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?
Jack
Guest
A short term fix is not the answer for the Suns. The AFL needs to fix the mess that it created. It set the club up with a first time coach, a first time CEO, a first time Football Operations manager and a first time President who didn't have a football background. Imagine asking your bank manager to fund that business plan! cant complain about Tom Lynch - he played for 7 years and gave good service. The solution for draft picks is that there should be a punitive transfer fee, a real barrier to protect the original club because right now the strong clubs are waiting for the draft picks to mature, show some development and then entice them across. This should apply for all clubs not just the Suns or GWS who have also lost many players.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Just out of left field. If players were all rated, say A,B,C,D grade. An A or B grade rated out of contract player could only be picked up by teams ranked 12 to 18th in lowest combined number of A and B grade players. The figures and way of rating players could be modified without altering the basic concept.
Papa Joe
Roar Rookie
Free agency needs tweaking IMO. The gaining club should have to forgo something. For example, if Lynch goes to the Tigers, and GC get pick 3 in compensation - the Tigers just get him for nothing. (At least that is my understanding if GC don't match the offer.) The Tigers should have to forgo something for the pick (eg. their first pick after the compensation pick to the GC - that would make it fairer.)
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, players are people not cattle. As I see it one of the problems with the clubs that do poorly in free agency is they treat their people like cattle not their cattle like people.
Tom M
Roar Rookie
Spot on Paul. These players want to be treated like professionals its about time clubs got some power back. If a player wants to leave that's fine, the club has every right to ship you off to whatever club gives the best deal.
Cat
Roar Guru
Spot on.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Free agency as it exists is fine. Players who have been in the system 6 years, 8 years, have earned the right to set the scene for their final contract and get some choice The issue is players who haven't earned free agency behaving like free agents by refusing to sign a new contract after 2 years. If the AFL had the guts to take on the AFLPA and insist that players don't get veto rights over trades until they've done their time and become RFA's it would give some power back to the clubs While the free agency system is structured solely to serve the interests of a couple hundred individuals and their managers, it will never come close to being fair.
RT
Roar Rookie
"The Gold Coast need to get some reassurance that players that they draft will remain at the club." I don't disagree with your sentiment but equally, if you want to change anything, a top draft needs to get some reassurance that the club they are drafted to won't be a basket case for the first 8 years and seemingly still going nowhere after all that time. That is the crux of the matter. No one should begrudge Lynch for wanting out. Gold Coast need to get its house in order and then things will start taking care of themselves.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
It's not quite true that the AFL is, should, or could try to give every club an "equal chance" to win a flag. That's neither desirable or possible. But it is true that if they don't find a way to bring some measure of competitive balance to the competition, fans will leave. Clubs used to have a lot more control over players during the first stretch of their careers. I think a player couldn't leave their first club for something like eight years (someone correct me, if that's wrong). So young stars had to put in a good long time at their first club before they could go seeking the big money and premierships at a better club. As it is, the weak clubs get the high draft picks, but those players either don't develop into stars, or they do turn out to be great, and then they just leave. Ergo, the struggling clubs just continue to struggle. That gets boring.