Opinion AFL Academy rules need to be refined

[blaisee]

Can someone please explain to me the story of Sam Marshall ?

Why is he Brisbane NGA, and if he was, why did he play football at the Sandringham dragons ?

If a player is an NGA for a club, surely it would make sense for that player to reside in the state that he has NGA ties, and play football in that state?

Why was Marshall allowed to play football in Victoria, and deny another young player, available to all clubs in the AFL draft pool, the chance to be developed at the Sandringham Dragons?

This crazy stuff needs to end, NOW!

 

[cAsEy_18]

Fortunately due to significant salary differences, very few players are leaving the NBA to take up an AFL career.

 

[blaisee]

Fortunately due to significant salary differences, very few players are leaving the NBA to take up an AFL career.

excellent point taken

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Exactly the same as father sons that are also members of academy’s, it should never happen. Academy's should be for players that are at risk of never playing football not sons of champions players!

 

[go_the_dockers]

I know NGA Players tend to slide late, but the number of players tied to clubs is just too high.

The AFL needs to change something or the draft will no longer be fit for purpose. The new point system will help, but you can't have a club with pick 5 getting the 10th best players in the draft.

AFL Draft power rankings: Risers and fallers shake up the top 20

Willem Duursma is holding off the pack as the top prospect in 2025, but a Fremantle NGA prospect has burst into the top 10, and some big names have slid down the pecking order.

www.espn.com.au

8 of the top 20 tied to a club.

16 of the 38 players mentioned in the article tied to a club.

 

[Elixuh]

They’re onto us

 

[Broski]

St Kilda has always had the correct stance on this issue, but other clubs/fans have seen it as an historically unsuccessful club crying for the sake of crying.

The price for NGAs and Academy players need to be substantially more than they currently are, because the rugby states will be perennial powerhouses if it doesn't change.

Personally, it doesn't sit well with me that the draft has been destroyed. This year will likely have close to a 30-pick first round, which is just laughable.

I want to add that I am not just attacking rugby state-based clubs, I believe father/son is a pisstake as well.

If you want a fair and equitable competition, the draft needs be an avenue for the best talent to go to the teams that finish at the bottom-end of the ladder.

For example, Levi Ashcroft would have been in serious contention for being pick one last year if he wasn't tied to the Lions.

In my perfect world, Richmond should have been able to take him with pick one and if he wanted to request a trade to the Lions in the future, then be my guest - the Tigers would get good return via trade, and Lions get the father/son story.

It's not going to change cause the AFL truly doesn't care about an equitable competition. It wants the big Vic clubs to keep chugging along and bringing in crowds, while non-traditional states continue to grow. It's all about money.

 

[sydney_gws]

St Kilda has always had the correct stance on this issue, but other clubs/fans have seen it as an historically unsuccessful club crying for the sake of crying.

The price for NGAs and Academy players need to be substantially more than they currently are, because the rugby states will be perennial powerhouses if it doesn't change.

Personally, it doesn't sit well with me that the draft has been destroyed. This year will likely have close to a 30-pick first round, which is just laughable.

I want to add that I am not just attacking rugby state-based clubs, I believe father/son is a pisstake as well.

If you want a fair and equitable competition, the draft needs be an avenue for the best talent to go to the teams that finish at the bottom-end of the ladder.

For example, Levi Ashcroft would have been in serious contention for being pick one last year if he wasn't tied to the Lions.

In my perfect world, Richmond should have been able to take him with pick one and if he wanted to request a trade to the Lions in the future, then be my guest - the Tigers would get good return via trade, and Lions get the father/son story.

It's not going to change cause the AFL truly doesn't care about an equitable competition. It wants the big Vic clubs to keep chugging along and bringing in crowds, while non-traditional states continue to grow. It's all about money.

It's about being biggest game in Australia, otherwise the officials and media identities ( imagine a show calling itself the agenda setters in say USA that discusses the NBA) will feel a bit of a joke, no other countries play it Some of the players deserve a bigger stage.
I would like to see if Nic Daicos could make the socceroos, maybe play premier league in England.

 

[Atomboy]

Can someone please explain to me the story of Sam Marshall ?

Why is he Brisbane NGA, and if he was, why did he play football at the Sandringham dragons ?

If a player is an NGA for a club, surely it would make sense for that player to reside in the state that he has NGA ties, and play football in that state?

Why was Marshall allowed to play football in Victoria, and deny another young player, available to all clubs in the AFL draft pool, the chance to be developed at the Sandringham Dragons?

