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

[Maybe Tomorrow]

It 100% includes father/son since its Simon Garlick whose leading the change and he has talked about issues he has with father/son 2 weeks back

Yes, but for example that means Carlton miss Walker next year.

IMO it's a good idea though. The draft is broken at present.

 

[jdstorm]

Freo leading a bid to get rid of the academy + FS until Round 2 in the draft. What this would mean is if Eagles take Zeke Uwland at pick 2 then Gold Coast have to accept it. On the other end if Eagles bid for Beau Addinnsall at pick 19 then Gold Coast can match that bid and get him for say pick 30 instead

Seems logical so I doubt it happens. Its also a bit late for such changes anyway. The horse has well and truly bolted

Ugh we already did this with it being pick 40 and people sook about clubs stealing their academy prospects ie Mac Andrew + a few others.

Just give everyone an exclusive talent pathway and don’t allow pick trading for points if you want to match someone.

 

[King Patty]

The 2027 draft will be the most compromised in recent history with Tassie coming in and you'll likely be needing plenty of points for father/sons Rodan and Salopek if they continue their current trajectory.
And possibly big points in 2026 for Dougie Cochrane if his application for NGA status is signed off.

Port don't need to worry about Rodan....he will be a Bomber. It's also a bumper draft crop for Essendon with Bewick, Darwish and Tevita Rodan.

 

[rgauci]

LOL
The 2027 draft will be the most compromised in recent history with Tassie coming in and you'll likely be needing plenty of points for father/sons Rodan and Salopek if they continue their current trajectory.
And possibly big points in 2026 for Dougie Cochrane if his application for NGA status is signed off.

You realize I’m a Freo supporter right?

 

[Rash]

Port don't need to worry about Rodan....he will be a Bomber. It's also a bumper draft crop for Essendon with Bewick, Darwish and Tevita Rodan.

We have our work cut out, even bigger draft haul than u blokes, in the unlikely case tevita does not nominate us we could not care less:

2026- Doug Cochrane (possible no.1 pick)
2027- Louis salopek (one of the best 16 year old mids in the country)
- Zemes Pilot NGA, possible no.1 pick- multiple 30 and 6 goal hauls in the sanfl at 190cm
- Tevita Rodan (if he selects us)
- Mason Tambe- nga, looking like a first round pick

could be 5 first round picks across 2 drafts.


Why would Rodan want to go to a club who hasnt won a final in almost 22 years

 

[King Patty]

Why would Rodan want to go to a club who hasnt won a final in almost 22 years

Stay with family in melbourne would be the main reason, plus likely drafted with 2 other boys he has played a lot of footy with by then.

 

[Cleric]

We have our work cut out, even bigger draft haul than u blokes, in the unlikely case tevita does not nominate us we could not care less:

2026- Doug Cochrane (possible no.1 pick)
2027- Louis salopek (one of the best 16 year old mids in the country)
- Zemes Pilot NGA, possible no.1 pick- multiple 30 and 6 goal hauls in the sanfl at 190cm
- Tevita Rodan (if he selects us)
- Mason Tambe- nga, looking like a first round pick

could be 5 first round picks across 2 drafts.


Why would Rodan want to go to a club who hasnt won a final in almost 22 years

Dougie hasn't been ticked off by the AFL and if they can find any way to stop it they will.
Stopping Port from taking the possible number 1 draft pick as a FS would be no problem for them.

However even if the AFL does tick it off, if Port get Nas and use their next two future firsts to get it done, they won't have anywhere near the draft points to even match a bid.
It will come down to this.
Nas and Butters but no Dougie
Nas and Dougie, but no Butters
Dougie and Butters, but no Nas.

 

[Rash]

However even if the AFL does tick it off, if Port get Nas and use their next two future firsts to get it done, they won't have anywhere near the draft points to even match a bid.

Our ITk has said Afl have approved dougie, and will announce following the change to NGA zones in August, Our Recruiting boss had a interview on SEN 3 weeks ago, sounded like its just a matter of paperwork. we are fairly confident on the Cochrane NGA stuff.

Anyway,

I think Nas is staying at saints, so we will have more points for 2026,2027

 

[Rash]

Stay with family in melbourne would be the main reason, plus likely drafted with 2 other boys he has played a lot of footy with by then.

