St Kilda President Andrew Bassat tees off on the AFL draft system, specifically father/son and the Northern Academies

[Lavender Bushranger]

I explained why I thought so in my comment.

I’ve never complained about F/S, as I believe it’s a great concept - it’s currently (and historically) not been implemented fairly, though.

it's impossible for it to be fair.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

I lean more the other way. IMO if have you so many inbuilt inequities like you state above, why not have the others.

Because there is no net benefit to the comp, or the game because of it.

 

[webbo_83]

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's gotta be the unluckiest bloke AFL, doesn't he? Given the flick for Malthouse at Carlton, and then Ross at St Kilda... messiahs coming home.

As for Bassat, maybe if they didn't act like petulant babies because a player decided to play somewhere else they'd be in a better position to get free agents?

 

[ash_1050]

Bassatt just deflecting from his decision to sack an in contract coach, appoint Ross Lion and they’re no better off

Who would have thought appointing a middling coach would result in middling results?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Brett Ratten's gotta be the unluckiest bloke AFL, doesn't he? Given the flick for Malthouse at Carlton, and then Ross at St Kilda... messiahs coming home.

As for Bassat, maybe if they didn't act like petulant babies because a player decided to play somewhere else they'd be in a better position to get free agents?

The worst part about it, and why Bassat’s rant is even funnier, is that they got Lyon back thinking that he could get that list into the top 4.

I spoke directly to the son of a former Saints board member at the time who was adamant that getting Ross back meant “Ross can take this list to the GF next year”.

12 months later Ross is telling them that they need to rebuild and they don’t have enough talent.

Now they’re angry Battle is leaving after not paying him enough to make him a restricted free agent, but also tapping multiple contracted players at other clubs, declaring that they’ll be aggressive.

What an organisation.

 

[caloschwaby]

He was right about one thing: St. Kilda's "role is meant to be to just make up the numbers."

It quite literally was as part of inclusion into the VFL from VFA - the rich clubs needed a solid club that captured the geographic inner SE/bayside area of Melbourne and St Kilda fit the bill without pissing Sth Melbourne off too much

 

[WilloTree]

the father son rule is the same for everyone.....GWS and Gold Coast have the disadvantage only

No it's not.

The same for everybody would mean 18 father-sons in the draft all of equal talent spread across the 18 clubs.

 

[oak79]

How about if only premiership players sons or grand sons were eligible for F/S, no matter how many games they’ve played, rather than 100 games for any player.

That way you tie the son to a club that their dad/Grandfather has a serious legacy with, and you probably more than half the number of eligible father sons that could compromise drafts?

Terrible idea. You are massively disadvantage teams like Freo, Saints, Melb, Dogs etc that rarely if ever win premierships

 

[GenericUsername202]

He can cry all he wants, but Father Son selections and academy's will never leave the AFL system. The league has a huge talentpool issue, and taking away access to northern players would be detrimental to the league. There also has to be a discount to the northern clubs in terms of academy selection because they deserve it through the time and effort they spent developing these players. The idea that a club like Brisbane spending money and man hours on a player only for him to leave for a victorian club is absolutely laughable. The argument should be just how much should we pay for these players. You have to remember these are players who would have never been in the AFL system if it wasn't for clubs like Brisbane, etc. So again, he's free to moan like a child all he wants, but a president at a club like St Kilda will have absolutely no pull in this discussion. Especially in terms of Father Son selections, because Victorian clubs would want to protect that as well.

 

[werdna78]

Because there is no net benefit to the comp, or the game because of it.

There is a benefit though for the AFL, with Brisbane getting both Ashcrofts.

More eyeballs from Queensland with the Lions being successful.

Just like Collingwood with the Daicos brothers.

 

[mighty_lions]

No it's not.

