- Moderator
- #1
I have a number of problems with the GST rule, particularly with the maximum requirement of eleven. The rule means players participating in the game have, in my view an unrealistic restriction on their list building, forcing them to delist required players. The other concern is the upcoming draft. For example do I draft Jacob Weitering or Josh Schache with the knowledge that they are almost certainly going to be classed as a goalkicker or stopper in 2017? This will do little more than force me to delist other required players because I've exceeded the eleven player quota.
I understand completely that there needs to be a rule to force players to name more balanced sides each week. But the GST rule as it currently stands isn't it. There are, in my view, better ways of doing this.
If we're set on the keeping the GST concept, then:
1) scrap the maximum. Allow players to have as many on their list as they like. Set a minimum (see below)
2) Be more realistic with the classifications. Key position players must be allowed to be classified as goalkickers or stoppers. Ruckmen who are obviously ruckmen on AFL lists, such as Shaun McKernan and Jonathan Giles should be classified as tappers. This increases the pool and allows all squads to reach the minimum easily.
My suggestions:
1. Scrap the maximum rule.
2. Each named team per week, must have a minimum of six GST players, (a third of the team of 18) with a minimum of two GKs, two STs and one TAP named, with the minimum sixth coming from any of the classifications. Those six GST players should be named at FB, CHB, CHF, FF, RCK and one other position, of the player's choice. You could of course name more. When naming a side each coach should put a 'G', an 'S' or a 'T' next to the relevant player's name to enable a quick count.
For example the Adelaide Lions Round 1 2016 team might be named in the following format:
B: Harris Andrews (S), Jake Lever (S), Zak Jones
HB: Liam Dawson, Jake Carlisle (S), Sharrod Wellingham
C: Rhys Palmer, Ryan Bastinac, Harry Cunningham
HF: Michael Hibberd, Joe Daniher (G), Andrew Walker
F: Aaron Black (G), Ryan Schoenmakers (G), Angus Monfries,
R: Ivan Maric (T), Jimmy Toumpas, Angus Brayshaw
I: Matthew Lobbe, Nick Robertson, Lynden Dunn (S), Jarryd Blair
So under this format, a quick count can be made. I have my minimum one TAP, two Goalkickers and two stoppers, but also have my minimum sixth (say Harris Andrews) in the back pocket. This week I've decided to name an extra Goalkicker Aaron Black in the forward pocket. It's quick and its easy to check. And also fulfills the whole point of introducing the rule in the first place, which was to maintain team balance on a week to week basis.
The obvious conclusion from all of this is that the minimum GST players you would need on a list would be six. That's 108 players in total from an overall total of 720 players (15%). I don't think any team would have too much difficulty getting a minimum of six GST players on their list. There would be no need to impose an arbitrary, unnecessary and restricting maximum rule.
If a squad did only have a minimum of six, then that carries the inherent danger of one or more of them being injured, in which case they would still have to be named, with resultant penalties and also carrying a 0 into the game. For example from my side, Ivan Maric might be injured, so I might have one or two extra depth tappers to cover his loss and to be named each week.
3. Make it a rule that a GST player named but that doesn't end up playing that week can only be replaced by another GST player on the bench. So in my example above, I name Carlisle, but he doesn't play and Lynden Dunn who is a stopper who I've named on my bench for that week, comes in and plays.
Coaches can risk having only six GST players on their squad, but it's a significant risk for reasons already explained.
This system with no maximum does not inhibit coaches from building a list, or drafting the players they want to draft, without having to worry about delisting required players 12 months down their track because their drafted players are suddenly GST players and the total number won't fit under a maximum.
Going on the list of GST players (which looks like hasn't been updated since last Monday), the clubs that would need GST players are: (minimum of two stoppers, two goalkickers, and one tapper)
Geelong: 1 stopper
Northern Reds: 1 goalkicker
Rottnest 1 stopper
West Coast: 2 stoppers
I understand completely that there needs to be a rule to force players to name more balanced sides each week. But the GST rule as it currently stands isn't it. There are, in my view, better ways of doing this.
If we're set on the keeping the GST concept, then:
1) scrap the maximum. Allow players to have as many on their list as they like. Set a minimum (see below)
2) Be more realistic with the classifications. Key position players must be allowed to be classified as goalkickers or stoppers. Ruckmen who are obviously ruckmen on AFL lists, such as Shaun McKernan and Jonathan Giles should be classified as tappers. This increases the pool and allows all squads to reach the minimum easily.
My suggestions:
1. Scrap the maximum rule.
2. Each named team per week, must have a minimum of six GST players, (a third of the team of 18) with a minimum of two GKs, two STs and one TAP named, with the minimum sixth coming from any of the classifications. Those six GST players should be named at FB, CHB, CHF, FF, RCK and one other position, of the player's choice. You could of course name more. When naming a side each coach should put a 'G', an 'S' or a 'T' next to the relevant player's name to enable a quick count.
For example the Adelaide Lions Round 1 2016 team might be named in the following format:
B: Harris Andrews (S), Jake Lever (S), Zak Jones
HB: Liam Dawson, Jake Carlisle (S), Sharrod Wellingham
C: Rhys Palmer, Ryan Bastinac, Harry Cunningham
HF: Michael Hibberd, Joe Daniher (G), Andrew Walker
F: Aaron Black (G), Ryan Schoenmakers (G), Angus Monfries,
R: Ivan Maric (T), Jimmy Toumpas, Angus Brayshaw
I: Matthew Lobbe, Nick Robertson, Lynden Dunn (S), Jarryd Blair
So under this format, a quick count can be made. I have my minimum one TAP, two Goalkickers and two stoppers, but also have my minimum sixth (say Harris Andrews) in the back pocket. This week I've decided to name an extra Goalkicker Aaron Black in the forward pocket. It's quick and its easy to check. And also fulfills the whole point of introducing the rule in the first place, which was to maintain team balance on a week to week basis.
The obvious conclusion from all of this is that the minimum GST players you would need on a list would be six. That's 108 players in total from an overall total of 720 players (15%). I don't think any team would have too much difficulty getting a minimum of six GST players on their list. There would be no need to impose an arbitrary, unnecessary and restricting maximum rule.
If a squad did only have a minimum of six, then that carries the inherent danger of one or more of them being injured, in which case they would still have to be named, with resultant penalties and also carrying a 0 into the game. For example from my side, Ivan Maric might be injured, so I might have one or two extra depth tappers to cover his loss and to be named each week.
3. Make it a rule that a GST player named but that doesn't end up playing that week can only be replaced by another GST player on the bench. So in my example above, I name Carlisle, but he doesn't play and Lynden Dunn who is a stopper who I've named on my bench for that week, comes in and plays.
Coaches can risk having only six GST players on their squad, but it's a significant risk for reasons already explained.
This system with no maximum does not inhibit coaches from building a list, or drafting the players they want to draft, without having to worry about delisting required players 12 months down their track because their drafted players are suddenly GST players and the total number won't fit under a maximum.
Going on the list of GST players (which looks like hasn't been updated since last Monday), the clubs that would need GST players are: (minimum of two stoppers, two goalkickers, and one tapper)
Geelong: 1 stopper
Northern Reds: 1 goalkicker
Rottnest 1 stopper
West Coast: 2 stoppers
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