Opinion Has Matt Rowell killed the raising of the draft age argument?

[GC2015]

A few months ago there was a portion of the footy public who thought it was a fantastic idea to raise the draft age to 19. Matt Rowell turned 19 on Wednesday and may actually be leading the Brownlow medal count right now.

Is the raising of the draft age argument dead now?

 

[M Malice]

Yes, along with other great 1st seasons by the likes of Joel Selwood, Chris Grant, Nathan Buckley, Jaeger O'Meara, if clubs don't think they are ready for seniors they wont play them.

If they raised the draft age I would be worried we could lose players to other sports.

 

[FreoStillNil]

I initially read the thread title as Matt Rendell. Not going anywhere near that one.

I think the current age is fine. You are an adult at 18 and can do pretty much anything (within the law). As Jason mp said, clubs won't play them if they aren't ready. But some of these kids are just guns and it would be a loss to the game for them to have to wait another year.

What are they supposed to do in the meantime? Play in the local leagues for next to nothing?

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

If anything it should be lowered

 

[Franc de Borges]

I initially read the thread title as Matt Rendell. Not going anywhere near that one.

I think the current age is fine. You are an adult at 18 and can do pretty much anything (within the law). As Jason mp said, clubs won't play them if they aren't ready. But some of these kids are just guns and it would be a loss to the game for them to have to wait another year.

What are they supposed to do in the meantime? Play in the local leagues for next to nothing?

Me too

 

[SterlingArcher]

Not really. Because the argument has never been about 1 or 2 great players, it's about the wider draft pool. Rowell is an exception in terms of his ability to adapt to AFL level.

However, I'm not convinced the draft age does need to be raised. I'm just of the opinion that being like "bUt mAtT RoWelL" is not a solid argument for it.

 

[Starburns_]

Hopefully, it's a ridiculous idea that disadvantages kids who are ready at 18.

That being said, hopefully there's an opportunity available now for the AFL. With no junior footy and lists being slashed, this year's draft will not cycle through anywhere near as many 18yos. If the TAC Cup and National Championships age is raised to 19 from next year (but the draft age remaining at 18) then we'll likely see a decent split of 'top age' and 'bottom age' kids getting drafted from 2021 onwards. Kids like Rowell will still get drafted highly, but the middle and lower rounds of the draft might be less speculative when it comes to kids who aren't quite ready at 18, because there's guys a year older with more exposed form.

 

[HaroLad]

What was the point in raising it in the first place?

You really think kids who are pushing for the draft will spend the year wisely? What can a 19 year old do to set up their future in a single year?

It's pointless.

 

[BF Tiger]

What was the point in raising it in the first place?

You really think kids who are pushing for the draft will spend the year wisely? What can a 19 year old do to set up their future in a single year?

It's pointless.

They can concentrate more on their final year of high school when they are 18.

 

[JackFlash]

It's always been fine as it is...Rowell makes no difference.

 

[TRP1996]

Yes, along with other great 1st seasons by the likes of Joel Selwood, Chris Grant, Nathan Buckley, Jaeger O'Meara, if clubs don't think they are ready for seniors they wont play them.

Wasn’t Buckley 20 in his first year?

 

[Schauermann]

Don't think a draft age is needed at all. 18 probably makes it easier. They can legally decide all by themselves. But what's the problem with being 17 when you can physical go ok against older player? Much younger won't happen anyway.

Wasn’t Buckley 20 in his first year?

O'Maera was already 19 as well. Like all those mini drafties.

 

[Power Raid]

the draft age limit should be scrapped

it is discrimination and the draft should be determined by ability rather than age.

 

[FreoStillNil]

What was the point in raising it in the first place?

You really think kids who are pushing for the draft will spend the year wisely? What can a 19 year old do to set up their future in a single year?

It's pointless.

