Opinion Did the AFL overcorrect when it removed the Albury/Murray region from the Giant's academy zone?

[GC2015]

Now that the Giants' original crop of players are coming to the backend of their careers, it's becoming more and more obvious that the premiership window is well and truly shut for GWS and they will need to commit to a list rebuild. Dwindling crowds and young stars requesting trades away have exacerbated the issues for the Giants and this happens to coincide with Penrith and other western Sydney teams like Parramatta playing really well in the NRL. It would be fair to say that the AFL probably isn't pleased about the state of things in western Sydney right now after 10+ years of investment.

But could this have been avoided? Would the retention of the Albury/Murray region in the Giants' academy zone have been prevented such a dramatic drop off or was this always going to be a fait accompli for GWS? Some of the players they would have been able to recruit if they had kept Albury/Murray in their academy zone include Todd Marshall

4

Todd Marshall

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.0

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

2.5

2star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

8.9

2star

K

7.1

3star

HB

1.8

1star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.0

4star

G

1.1

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.6

5star

, Charlie Spargo

9

Charlie Spargo

Age

24

Ht

172cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.7

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.3

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

6.0

2star

HB

2.0

1star

M

1.0

1star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

and Jacob Koschitzke.

 

[Sky]

They shouldn’t even get concessions in the first place nor should any club.

 

[iameviljez]

Rural zones are dead and with good reason

 

[1990crow]

They shouldn’t even get concessions in the first place nor should any club.

Says Geelong fan. Righteo.

 

[Walshawk]

That region is closer to Melbourne than Sydney, so, no. Giants have been in WS 11 years - with the supposed increase in participation there, surely some local players will start coming through?

 

[iameviljez]

Says Geelong fan. Righteo.

What concessions do we get?

 

[Mr Magic]

Says Geelong fan. Righteo.

Concessions are about circumnavigating the draft and transferring gains to Geelong, everyone is aware of it that is quick on the uptake

 

[Mr Magic]

That region is closer to Melbourne than Sydney, so, no. Giants have been in WS 11 years - with the supposed increase in participation there, surely some local players will start coming through?

Giants should be in Canberra

 

[Dangerousfield]

They shouldn’t even get concessions in the first place nor should any club.

So says a Cats poster as they are about to rort Gold Coast - AGAIN!

Glasshouses, stones

 

[Sky]

So says a Cats poster as they are about to rort Gold Coast - AGAIN!

Glasshouses, stones

We got the worst deal in history for Gary Ablett. In real terms he was worth two top 5 picks not Josh Caddy and Billie Smedts.

Glad the AFL invented a draft pick up after we lost Motlop but even then we overpaid to get the bloke back.

I don’t even believe in compo picks.

 

[jim boy]

So says a Cats poster as they are about to rort Gold Coast - AGAIN!

I'm all for rules for stopping the richer clubs get richer to even up the draft. But no way do I want my team to be a sucker and not exploit the rules as they are.

 

[iameviljez]

So says a Cats poster as they are about to rort Gold Coast - AGAIN!

Glasshouses, stones

That’s not a Geelong specific concession.

 

[HaroLad]

Biggest problem is that nobody wants to play there and will ask to go home if they aren’t contending.

At least Gold Coast has the beach.

 

[Colonial]

Yes and no.

Yes - It was a ridiculous cut due to the success we had earlier than expected, causing the outrage of some down south.
Swans copped the same when they got a trade ban.

Funny how the Cats and Tigers who are obviously very successful but also still trade in stars have no consequences and the media are all for it.

But also, personally for me,

No - It should of meant we went all in on Western Sydney, we didn’t.

 

[Back Pocket Rocket]

We got the worst deal in history for Gary Ablett. In real terms he was worth two top 5 picks not Josh Caddy and Billie Smedts.

Glad the AFL invented a draft pick up after we lost Motlop but even then we overpaid to get the bloke back.

I don’t even believe in compo picks.

I raise you pick 19 for Buddy

 

[hawkman]

Do they still have Wagga?

Albury should never have been a part of it from the beginning

 

[Sky]

I raise you pick 19 for Buddy

You still did better than us from a worse hand. I still think if an uncontracted player leaves, that a club should only get a pick at the end of the draft

 

[iameviljez]

You still did better than us from a worse hand. I still think if an uncontracted player leaves, that a club should only get a pick at the end of the draft

With the flow of players from bad clubs to good, I think such a move would really hurt the competition.

Imagine if GWS had gotten nothing for Cameron?

 

[iameviljez]

I raise you pick 19 for Buddy

Yeah you win.

 

[RUNVS]

How many players have been drafted from these zones ever since GWS lost the rights to them? I can't think of many.

 

[Sky]

With the flow of players from bad clubs to good, I think such a move would really hurt the competition.

Imagine if GWS had gotten nothing for Cameron?

That’s called equality

 

[Kwality]

They shouldn’t even get concessions in the first place nor should any club.

As long as you ignore the advantages the heartland clubs have ..... If we want our game to be national, one size does not fit all.

 

[Sky]

As long as you ignore the advantages the heartland clubs have ..... If we want our game to be national, one size does not fit all.

Ok but why don’t my other team Melbourne Storm get said advantages not that they’ve ever needed them?

 

[sherb]

But also, personally for me,

No - It should of meant we went all in on Western Sydney, we didn’t.

And that is still a big problem for mine.

 

[Colonial]

Ok but why don’t my other team Melbourne Storm get said advantages not that they’ve ever needed them?

Lol they get plenty. But that’s for discussion on the NRL board yeah? A game played in two states really.