Watching this weekends games there is a huge disparity in the clubs (one sided games) and it has become a lot harder for a club to use the AFL draft to get back into contention.
Free agency has allowed the more successful clubs (like Geelong, Hawks, Norths) to stay at the top longer. Plus Players on the verge of success will take pay cuts to win a flag (increased lifetime earnings) so the Salary cap is failing to equalise teams.
Recent trading has shown clubs like Hawthorn can screw the weak clubs ie. a #2 pick from GWS for a later pick, fear of losing player for less in free agency, by getting a player to nominate a club, promise of success so player takes less $ to move than they demand from old club, etc.
It is hard to see Carlton being a contender for at least 5 years, which means decreased interest (memberships/ticket sales/TV views) which hurts the AFL (also applies to Brisbane, etc.). There are few avenues to bridge the gap that now exists between the best and worst teams, so the AFL competition will become more boring/predictable and naturally public interest will follow.
Is it time to bring back the priority pick for clubs who win less than 4 games?
.
Free agency has allowed the more successful clubs (like Geelong, Hawks, Norths) to stay at the top longer. Plus Players on the verge of success will take pay cuts to win a flag (increased lifetime earnings) so the Salary cap is failing to equalise teams.
Recent trading has shown clubs like Hawthorn can screw the weak clubs ie. a #2 pick from GWS for a later pick, fear of losing player for less in free agency, by getting a player to nominate a club, promise of success so player takes less $ to move than they demand from old club, etc.
It is hard to see Carlton being a contender for at least 5 years, which means decreased interest (memberships/ticket sales/TV views) which hurts the AFL (also applies to Brisbane, etc.). There are few avenues to bridge the gap that now exists between the best and worst teams, so the AFL competition will become more boring/predictable and naturally public interest will follow.
Is it time to bring back the priority pick for clubs who win less than 4 games?
.