This crazy stuff needs to end, NOW!

Willl the minnow clubs ever stop bleating about the inequalities of the draft ?!.

 

[briztoon]

Can someone please explain to me the story of Sam Marshall ?

Why is he Brisbane NGA, and if he was, why did he play football at the Sandringham dragons ?

If a player is an NGA for a club, surely it would make sense for that player to reside in the state that he has NGA ties, and play football in that state?

Why was Marshall allowed to play football in Victoria, and deny another young player, available to all clubs in the AFL draft pool, the chance to be developed at the Sandringham Dragons?

This crazy stuff needs to end, NOW!

Because Victorian private schools are recruiting players, and offering full scholarships and board, from all over the country now. Pretty sure there is WA kid who is nga, playing for Oakleigh this year.

There was a Suns academy kid who also had a scholarship in Vic/APS and played for Oakleigh a couple of years ago.

Several Lions academy kids have been offered scholarships from APS schools in the last couple of years, Marshall is the only one to take it up. Luckily for us, Mum and Dad still live here, and as his home is in our zone, we retained the rights to him.

You have an issue, take it up with the APS schools.

 

[blaisee]

Because Victorian private schools are recruiting players, and offering full scholarships and board, from all over the country now. Pretty sure there is WA kid who is nga, playing for Oakleigh this year.

There was a Suns academy kid who also had a scholarship in Vic/APS and played for Oakleigh a couple of years ago.

Several Lions academy kids have been offered scholarships from APS schools in the last couple of years, Marshall is the only one to take it up. Luckily for us, Mum and Dad still live here, and as his home is in our zone, we retained the rights to him.

You have an issue, take it up with the APS schools.

good for them

I still see no reason as to why a Sandringham dragons spot in Melbourne was taken up by a Brisbane NGA , and all those opportunities where given to a player, who was only ever going to represent Brisbane, while other kids available to the all clubs where denied those opportunities and development.

Its completely ridiculous.

Each club should develop their own talent in their own state

 

[briztoon]

good for them

I still see no reason as to why a Sandringham dragons spot in Melbourne was taken up by a Brisbane NGA , and all those opportunities where given to a player, who was only ever going to represent Brisbane, while other kids available to the all clubs where denied those opportunities and development.

Its completely ridiculous.

Each club should develop their own talent in their own state

Same thing happened with JUH at Oakleigh, the Davey twins at Oakleigh, and if I could be bothered to research it, I’d probably find a heap of others.

 

[blaisee]

Same thing happened with JUH at Oakleigh, the Davey twins at Oakleigh, and if I could be bothered to research it, I’d probably find a heap of others.

it was wrong then and its wrong now

 

[go_the_dockers]

Same thing happened with JUH at Oakleigh, the Davey twins at Oakleigh, and if I could be bothered to research it, I’d probably find a heap of others.

Lots of NT players. Rioli's as well.

There is a WA player this year playing boarding at a Victorian school.

 

[M Malice]

Just get rid of all the club run academies and let the AFL run them... although under the current(and most past ones) administration it may end up a colossal cluster f...

All players go into the open draft, I do like the romance of father/son but I wouldn't be too bothered if they got rid of that as well.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Just get rid of all the club run academies and let the AFL run them... although under the current(and most past ones) administration it may end up a colossal cluster f...

All players go into the open draft, I do like the romance of father/son but I wouldn't be too bothered if they got rid of that as well.

They tried that, everyone that wants the AFL to run them might want to go back and look just how bad they were, there's a good reason they get the clubs to do it.

The price is the issue and I've been consistent on this, why is there even a need for a discount whether that be a F/S, a NGA or an academy. The ability to match is your discount that's the advantage, stop complicating the thing.

That isn't even considering how terrible the points curve has been, it's a mile better this year we all know why they waited though GC had a stack coming through in that draft two years ago.

Lets see how this year works it looks way better in theory.

 

[eastfreo75]

Time to get rid of the draft and go back to zoning.

I understand the Northern states needs to have academy programs to counter the go home factor but the draft is just too compromised.

Draft was an instrument to make it an even competition but the likes of Geelong has shown you don’t have high draft picks to be successful.

Zones would reduce the go home factor and the clubs would put resources into developing talent.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Time to get rid of the draft and go back to zoning.

I understand the Northern states needs to have academy programs to counter the go home factor but the draft is just too compromised.

