Adam Cerra vs Archie Perkins. What would you prefer your club to do?

[Sturty2Hurty]

Saw the news about Cerra requesting a trade today. As a Freo supporter this incredibly frustrating and disappointing. To sink a high draft pick, 4 years of development and resources into him only for him to play for another club is a bit of a joke, to put it lightly. However the situation reminds me of the Archie Perkins story last year. Perkins came out and said he would prefer not to be traded interstate. If you're an interstate club on draft night and Perkins is at the top of your list on talent, do you just let him go to another club and pick the lesser player? What if Perkins is a future All Australian etc? You'd look pretty silly not to pick him. It's a bit of damned if you do, damned if you don't situation; burned either way. So I want to open up the discussion and see what bigfooty thinks. If you were a list manager on draft night and the kid you want most prefers not to be drafted to your home state, what would you do?

 

[kane249]

At the moment the players have all the power when it comes to their movement and can dictate where they want to go.

As we progress towards a more open market of player trading like the US sports leagues, the clubs will have more power to move people and with that the homesick draftee will probably become less.

 

[Beerfish]

What if Perkins is a future All Australian etc?

What do you mean 'what if'?

 

[Delisted]

Who tf is perkins

 

[Golumless]

Saw the news about Cerra requesting a trade today. As a Freo supporter this incredibly frustrating and disappointing. To sink a high draft pick, 4 years of development and resources into him only for him to play for another club is a bit of a joke, to put it lightly. However the situation reminds me of the Archie Perkins story last year. Perkins came out and said he would prefer not to be traded interstate. If you're an interstate club on draft night and Perkins is at the top of your list on talent, do you just let him go to another club and pick the lesser player? What if Perkins is a future All Australian etc? You'd look pretty silly not to pick him. It's a bit of damned if you do, damned if you don't situation; burned either way. So I want to open up the discussion and see what bigfooty thinks. If you were a list manager on draft night and the kid you want most prefers not to be drafted to your home state, what would you do?

You can't afford to risk a high pick on someone if they're not willing to move interstate.

Just grab the next guy on your list, and move on with your life.

 

[Shane Heard]

The solution is that Freo and WC should endeavour to pick homegrown WA boys wherever possible and quit rolling the dice with SA and Victorian recruits.

The chances of players wanted to bail out 3 or 4 years later would be lessened.

 

[Shane Heard]

Who tf is perkins

Archie Perkins is an Australian rules footballer who plays for Essendon in the Australian Football League. He was recruited by the Essendon Football Club with the 9th draft pick in the 2020 AFL draft. From Brighton Grammar/Sandringham U18s

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

The solution is that Freo and WC should endeavour to pick homegrown WA boys wherever possible and quit rolling the dice with SA and Victorian recruits.

The chances of players wanted to bail out 3 or 4 years later would be lessened.

Homegrown private school boys, can't forget the private school component

 

[mike ross]

Who tf is perkins

 

[Juddernaut08]

Back yourself. For every gun that leaves, 3 stay. It's not like theres a Cerra leaving you each year.

 

[JayJ20]

Though he was criticised for it, surely you'd prefer the Perkins situation. Honesty prepares clubs and gives them an understanding of what they're getting themselves into. At least that way, the club can choose to draft someone else or take a known risk. Fremantle could have spent their time developing Naughton instead of Cerra.

 

[Shane Heard]

e

Homegrown private school boys, can't forget the private school component

That’s the ideal breeding ground.
Next best is areas Rockingham all the way south to Bunbury.

 

[g_TRAIN]

I would take the Punt on Perkins. Cerra better at the moment but he's a little vanilla for mine.

 

[Shane Heard]

Back yourself. For every gun that leaves, 3 stay. It's not like theres a Cerra leaving you each year.

or a Judd or Neale or some other spud

 

[EagleMan87]

The solution is that Freo and WC should endeavour to pick homegrown WA boys wherever possible and quit rolling the dice with SA and Victorian recruits.

The chances of players wanted to bail out 3 or 4 years later would be lessened.

Player retention isn't really an issue for WC.

