then he has got his head stuck in the sand. I never had any respect for McLachlan even as an assistant to Dimitiou. He is just a pretty boy with a smooth tongue.
Brian
Guest
This is why the AFL should not have helped Melbourne. Precedent been set can't argue the Lions don't deserve it as well.
Paul D
Roar Guru
That is all already happening. There is NO talk of salary concessions and all assistance they will get this year is going to be aimed at fixing the coaching department, hiring a full time sports psychologist and funding this long-awaited training facility. It's a terrible article and blatantly wrong.
TomC
Roar Guru
Well yes. And the second time in three days, for the same club. Very poor.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think the AFL should be looking to give the Lions football department assistance, before considering salary cap and draft concessions. Perhaps these may be necessary, but lets first get them to a similar standard to the Vic clubs and see how they can manage themselves at that level before we look at these other equalization measures. Perhaps as a club with good facilities and coaching staff they can better compete already and the AFL can help them attract the staff and finance the facilities.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Call it for what it is, a blatant lie and clickbait. Leppa was not seeking salary concessions. He was pointing out other clubs still enjoyed them while Brisbane did not, and offering that as an excuse. No-one seriously thinks Brisbane is going to get salary concessions back anyway. No-one likes them, no-one wants them. Terrible stuff from the Roar to claim otherwise. Who is writing this rubbish.
Nick
Roar Pro
I think the Lions deserve some help from the AFL. No other AFL club has been more neglected since the rise of the expansion clubs and something has got to give. It is blatantly unfair that GWS, Sydney are able to gain so much talent and the Lions are left floundering. Gil pull your finger out or face losing a proud club that was once the benchmark of the AFL competition.
TomC
Roar Guru
The headline is false.