News Changes to Next Generation Academies

[Lore]

Statement: Update on NGA Concessions, Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period, NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft

The AFL has provided an update on Next Generation Academy Concessions, the Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period and the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

www.afl.com.au

Next Generation Academy Concessions

From 2021, Next Generation Academies (NGAs) - targeting Indigenous and multicultural players - will be overseen by the AFL Talent Pathway program with support from AFL Clubs. As part of this change, the AFL Commission determined that the concession model for NGAs be revised to reflect this.

The following changes to the NGA concession model ahead of the 2021 and 2022 NAB AFL Drafts will be as follows:

• From 2021, nominated NGA prospects will only be eligible to be matched from Pick 21 in the NAB AFL Draft. All other players selected from Pick 41 onwards can be matched by their Club using their next available selection, while undrafted players are still eligible to pre-selected on the rookie list.
• From 2022, nominated NGA prospects will only be eligible to be matched from Pick 41 onwards by their Club using their next available selection, while undrafted players are still eligible to pre-selected on the rookie list.

This model allows for elite talent to be available to all AFL Clubs while still ensuring late prospects can find their way onto an AFL list and continue their relationship with the respective Club that has been supporting them.

A summary of changes can be found in the table below:

Round	Current	2021	2022
1st Round (Pick 1 – 20)	20% discount	No access	No access
2nd Round (Pick 21 – 40)	197 points	197 points	No access
3rd Round (Pick 41 - 60)	197 points	Use next available selection	Use next available selection
4th Round (Pick 61 +)	197 points	Use next available selection	Use next available selection
Rookie List	Any undrafted player	Any undrafted player	Any undrafted player

Statement: Update on NGA Concessions, Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period, NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft

The AFL has provided an update on Next Generation Academy Concessions, the Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period and the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

www.afl.com.au

 

[Virgin Dog]

You know what's also broken and unfair? The statistics that Lore posted earlier in this thread where despite making up 22.2% of the teams in the competition, the NSW and Queensland teams only have 9.6% of the players from those states.

The Dogs list has 33 of 46 (72%) players that are playing in their home state. Conversely the Brisbane list has 11 of 47 (23%) players from their home state. What ramifications do you think that has in terms of the "go home" factor, as well as needing to pay these players more because for the sought after players from Victoria, you have 10 clubs that can potentially throw money at them.

The academies are a solution for this inequality. They develop players from these states, and allow the teams to keep them to increase the proportion of players from their home states, as well as increasing the overall pool of players. Despite that, Brisbane still have less than a quarter of players from their home state, whereas the dogs have three times that many.

If we don't have these academies, what is your solution to this inequality? Or is this an inequality you're happy to live with because it doesn't directly disadvantage your team?

If you go down that path, what about addressing the fact that Brisbane are in a two team state, and are usually the beneficiary of players wanting to head back to QLD. Compare that to the Dogs who have to compete with powerhouse clubs like Geelong, Richmond, Collingwood or even Carlton who tend to get first preference of any players returning to Victoria. Nothing is truly even, but academies worsen that problem when assigning elite talent arbitrarily to teams instead of leaving them in the open draft pool. First round should be off limits

 

[Marc_Remillard]

You know what's also broken and unfair? The statistics that Lore posted earlier in this thread where despite making up 22.2% of the teams in the competition, the NSW and Queensland teams only have 9.6% of the players from those states.

The Dogs list has 33 of 46 (72%) players that are playing in their home state. Conversely the Brisbane list has 11 of 47 (23%) players from their home state. What ramifications do you think that has in terms of the "go home" factor, as well as needing to pay these players more because for the sought after players from Victoria, you have 10 clubs that can potentially throw money at them.

The academies are a solution for this inequality. They develop players from these states, and allow the teams to keep them to increase the proportion of players from their home states, as well as increasing the overall pool of players. Despite that, Brisbane still have less than a quarter of players from their home state, whereas the dogs have three times that many.

If we don't have these academies, what is your solution to this inequality? Or is this an inequality you're happy to live with because it doesn't directly disadvantage your team?

Is there any other sporting competition in the world that thinks this would be unfair? Even looking at the other major football code in Australia, Rugby League, how many Vic players do Melbourne Storm have? They don't seem to let it bother them with their success as a club so why are AFL clubs so brittle?