Exactly. I've been through the TAFE system and seen the difference in attendence from 1st year to last. Even worst I've been in the Uni system, the number of people who start first year, with 40 odd in the class, to final year, lucky to get 10 in a class.

You've got to know what your strengths are. If you've got what it takes to play professional sport. GO FOR IT!!

 

[Juddernaut08]

Don't think a draft age is needed at all. 18 probably makes it easier. They can legally decide all by themselves. But what's the problem with being 17 when you can physical go ok against older player? Much younger won't happen anyway.


O'Maera was already 19 as well. Like all those mini drafties.

Without a minimum age clubs would start drafting and stashing away elite young prospects from too young.

 

[Accepted 04]

The draft age should be raised, while you get players like Rowell come through. The majority who get drafted aren’t physically or mentally ready for AFL.

It’s especially bad for those who get drafted and are out of the system before their 21st birthday. It’s a big adjustment that they have to go through and some just don’t recover mentally from it.

The draft age should be raised to 20

 

[jackess]

The complete opposite IMO. Imagine 5 Matt Rowells being drafted each year when they’re given an extra year to develop.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Lower it to 17.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Over 10 years the Suns have wasted countless high draft picks on players that ultimately weren’t up to it, couldn’t justify their draft position, and couldn’t actually help the hapless club improve - which is the whole point of the draft.

The opposite would have happened if AFL clubs, members of the supposed elite professional senior competition, actually drafted adult footballers instead of children.

But they have nailed one, and that proves the system is correct. Yes.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

The complete opposite IMO. Imagine 5 Matt Rowells being drafted each year when they’re given an extra year to develop.

Precisely. The fact that Rowell is seen as something of a “freak” only underlines the point further.

 

[100action]

raising the draft age wasn't about whether the player was ready or not, it was to give them time to focus on their studies/trades so they have better transitions post retirement.

 

[jackess]

raising the draft age wasn't about whether the player was ready or not, it was to give them time to focus on their studies/trades so they have better transitions post retirement.

Also will help the recruiters Making the draft a more effective tool for equalising the comp and help the bottom teams rebound Quicker

 

[Red Bull]

“Harry high pants” needs an adjustment ...

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Not quite sure how it would work, but I feel like some sort of system where if after some workouts, game reviews and interviews, x number of clubs or neutral scouts feel that a junior player is physically and mentally ready (particularly if they're being expected to uproot and move interstate), then they can go in the draft and that would cover the players every year who walk straight into an AFL midfield role on day 1.

For a non-first rounder, a year or two of maturity at a lower level playing against adults and learning a bit about the world would probably do them a lot of good in turning a 2-3 year career into a 4-6 year career. Especially for rucks and KPPs it gives a better indication of how they're going to go when they aren't able to physically overpower their opponents.

The problem is that for players who aren't Matt Rowell and who may be getting a serious culture shock with a move to the other side of the country and who were probably pretty long odds to play a game in their first year anyway, they don't really have a choice but to get into the professional system as quickly as possible. If you're an 18-20 year old part timer in the VFL/SANFL/WAFL it's not difficult to imagine the gap only widening compared to your peers who are at an AFL club and who can dedicate themselves full time to football. But if the draft was limited to 18 year olds who are expected to walk straight in to the senior side, it levels the playing field for the rest.

What's the average AFL career length? I'd guess maybe 30-50 games. Players who have spent 2-5 years at an AFL club aren't going to be set for life. Players that get shown the door after a couple of years on the rookie list probably don't have anything in the bank by the end of their AFL journey.

It's a complex issue, but it could be argued that raising the draft age would be the best thing for a lot of players, the best thing for teams (so the first round wasn't so speculative) and the best thing for the league. Of course, in certain instances, players who are coming from troubled backgrounds might actually benefit from the structure and discipline of an AFL environment, where otherwise they'd be lost causes by 20. There isn't an easy solution.

 

[Warhorse]

Matt Rowell got an injury very easily. Perhaps due to his young age