News AFL overhauls Academy and FS bid matching, discussing draft lockout

[PezzDogg95]

I like the roles of the northern academies and next gen academies are doing, which is expanding the talent pool of the AFL.

Definitely needed given we are about to have a 19th team, and presumably a 20th in due course (2030?). Which means 45-90 additional AFL quality players will be needed.

I'd like the AFL to expand the Category B rookie list back out to 3 players, as it was pre-covid. Additionally, they should increase the eligibility to any undrafted academy player (even if not from same club), to get these players into the system.

Cat B eligibility should also be expanded to up to 5 years in line with the Cat A rookie changes (with caveats on games played).

Keep growing the game and providing opportunities.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I like the roles of the northern academies and next gen academies are doing, which is expanding the talent pool of the AFL.

Definitely needed given we are about to have a 19th team, and presumably a 20th in due course (2030?). Which means 45-90 additional AFL quality players will be needed.

I'd like the AFL to expand the Category B rookie list back out to 3 players, as it was pre-covid. Additionally, they should increase the eligibility to any undrafted academy player (even if not from same club), to get these players into the system.

Cat B eligibility should also be expanded to up to 5 years in line with the Cat A rookie changes (with caveats on games played).

Keep growing the game and providing opportunities.

I like the idea of 5 years on the rookie list, but you can't be on the rookie list if you played 20 games.

Not sure if it should be 20 AFL games for any club, or the club you are currently with.

but it would be good to stop the rookie list being used for players like Gunston.

 

[briztoon]

I like the roles of the northern academies and next gen academies are doing, which is expanding the talent pool of the AFL.

Definitely needed given we are about to have a 19th team, and presumably a 20th in due course (2030?). Which means 45-90 additional AFL quality players will be needed.

I'd like the AFL to expand the Category B rookie list back out to 3 players, as it was pre-covid. Additionally, they should increase the eligibility to any undrafted academy player (even if not from same club), to get these players into the system.

Cat B eligibility should also be expanded to up to 5 years in line with the Cat A rookie changes (with caveats on games played).

Keep growing the game and providing opportunities.

NGA’s and Northern Academies aren’t growing the talent pool.

All they are doing is providing a higher standard of training and competition, comparable to the CTL.

And it’s debatable that the Vic NGA’s are even doing this, as those kids have exposure to the best talent pathways in the country already.

 

[bulldogs201616]

You should have to match a bid with the same round pick not later picks.

 

[MPMonkeys]

My thoughts:

1. You only get one F/S or NGA selection per draft
2. No more than 2 F/S or NGA selections in total over 3 years.
3. Remove the discount. Getting access to the talent is reward enough
4. The points calculator is not right. As it stands, two pick 20s or three pick 30s is the equivalent of pick 5. Needs an overhaul.
   

 

[mpal6]

You should have to match a bid with the same round pick not later picks.

We started there and when Sydney matched Heeney with pick 16 or 18, it became a bad idea.

 

[Fluro Boots]

We started there and when Sydney matched Heeney with pick 16 or 18, it became a bad idea.

You could still use the points system, just make it that you can’t match if you don’t hold a pick in that round, or you live trade one in to be able to match. Could also fix the problem of clubs trading to get inside a bid and get two top end talents or like the other year when Gold Coast got 4 first round academy players

 

[VinnieB]

I like the roles of the northern academies and next gen academies are doing, which is expanding the talent pool of the AFL.

Definitely needed given we are about to have a 19th team, and presumably a 20th in due course (2030?). Which means 45-90 additional AFL quality players will be needed.

I'd like the AFL to expand the Category B rookie list back out to 3 players, as it was pre-covid. Additionally, they should increase the eligibility to any undrafted academy player (even if not from same club), to get these players into the system.

Cat B eligibility should also be expanded to up to 5 years in line with the Cat A rookie changes (with caveats on games played).

Keep growing the game and providing opportunities.

To be honest, I don't see the need for NGAs.
How many NGA kids recruited weren't already good enough to be playing in the Talent League? I doubt having a session here or here with the AFL club you fall under is going to make a significant difference to your skill level.

 

[mpal6]

You could still use the points system, just make it that you can’t match if you don’t hold a pick in that round, or you live trade one in to be able to match. Could also fix the problem of clubs trading to get inside a bid and get two top end talents or like the other year when Gold Coast got 4 first round academy players

What if the bid comes at the very last or second last pick of the round. It will be much harder to implement and you need to start adding exceptions which defeats the purpose.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What if the bid comes at the very last or second last pick of the round. It will be much harder to implement and you need to start adding exceptions which defeats the purpose.

That is why I don't mind the idea of making it a selection has to be within 18 selections of the bid. So if it's bid early, you are using a first, if it's bid late you are still using your next selection AT LEAST. By all means trade in other picks but the first one stays the same.