 

[SnusCG]

Player wise, Cerra has developed enough to say he will be at worst, a very good midfielder. Perkins has shown glimpses as you'd expect for a first year player but could go either way.

interstate willingness you would still go Cerra as he at least gave it a crack with 4 years and from all reports it seems to be very girlfriend driven his desire to move back to Melbourne, rather than him necessarily being driven to go home.

I really do believe the AFL needs to change the way the draft and free agency is handled though. It makes the AFL look like a bit of a joke that 18 year old kids are getting to dictate their own terms to a national level sporting body.

They need to start having NBA/NFL style rookie deals - ie. 2 year contracts that have the option to be extended by a further 2 years if the club would like to (eg. 350k per year extensions for years 3 and 4 at the clubs discretion)

Their first contract post-rookie deal needs to qualify them for restricted free agency in which if their current club does decide to match, then they genuinely do get to keep the player for the negotiated contract terms (rather than right now where 'matching an offer' is really just a meaningless statement that means the club can ask for a trade rather than accept a compensation pick)

Once they're an unrestricted free agent they can sign for whoever they want.

 

[Juddernaut08]

or a Judd or Neale or some other spud

so 3 since 2007?

thats 3 our of 26 first round picks from freo and wce

not exactly a gold coast level exodus

 

[Shane Heard]

Player retention isn't really an issue for WC.

In recent times yes

that’ll change soon

 

[bzparkes]

The solution is that Freo and WC should endeavour to pick homegrown WA boys wherever possible and quit rolling the dice with SA and Victorian recruits.

The chances of players wanted to bail out 3 or 4 years later would be lessened.

Why? We don't have issues with player retention like Freo does.

Judd's probably the only highly rated player we've had that's requested a trade back home.

Begs to ask why Neale, Cerra and Weller all wanted to head back east.

 

[La Dispute]

Playing finals is also pretty important if you're an interstate club taking on a Vic kid.

McCluggage also looked disappointed on draft night, but Brisbane have risen quickly since he's got to the club and he wouldn't dream of moving back while they're in their premiership window.

 

[Shane Heard]

so 3 since 2007?

thats 3 our of 26 first round picks from freo and wce

not exactly a gold coast level exodus

Im being sarcastic

 

[Shane Heard]

Why? We don't have issues with player retention like Freo does.

Judd's probably the only highly rated player we've had that's requested a trade back home.

Begs to ask why Neale, Cerra and Weller all wanted to head back east.

The Cockburn vibe I’m guessing isn’t that desirable

 

[Shane Heard]

Player wise, Cerra has developed enough to say he will be at worst, a very good midfielder. Perkins has shown glimpses as you'd expect for a first year player but could go either way.

interstate willingness you would still go Cerra as he at least gave it a crack with 4 years and from all reports it seems to be very girlfriend driven his desire to move back to Melbourne, rather than him necessarily being driven to go home.

I really do believe the AFL needs to change the way the draft and free agency is handled though. It makes the AFL look like a bit of a joke that 18 year old kids are getting to dictate their own terms to a national level sporting body.

They need to start having NBA/NFL style rookie deals - ie. 2 year contracts that have the option to be extended by a further 2 years if the club would like to (eg. 350k per year extensions for years 3 and 4 at the clubs discretion)

Their first contract post-rookie deal needs to qualify them for restricted free agency in which if their current club does decide to match, then they genuinely do get to keep the player for the negotiated contract terms (rather than right now where 'matching an offer' is really just a meaningless statement that means the club can ask for a trade rather than accept a compensation pick)

Once they're an unrestricted free agent they can sign for whoever they want.

yeah nah..if you’ve got a 21 or 22 year old ‘kid’ who hates living in Perth, that’s not good for his footy or his club be it Freo or WC

 

[La Dispute]

In situations where there is a comparably rated prospect at the selection Freo should opt for the WA kid.

Naughton was available and would have been a great choice at 5.

 

[SnusCG]

yeah nah..if you’ve got a 21 or 22 year old ‘kid’ who hates living in Perth, that’s not good for his footy or his club be it Freo or WC

They can still request a trade during that period - and the club can still opt to accommodate that if they're absolutely hating it, but it just gives the club some level of flexibility that is supposed to be the point of restricted free agency.