Yeah i guess, Port supporters are hoping his long time friendship with Salopek and wanting to play for the club his dad played for can steer him in our direction.

We will see how Essendon and port perform over 2026 and 2027, if Essendon dont make finals in the next couple of years surely that would be a factor in his decision making

 

[Taylor]

We will see how Essendon and port perform over 2026 and 2027, if Essendon dont make finals in the next couple of years surely that would be a factor in his decision making

It used to be allowed for father son players to agree to a contract with the destination club prior to the draft to secure their nomination - it still is in theory. So watch for Essendon or Port to guarantee him a five year start at footy with huge money in year four or five - that will decide the path.

 

[bluebaggerjuls]

i doubt any changes happen to academies or father sons in the next couple years. Theres a new bidding system thats been introduced and swann mentioned they were gonna see how that plays out.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Dougie hasn't been ticked off by the AFL and if they can find any way to stop it they will.
Stopping Port from taking the possible number 1 draft pick as a FS would be no problem for them.

However even if the AFL does tick it off, if Port get Nas and use their next two future firsts to get it done, they won't have anywhere near the draft points to even match a bid.
It will come down to this.
Nas and Butters but no Dougie
Nas and Dougie, but no Butters
Dougie and Butters, but no Nas.

If no one leaves we will just go into deficit. No big deal when you are getting top end talent.

 

[King Patty]

It used to be allowed for father son players to agree to a contract with the destination club prior to the draft to secure their nomination - it still is in theory. So watch for Essendon or Port to guarantee him a five year start at footy with huge money in year four or five - that will decide the path.

I don't think Rodan is good enough for that kind of contract, but Cochrane and Bewick definetly are.

I think the difference for Rodan choosing Essendon is likely the calder cannons boys - coming through around kako, El-achkar, Sweid, Justice and his own peers Bewick & Darwish.

 

[Taylor]

Personally, I think that if a player qualifies as a father son pick at any club they shouldn't qualify as a next generation/academy player since their access and pathway to AFL is arguably more robust than another kid from a capital city of a footy state.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Personally, I think that if a player qualifies as a father son pick at any club they shouldn't qualify as a next generation/academy player since their access and pathway to AFL is arguably more robust than another kid from a capital city of a footy state.

Except its not really though for everyone.
Father-son kids who are living outside of AFL states are going to have a lack of elite-pathways to getting there.

For example Luke Hodge and Jeff White's kids, they're living in Queensland, without being a part of the Northern Academies, there isn't a very good elite talent pathway for them. Do Kalani White and Cooper Hodge turn into elite AFL footballers without that Academy access, or do they end up as maybe rookie picks that get delisted after a year.

Blakey is a bit different again, because he might've had more access to develop at Sydney because his father was actually working for them. Neither Luke Hodge or Jeff White are working for Brisbane/Gold Coast.

The alternate being these two have to live away from the their family to get access to elite pathways simply because their fathers played AFL in the past?

Unlike if they lived in Melbourne, SA or WA. NGA Academy access to players who are also Father-Sons is a bit strange in the football states. If Tevita Rodan wasn't a father-son he's still got the Talent League development path available to him if he's good enough.

 

[Coach_Required]

Freo leading a bid to get rid of the academy + FS until Round 2 in the draft. What this would mean is if Eagles take Zeke Uwland at pick 2 then Gold Coast have to accept it. On the other end if Eagles bid for Beau Addinnsall at pick 19 then Gold Coast can match that bid and get him for say pick 30 instead

Seems logical so I doubt it happens. Its also a bit late for such changes anyway. The horse has well and truly bolted

Still needs to happen though because you never know what happens down the track.

 

[Taylor]

Except its not really though for everyone.
Father-son kids who are living outside of AFL states are going to have a lack of elite-pathways to getting there.

For example Luke Hodge and Jeff White's kids, they're living in Queensland, without being a part of the Northern Academies, there isn't a very good elite talent pathway for them. Do Kalani White and Cooper Hodge turn into elite AFL footballers without that Academy access, or do they end up as maybe rookie picks that get delisted after a year.