 

[Lore]

Is there any other sporting competition in the world that thinks this would be unfair? Even looking at the other major football code in Australia, Rugby League, how many Vic players do Melbourne Storm have? They don't seem to let it bother them with their success as a club so why are AFL clubs so brittle?

Being sent to Melbourne and being sent to Perth aren't really the same thing though, and for most in the NRL it's one of two states and a short flight to get home.

The USA is culturally different, kids move across the country at 18 to go to college and don't get drafted until they are 22 in half the sports, so it's completely normal for them to be a long way from their families and they're more mature by the time they go into professional sport.

Also if you're fixtured to play a game every 2-3 days like some of those sports, you wouldn't be spending a whole lot of time in the hometown of whatever club you're drafted to anyway.

 

[SeanM]

I think we still need the Northern Academies. A few years ago teams like Brisbane and Gold Coast were struggling to retain interstate players, so it is good if they can increase the number of decent Queensland players in their squad in case they go through that again.

As a Swans fan we benefit as well. But I would be happy if we are forced to pay more. Like losing the 20% discount and needing to have a 1st round pick to match bids.

 

[longdonkey]

By the bye, it would also mean that all NGAs in WA would be rolled into WA state drafts and the NT zones would probably be rolled into Queensland. So it would have flow on effects for that too.

yeah NGA's would have to be picked up as your first round pick unless there was a higher pick taken in your state. I think one of the by products is to make the first few picks in the second round valuable.

 

[Lore]

yeah NGA's would have to be picked up as your first round pick unless there was a higher pick taken in your state. I think one of the by products is to make the first few picks in the second round valuable.

The rounds would be shorter anyway.

 

[longdonkey]

The rounds would be shorter anyway.

yeah that's true

 

[Northernsoul74]

I ask this question If Ugle-Hagen was going to Collingwood or Richmond would this rule have changed?

Or if JUH didn’t exist. Essentially it’s been scrapped because it just happens that one of the NGAs this year is top rated. I thought that was kind of the point.

 

[JasRulz63]

If you go down that path, what about addressing the fact that Brisbane are in a two team state, and are usually the beneficiary of players wanting to head back to QLD. Compare that to the Dogs who have to compete with powerhouse clubs like Geelong, Richmond, Collingwood or even Carlton who tend to get first preference of any players returning to Victoria. Nothing is truly even, but academies worsen that problem when assigning elite talent arbitrarily to teams instead of leaving them in the open draft pool. First round should be off limits

Happy to address it. Statistically you have 11% of clubs fighting for less than 5% of players, compared to 56% of clubs fighting for 53% of players. So how often is it really going to arise that there is a Queensland player coming home, and how often are they best 22 players? How many players from Queensland have requested a trade back home in the last 5 years? How many of them were first or even second round picks?

I agree nothing is truly even, but some clubs are more disadvantaged than others, and the academies address some of that. There was a period there where the Bulldogs almost exclusively drafted Victorian players which helps with retention and also helps because significant amounts of money doesn't need to be spent settling the players away from their support networks at 18yo. Gold Coast for example, don't have that luxury unless they don't want to be competitive.

You also still haven't answered the question, what is your solution to solve the inequality that the academies are designed to address?

 

[Virgin Dog]

Happy to address it. Statistically you have 11% of clubs fighting for less than 5% of players, compared to 56% of clubs fighting for 53% of players. So how often is it really going to arise that there is a Queensland player coming home, and how often are they best 22 players? How many players from Queensland have requested a trade back home in the last 5 years? How many of them were first or even second round picks?

I agree nothing is truly even, but some clubs are more disadvantaged than others, and the academies address some of that. There was a period there where the Bulldogs almost exclusively drafted Victorian players which helps with retention and also helps because significant amounts of money doesn't need to be spent settling the players away from their support networks at 18yo. Gold Coast for example, don't have that luxury unless they don't want to be competitive.

You also still haven't answered the question, what is your solution to solve the inequality that the academies are designed to address?

I thought I did answer that question - keep the academies, just don't give dibs in the first round

 

[Kwality]

You know what's also broken and unfair? The statistics that Lore posted earlier in this thread where despite making up 22.2% of the teams in the competition, the NSW and Queensland teams only have 9.6% of the players from those states.

Hey, good point you got there .... where are the developing States

Same numbers Lore posted show who puts in more than they take out, thats what leaders do, year in, year out. Then there are Tas & NT who have to pay Melbourne clubs to play there.

Great work Jas ...

 

[Kwality]

I’m honestly shocked at all of the comments against the father/son selections.