The same for everybody would mean 18 father-sons in the draft all of equal talent spread across the 18 clubs.

no, with that logic the draft isn't fair, the rules for father son are equal and the same for everyone

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

He can cry all he wants, but Father Son selections and academy's will never leave the AFL system. The league has a huge talentpool issue, and taking away access to northern players would be detrimental to the league. There also has to be a discount to the northern clubs in terms of academy selection because they deserve it through the time and effort they spent developing these players. The idea that a club like Brisbane spending money and man hours on a player only for him to leave for a victorian club is absolutely laughable. The argument should be just how much should we pay for these players. You have to remember these are players who would have never been in the AFL system if it wasn't for clubs like Brisbane, etc. So again, he's free to moan like a child all he wants, but a president at a club like St Kilda will have absolutely no pull in this discussion. Especially in terms of Father Son selections, because Victorian clubs would want to protect that as well.

na. You don’t need to consistently get handouts to be competitive. The advantage you should get from an academy is to get near guaranteed access to players without the go home factor. You don’t need any discounts, that’s just getting an advantage on an advantage.

 

[Cyclops]

Bassatt just deflecting from his decision to sack an in contract coach, appoint Ross Lion and they’re no better off

Yes pretty much this.

Nice timing for his rant "Oi AFL! The draft is ****ed mate, change it" when they already decided to.

Are Saints supporters stupid enough to believe this bloke is the Sigma powerbroker who forced the change?

Fella seems to think he's Eddie with the captains calls and big hits, at least Eds picks worked out some of the time.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Terrible idea. You are massively disadvantage teams like Freo, Saints, Melb, Dogs etc that rarely if ever win premierships

You also thin out the number of father sons that established clubs have access to.

It’s a meet in the middle concept.

 

[GenericUsername202]

na. You don’t need to consistently get handouts to be competitive. The advantage you should get from an academy is to get near guaranteed access to players without the go home factor. You don’t need any discounts, that’s just getting an advantage on an advantage.

Then simply Brisbane will close their academy's, sydney will do the same and it goes on. And the AFL will deal with a greater talent issue, and suffer because of that. And this isn't a handout. A handout is getting these players for absolutely free. Having a discount on these players is absolutely fair in the equalisation of this competition. Because Northern Clubs will always be disadvantaged when recruiting interstate players, so this is the only way to keep the competition equal. Also, how many times does Brisbane travel outside of Queensland in comparison to Carlton traveling outside of Victoria. If you think getting a 15-20% discount on an academy player is unequal, then how about the advantages you get to retaining victorian players and the fact that you travel far less? Can't have it both ways. You also have to accept the fact that the AFL competition is never equal. Clubs like yours and Collingwood has a distinct advantage over clubs like us, so your comment is a bit ironic considering your club is more protected then most clubs. Secondly, Northern clubs have to deal with issues that Carlton will never have to deal with. We will always travel more, we will always deal with player retention issues more. However, we will gain access to academy players. It isn't equal, but we're allowed some advantage. So deal with it.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

He doesn’t actually raise NGAs because that is something St Kilda can benefit from.

He raised academies which I took as NGA too. But good point.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Then simply Brisbane will close their academy's, sydney will do the same and it goes on. And the AFL will deal with a greater talent issue, and suffer because of that. And this isn't a handout. A handout is getting these players for absolutely free. Having a discount on these players is absolutely fair in the equalisation of this competition. Because Northern Clubs will always be disadvantaged when recruiting interstate players, so this is the only way to keep the competition equal. Also, how many times does Brisbane travel outside of Queensland in comparison to Carlton traveling outside of Victoria. If you think getting a 15-20% discount on an academy player is unequal, then how about the advantages you get to retaining victorian players and the fact that you travel far less? Can't have it both ways. You also have to accept the fact that the AFL competition is never equal. Clubs like yours and Collingwood has a distinct advantage over clubs like us, so your comment is a bit ironic considering your club is more protected then most clubs. Secondly, Northern clubs have to deal with issues that Carlton will never have to deal with. We will always travel more, we will always deal with player retention issues more. However, we will gain access to academy players. It isn't equal, but we're allowed some advantage. So deal with it.

Then the AFL can let GC and GWS have access to all Queensland and NSW for their academies. It would cost the AFL maybe another $1mil and give the smaller brothers in the northern market a massive leg up.
I’ll guarantee you, Brisbane and Sydney wouldn’t let that happen, so they can shut up and just take the leg up they are given.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Thats not necessarily true though in regard to wealthy clubs doing it off their own bat is it. The AFL has set up a majority of clubs with favorable fixturing and full exposure.