Blakey is a bit different again, because he might've had more access to develop at Sydney because his father was actually working for them. Neither Luke Hodge or Jeff White are working for Brisbane/Gold Coast.

The alternate being these two have to live away from the their family to get access to elite pathways simply because their fathers played AFL in the past?

Unlike if they lived in Melbourne, SA or WA. NGA Academy access to players who are also Father-Sons is a bit strange in the football states. If Tevita Rodan wasn't a father-son he's still got the Talent League development path available to him if he's good enough.

I think I could play AFL with the men if Luke Hodge was my dad/coach regardless of where I grew up.

Rodan isn't suddenly lining up to be a goal umpire because his dad took that up after footy.

NWM should be brought over regardless of what is coming in future years too, the known star and sort out the rest later way.

 

[phantom13]

I think I could play AFL with the men if Luke Hodge was my dad/coach regardless of where I grew up.

Rodan isn't suddenly lining up to be a goal umpire because his dad took that up after footy.

NWM should be brought over regardless of what is coming in future years too, the known star and sort out the rest later way.

Theyre also living in Queensland not the Tiwi Islands or some tiny remote community in the Alice.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Theyre also living in Queensland not the Tiwi Islands or some tiny remote community in the Alice.

Because there were so many elite AFL footballers coming out of Queensland before the Academies...

 

[Duckimus Prime]

I think I could play AFL with the men if Luke Hodge was my dad/coach regardless of where I grew up.

Rodan isn't suddenly lining up to be a goal umpire because his dad took that up after footy.

Not just about drawing them to footy. But providing them with the elite development pathway to get to the AFL.

Even if their Dad was an AFL footballer, with no Academy access, you think a kid in Brisbane has the same chance of playing AFL compared to a kid in Melbourne?

 

[Taylor]

Not just about drawing them to footy. But providing them with the elite development pathway to get to the AFL.

Even if their Dad was an AFL footballer, with no Academy access, you think a kid in Brisbane has the same chance of playing AFL compared to a kid in Melbourne?

100% - I think they have even more chance of it. The clubs quite literally reach out to them. They will be spending time at an AFL club for most of their life, they will have seen more inside a footy club than a number one draft pick before they are even 15. Their father knows how everything works and has the president's phone number in their phone - the coach probably calls them up to talk from time to time. They've had dinner with Alistair Clarkson and talked footy with a dozen AFL players.

Not to mention the memorabilia on the walls and in the drawers etc.

They will have trained at the AFL club when their dad dropped in. I've seen Justin Longmuir's son kicking the ball around with Michael Walters at Marvel stadium before a game.

If your dad played enough football to qualify you for a father son selection, the club knows your name and pours resources into you, they keep in touch with your dad and family, they invite you across the country - especially if your son qualified for more than one club.

Do you think the Eagles aren't looking at Chris Judd's boys? Sending them merch to keep them interested?

Luke Hodge didn't forget how to football when he retired.

 

[phantom13]

Because there were so many elite AFL footballers coming out of Queensland before the Academies...

I mean there wasn’t none but more importantly if you seriously think an academy was needed for Luke Hodges kids to have any shot at making the afl I reckon you might not have a clue what you’re talking about.

I’m not shotting the academies, they have a place in the afl landscape (whether it’s overdone right now or not) Luke Hodges kid needing it is not the argument to make

 

[phantom13]

Not just about drawing them to footy. But providing them with the elite development pathway to get to the AFL.

Even if their Dad was an AFL footballer, with no Academy access, you think a kid in Brisbane has the same chance of playing AFL compared to a kid in Melbourne?

Hahahahhaa you can’t be serious?

Yeh I reckon Luke Hodges kid has a better chance of playing AFL than just about any kid in Melbourne

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Not just about drawing them to footy. But providing them with the elite development pathway to get to the AFL.

Even if their Dad was an AFL footballer, with no Academy access, you think a kid in Brisbane has the same chance of playing AFL compared to a kid in Melbourne?

You are joking and messing with people right?

 

[PortVic]

Because there were so many elite AFL footballers coming out of Queensland before the Academies...

Dunstall, Akermanis, Voss, Reiwoldt, Tippett.