The biggest issue with the system and my fellow Swans fans hate me saying it but I don't care- the bidding doesn't pass the pub test. Pick 5 should not equal two picks in the 30's or whatever it is. No sane bloke is giving up pick 5 for that return so why is it worth it in the matching? At least under my system even if it's the Lions and Ashcroft (I'm not picking on you okay just an example), the first bidding pick would have to be pick 18 (I know it went out but whatever).

This also would stop the double dipping which is what fans are getting cranky over, you have your first you are using it for the matching the end, it means we won't have a GC farce too

 

[My_Username]

You should have to match a bid with the same round pick not later picks.

Pretty much.

With live trading of picks, having a requirement that the first pick used be within 18 spots isn't unreasonable (maybe grant a little extra time to arrange it if needed). Exception allowed if the club has more than one pick, where a pick can be deemed to have been held/used by them if they had it, but it was used on a previous player. ( so if you take a player at 5 with picks 23, 28 and change, then take another player at 10, then pick 28 still counts as 'within one round' for the player at 10 even though it's already used)

I'd also cut the discount, but to be 'nice' to clubs who don't get many picks (academy, NGA, or FS) I wouldn't cut it entirely.
You 'earn', say, 150pts/year and can bank them from year to year if you don't have anyone to spend them on.

So in the 2023 draft, GC got academy players at 3,9,14 & 26....Guess what, we get 150 points discount on that pick 3, and the rest would be full value....including picks 21,27,32,44 (or better).

On the other hand, Club Y hasn't had anyone through those channels for 6 years, and they finally snag a player at pick 20....pick 20 is worth 912 points, so they only pay 912 - 6*150 = 12 points. (I'm guessing the AFL would insist on it being no more than a certain %, but....I like it this way).

For those who think it wouldn't be worth it any more...the big advantage has always been that you can 'jump the queue' and not pay any more than another club would have paid, and you still get that.

 

[go_the_dockers]

You could still use the points system, just make it that you can’t match if you don’t hold a pick in that round, or you live trade one in to be able to match. Could also fix the problem of clubs trading to get inside a bid and get two top end talents or like the other year when Gold Coast got 4 first round academy players

I really dislike the idea, as if someone is bid on using the last pick in the 1st round then a club can't match it.

If you removed the discount, and said you need a pick with in 1 round (normally 18 picks) of when the player is bid on, then that would be good.

The new points system fixes the GC issue a fair bit. I don't think it would have been possible.

 

[#BallMagnet]

Might be time to split the draft in two with their own separate rules seeing that it’s become so compromised and complicated. 2025 a classic example and will only get worse as the Academy & NGA’s grow.
Academy, NGA & F/S (use points and so forth) into one with the non affiliated kids in the other and have this as a pure lottery (NBA model) where it’s more based on actual ladder finish position. Allow pick swaps and deals to occur if needed.

Maybe then, any left over kids from both drafts go into a pure Rookie draft and can be claimed by anyone. No strings attached.

 

[giantroo]

 

[briztoon]

 

[tigs2010]

McGuire would have got this shut down years ago.

Bassat doesn't have the power, kidding himself.

 

[kaiserchief13]

At least the St Kilda president has the balls unlike the many other pussies who complain about it but do nothing about it

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

All reasonable fixes from St Kila to be honest though id probably prefer the change to NGA rather than academy be just for Brisbane and Sydney for now.

I am very keen for that top 4 cant match change. I think the bidding system completely eliminated the idea the draft helps equalise when strong clubs get access to the best young talent (even regardless of price paid).

 

[s_wd6]

If you’re upset with any of StK’s suggestions then it’s only because you know your club gets an unfair advantage from the current rules and you don’t want to lose it.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

If you’re upset with any of StK’s suggestions then it’s only because you know your club gets an unfair advantage from the current rules and you don’t want to lose it.

This

 

[Profop]

If the AFL was competent they’d run the NGA’s and the academies and then there’d be no reason for the clubs to get a draft benefit but they’re the AFL so here we are

 

[danster168]

they've already stuffed the comp up anyway. it's stuffed at this point anyway.

 

[jdstorm]

Saints bloke is just having a sook. Just give every team an academy, make the pick matching system fair and dont allow trading back for points which makes a mockery of the points system.

Simple enough.

 

[Atomboy]

If you’re upset with any of StK’s suggestions then it’s only because you know your club gets an unfair advantage from the current rules and you don’t want to lose it.

Yeah but if we change it then you’ll see the likes of the Ashcroft boys and Jed Walters playing Rugby League for the Broncos !!.

 

[Lach72]

I’m ok with the NGA changes, as long as it doesn’t come in for 3 years. Now clubs can trade 3 years in advance, they have been working on strategies using picks based on the players coming through.

As far as Father Son goes, I’d be pushing for a limit in the AFL era.

It would mightily **** me off watching Darcy, Ablett, Hawkins and Daicos’ etc tear the comp a new arse for years, and when Pavlich and Mundy’s sons or whoever come through we have no access to them. **** that.