A lot of the clubs are chasing arse as a result.

St Kilda have been given handouts financially from the afl aswell, so it’s such an odd perspective he’s gone with, it’s majorly built from the club itself, afl helps clubs as they need it to survive. Fixturing is done for clubs performance mainly with their popularity a part of the decision. A lot of this is club built, he’s complaining since their club hasn’t benefited from what’s been given and haven’t taken proper advantage or properly advanced their standpoint as a club.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Then the AFL can let GC and GWS have access to all Queensland and NSW for their academies. It would cost the AFL maybe another $1mil and give the smaller brothers in the northern market a massive leg up.
I’ll guarantee you, Brisbane and Sydney wouldn’t let that happen, so they can shut up and just take the leg up they are given.

Delusional take. All the acadamy's would end. We'll keep taking our leg up here, while you keep taking yours by always having an MCG grand final, by always traveling less and by having easier player retention. Victorian clubs have absolutely no right to complain because they're the most entitled lot of them all.

 

[Seadog]

One premiership in a 150 years suggest just making up the numbers is what they have always done.

 

[GenericUsername202]

One premiership in a 150 years suggest just making up the numbers is what they have always done.

It's the harsh reality of being a st kilda supporter. It's like when you watch the premier league, and you know which club will make the top end of the table, while also knowing the same clubs that will always hang around the bottom. Clubs like St kilda have relatively little room for growth in an already competitive market. And their continued lack of success will only push more people towards the bigger teams.

 

[Nvent]

St Kilda have been given handouts financially from the afl aswell, so it’s such an odd perspective he’s gone with, it’s majorly built from the club itself, afl helps clubs as they need it to survive. Fixturing is done for clubs performance mainly with their popularity a part of the decision. A lot of this is club built, he’s complaining since their club hasn’t benefited from what’s been given and haven’t taken proper advantage or properly advanced their standpoint as a club.

I reckon the AFL marketed teams once Friday night footy kicked off. The AFL basically built up a few clubs and left the rest to fight for scraps.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Delusional take. All the acadamy's would end. We'll keep taking our leg up here, while you keep taking yours by always having an MCG grand final, by always traveling less and by having easier player retention. Victorian clubs have absolutely no right to complain because they're the most entitled lot of them all.

You either have no idea what you’re talking about or talking shit. As if GC and GWS wouldn’t want access to every NSW and Queensland kid.
I also doubt Sydney would want to give up access to players like Mills, Heeney, Blakey Gulden, Campbell etc because they have to pay a fair price. The leg up you are getting is still there, just not taking the piss anymore.

 

[Teflon]

I would have a lot more respect for him if he came out guns blazing about Daicos after Pies won the premiership last year.

He's picking and choosing when to channel his moral outrage too. Brisbane is a much easier target compared to taking on Collingwood.

Who needs AFL franchise respect? I don’t
And for the non blinkered Lions fans (whingeing cause winning the flag and getting no 1 pick for peanuts is defendable right??) the issues Bassat raised and any subsequent changes ought to apply to ALL clubs not just Saints
Spare us your chicken little syndrome ffs

 

[Chadsteve1975]

Bullshit.

Having priority access to the best talent and getting discounts on drafting them is a much bigger advantage than having to travel a few hours for the grand final.

Academies are designed to get kids playing AFL at grassroots or developing more elite kids when the major state footy codes are League or Rugby. Done by clubs not AFL Qld or NSW AFL. The points system is evening up. Reflecting better that clubs been around for 10 years and have potential for father son.

But inequality is everywhere. The Victorian travel rort needs to be managed it’s not just the final. StKilda travelled out of Vic only 7 times. Played since mid July, their last 6 matches, at Marvel. We’d need to send their teams away for a night away after local away matches. Sleep more in hotel beds away from family. Which is just a wrong conversation to have. Do I have to do recruiting strategy for StKilda too