Draft was an instrument to make it an even competition but the likes of Geelong has shown you don’t have high draft picks to be successful.

Zones would reduce the go home factor and the clubs would put resources into developing talent.

Last time it basically entrenched unfairness though, because some teams had naturally much stronger zones than others.

 

[eastfreo75]

Last time it basically entrenched unfairness though, because some teams had naturally much stronger zones than others.

And it’s not now?

The Queensland teams are going to dominate with regularly getting top 10 picks. Swans half the time have an academy top 10 pick and still make finals. Only the Giants haven’t done that well after losing the Riverina.

Father sons is a lucky dip.

Geelong use trading and free agency to keep being successful.

Brisbane each draft either get Father Son, Academy players or can get an interstate draftee. Seriously that’s totally unfair and the Lions can stay successful and still get great draft hand.

For the other clubs, it’s a real lottery what academy players and father and son picks you have.

This system doesn’t favor the rebuilding teams.

 

[MisterMarcus]

And it’s not now?

The Queensland teams are going to dominate with regularly getting top 10 picks. Swans half the time have an academy top 10 pick and still make finals. Only the Giants haven’t done that well after losing the Riverina.

Father sons is a lucky dip.

Geelong use trading and free agency to keep being successful.

Brisbane each draft either get Father Son, Academy players or can get an interstate draftee. Seriously that’s totally unfair and the Lions can stay successful and still get great draft hand.

For the other clubs, it’s a real lottery what academy players and father and son picks you have.

This system doesn’t favor the rebuilding teams.

Just because the current system "doesn't work", it's not a reason to go back to another system that doesn't work.

 

[Jirik13]

The change of draft index value table should make a significant difference this year. Let's see. It could possibly go further.

AFL could easily limit how many bids are allowed to be matched in the first round. A bit surprisingly, AFL went the other way. From max 1 matching bid on academy kid in 1st round for 1-4 teams and 2 matching bids for 5-8 teams to no limit. I guess that's because now there are the same rules for F/S, NGA, Norther academies and clubs did not want that.

I don't see any good reason why top 4 top teams are allowed to match in the first round and now even without limit. So winner can still match multiple F/S NGA/academy kids in the first round. Leave it to bottom teams.

Academy kids increase total number of players playing footy.

I don't think academies run by AFL would be as efficient in NRL territories. It's a big motivation and assistance for kids to train with AFL players and use facilities and expertise of AFL clubs. Sponsors are involved too.

To be honest, I was shocked to read recently that Suns spend 2M on academy (some money from AFL, some from sponsors). Only 6-7 years back it was 300K apparently (when Swans were spending 2M in that time already, QBE sponsor).

Clubs will not run academies and put money into them unless they get some advantages. Academy kids on teams do provide stability and less retention issue.

SA, WA could do with academies to grow footy too.

 

[mpal6]

Just get rid of all the club run academies and let the AFL run them... although under the current(and most past ones) administration it may end up a colossal cluster f...

All players go into the open draft, I do like the romance of father/son but I wouldn't be too bothered if they got rid of that as well.

Bleating will start when next Daicos or Ablett or Hawkins or Libba comes through the system. Father son not going anywhere so I don't mind the Ashcrofts, Fletcher.

 

[eastfreo75]

Last time it basically entrenched unfairness though, because some teams had naturally much stronger zones than others.

Money was a bigger factor. You could get the best players from WA and SA.

 

[eastfreo75]

Just because the current system "doesn't work", it's not a reason to go back to another system that doesn't work.

NRL model?

 

[briztoon]

And it’s not now?

The Queensland teams are going to dominate with regularly getting top 10 picks. Swans half the time have an academy top 10 pick and still make finals. Only the Giants haven’t done that well after losing the Riverina.

Father sons is a lucky dip.

Geelong use trading and free agency to keep being successful.

Brisbane each draft either get Father Son, Academy players or can get an interstate draftee. Seriously that’s totally unfair and the Lions can stay successful and still get great draft hand.

For the other clubs, it’s a real lottery what academy players and father and son picks you have.

This system doesn’t favor the rebuilding teams.

We've had 3 first round father son kids in our history. It's just coincidence they have arrived just recently at the same time.

We've had two first round academy kids to date, Hipwood in 2015 and Marshall last year. Annable will be our third. We don't appear to have any highly rated kids in our U17 or U16 crop.

Any move back to zones would bury the Northern clubs in obscurity, as we simply don't produce enough talent year in year out. Not the high end talent or enough numbers to provide depth.