This year, free agency could finally reach crisis point.
Tom Lynch, the former captain of the Gold Coast Suns, looks likely to play for Richmond in 2019.
This move will see a free agent move from one of weakest teams in the league to one the strongest.
Suns President Tony Cochrane said the AFL is at risk of becoming like the English Premier League, meaning the same clubs will contest for the premiership each year, while others continually struggle.
Why is the AFL allowing this to happen? A move like Lynch to the Tigers makes the strong clubs stronger and the weaker clubs weaker.
The league is supposed to have the major goal of providing equality so every team has an equal chance of winning a premiership, then the game will lose supporters.
I’m a proud Suns member and will support them no matter, but this lack of action from AFL HQ leaves me frustrated and angry that the Gold Coast don’t have a fair chance of competing for that first premiership.
Recently, players the Suns drafted and developed have been poached by the stronger clubs in the footy heartland states of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Gold Coast need to get some reassurance that players that they draft will remain at the club.
This is why the Suns parted with pick two during last year’s trade period – they had assurances from Lachie Weller that he wanted to be on the Gold Coast.
If the club had used the pick, there is every chance that the selected player would get poached when they hit their prime.
Where is the fairness?
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Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
It’s high stakes with five teams having lost their first three games of season 2024, and in desperate need of a win.
It could be a weekend for contenders to emerge, teams to hopefully break droughts, o and overall footy to have a party.
We’ve already seen what Jack Ginnivan is capable of at Collingwood with his ability to grasp big moments - how will he go against his former teammates?
