I’ve been recently thinking about the draft system the NFL have. Once the NRL gets enough money and resources to build a draft system, it will get fans more excited to see if their club gets an exciting young 18-20 year old kid.
Let’s use Dylan Brown as an example.
Dylan Brown just turned 17 and has been put into the school boy system in Sydney but can’t yet play because of the age requirements, so we put him in NSW or QLD cup to show off his potential.
Once the season ends and he’s 18, we put the top 50 players from that season that are 18 from both QLD and NSW cups into a draft system were they get drafted off to clubs that want them but only for a one-year contract worth $20,000 – with the option to extend the deal at that particular club.
We put 15-16 year olds through the system depending on where they live like Perth. Once they turn 17 they go to Sydney to play NSW or QLD cup and compete for a year or two, depending on the age.
Once they turn 18 they get drafted.
The system in New Zealand can be different so they don’t have to go to Sydney but stay in New Zealand and have the top 15 Kiwi players from the cup sides and draft them off to NRL clubs – or they can stay in NZ and fight for a spot in the Warriors side.
Again this is only an idea and the NRL will need to get a lot of money which will take ten years or maybe 20, but I’m 100 percent sure there will be a draft system in the NRL which will make the pre-season and post-season more fun for the fans.
We could also live stream the draft system each year, either on television or the internet.
We need to obviously take in consideration how many players we want in the system across Australia. Here is my idea for that:
Sydney: 2,000 players max
Melbourne: 1,500 players max
Brisbane: 2,000 players max
Perth: 500 players max
NZ: 250 players max
Feel free to roast me about my ideas but I like the idea of a draft system.
We will see a draft system eventually in the NRL.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Both those leagues are privately owned teams, which unfortunately makes messes up the draft
Fraser
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t call a bunch of teams tanking every year a success. And honestly, what’s it done? NBA has seen the same teams competing for the title for the past decade. Same in the NFL.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
All the dribblers will be turning the telly on in a couple of days due to the so called bully in a cheap suit. Plenty of head scratching still going on , too much to comprehend.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
drafts are a reward for failure, and encourages tanking
no one in particular
Roar Guru
clubs should not be running the junior game, the ARL should be
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
One year deal for $20,000? No one will sign that deal. The draft was tried and failed.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
The draft system has been around successfully for years in the NFL, NBA, AFL, and I am surprised to find it not operating in the NRL. There is more than just drafting eligible players. The league has to set up youth academies, talent evaluation, accredited coaching programs and much more, which all three of the above leagues have in place. The benefits of the draft can be enormous to a well run club, and also enable strugglers to compete again. As for players only wanting to play for the club of their choice, that’s as old fashioned as not having a draft
souvalis
Roar Rookie
No, in a world of petty doubters and nonsense dribble he takes full responsibility and sole ownership for successfully doing what he’s paid the big dollars to do..unlike here though, once accomplished the ingenuous of the deal and the smarts of the man is recognized..the ingrate whoos and whining here is pathetic.
Rob9
Roar Guru
"Why would clubs be bothered having any junior structure in place if they will just lose their best junior talent." I think this is one of the best reasons for a draft. Professional clubs should have no place in the life of an adolescent beyond existing as a sporting team that they're able to follow as fans.
Larry1950
Guest
Why, does he play a blustering bully in a cheap suit?
Larry1950
Guest
A draft is just a way of forcing good players to join a bad club that they don't want a bar of for the sake of equalisation. Rubbish idea that would never get off the ground.
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
would be good look how many players with kiwi connections dont play for the warriors
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Coincidentally watched Kevin Costner’s Draft Day last night on Amazon..good stuff, there’s a bit of V’landys in his character..
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Adamson -v- NSWRL (1990) 31 FCR 535
Walter Black
Guest
But why do we want a draft at all ? I don't see the point and it just puts another hurdle in the way for clubs to jump over.
Joe Hoey
Guest
This won't be happening. Back in the Super League war around 1995, the then NSWRL tried to implement a draft, however some of the players took it court arguing that it was a restriction of trade and won. I haven't been able to find the case law at the minute. So I don't see the RLPA signing off on a draft, because that will mean the players a waiving their right to choose where and for whom they work. A draft would also open up the players to being traded without a say in where they go, again they won't agree to that. Throw in the fact that clubs who invest heavily in their junior catchment areas are unlikely to give up their advantage, it seems unlikely to me.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Love the idea of a draft, love it in the AFL. Draft picks become gold, as well as punishment for clubs breaking the rules, and gives clubs a chance to rebuild, rather than trying to buy talent. The problem to overcome is the junior system. In the AFL, the AFL run junior programs, not the clubs. In rugby league, the clubs run the juniors and bring the kids along. They wont be doing this if they watch their best youngsters being drafted off to another club year on year.
Geoff Foley
Roar Rookie
You'll have to completely deconstruct the under-age comps for this to work. Why would clubs be bothered having any junior structure in place if they will just lose their best junior talent. Drafts work in the AFL, NFL etc because the professional clubs do not have any junior programs. Even the Roosters and Manly rely on some junior talent to come through.