As a Tiger supporter we’ve benefited very little from the system throughout my life time (the last twenty years). However I’ve always liked the romance and uniqueness around it. I personally wouldn’t have any problems with them scrapping the discount but I think it’s nice to see the same families and surnames throughout this histories of clubs.

Its a question of whats fair in this make believe Gilworld where he'd happlily manipulate anything & everything to see 18 clubs to win a flag in an 18 year period - its called the FIXture.

Father son is a great tradition but it works against clubs like Gold Coast, the Lions & GWS. The discussion is in the context of NGAs.

 

[Kwality]

It's funny I think exactly the opposite - the only way I think the points system for drafting on another thread could work is if you could draft players from your state or NGA into your club.
What I don't like is how players who get drafted into non-VIC clubs lose the player after 3 years and their needs to be mechanisms for the best players to remain in their home states.

Agree in an ideal world but the draft is a restraint of trade for a pro footballer. It takes more than a good list to win a flag.

 

[JasRulz63]

I thought I did answer that question - keep the academies, just don't give dibs in the first round

Given how few first round picks these states produce, the clubs don't have many opportunities to draft first round picks from their home state, meaning the usually draft players away from their home state.

What do you think of an equality rule where teams can't take first home round picks from their own state? Means every club has to deal with the go home factor for all their first round picks.

 

[Kwality]

Please apply this to the Northern acadamies and F/S next.

A step in the right direction to a completely equitable system.

Tell me more ... we've all drafted duds for all sorts of reasons.

 

[Virgin Dog]

Given how few first round picks these states produce, the clubs don't have many opportunities to draft first round picks from their home state, meaning the usually draft players away from their home state.

What do you think of an equality rule where teams can't take first home round picks from their own state? Means every club has to deal with the go home factor for all their first round picks.

Seems like it's just adding unnecessary restrictions onto the draft. I'd rather something resembling a more pure draft, rather than one that dictates which clubs certain players can be drafted to

 

[Marc_Remillard]

Being sent to Melbourne and being sent to Perth aren't really the same thing though, and for most in the NRL it's one of two states and a short flight to get home.

The USA is culturally different, kids move across the country at 18 to go to college and don't get drafted until they are 22 in half the sports, so it's completely normal for them to be a long way from their families and they're more mature by the time they go into professional sport.

Also if you're fixtured to play a game every 2-3 days like some of those sports, you wouldn't be spending a whole lot of time in the hometown of whatever club you're drafted to anyway.

For most in the AFL it's also just a short flight away, really only kids from WA but then it's the same issue for all other clubs with them.

So is it fair to say that the AFL is unique with this issue? It seems to be.

The next obvious question is why are we so unique with this issue.

 

[JasRulz63]

Seems like it's just adding unnecessary restrictions onto the draft. I'd rather something resembling a more pure draft, rather than one that dictates which clubs certain players can be drafted to

A pure draft benefits teams like the Bulldogs (arguably more so than teams Collingwood and Richmond), so I can see why you would be okay with it.

 

[Tippett2Goal]

For most in the AFL it's also just a short flight away, really only kids from WA but then it's the same issue for all other clubs with them.

So is it fair to say that the AFL is unique with this issue? It seems to be.

The next obvious question is why are we so unique with this issue.

I have previously spoken with a member of a certain interstate clubs recruiting team (almost 10 years ago) who said they discount their ratings for Vic Metro players, because of the go-home factor.

They don't feel the need to discount Vic country or any other source...
Take from that what you will

 

[Virgin Dog]

A pure draft benefits teams like the Bulldogs (arguably more so than teams Collingwood and Richmond), so I can see why you would be okay with it.

Benefits us by creating a level playing field? That just shows that the current system screws small Vic clubs then

 

[Olian]

NGA is a rort. Should be closed down immediately.

 

[sruss]

Potentially stupid question, but I don’t understand how they are going to figure out how a player will attract a bid within the first 20 picks before the draft? Are they just going to guess which players are likely to be taken in the first 20 and say “you’re back in the draft pool”? Super bizarre and a amateur -ish if so?

Edit - just realized, obviously if anyone bids, they will get that player just like an actual draft pick?

 

[JasRulz63]

Potentially stupid question, but I don’t understand how they are going to figure out how a player will attract a bid within the first 20 picks before the draft? Are they just going to guess which players are likely to be taken in the first 20 and say “you’re back in the draft pool”? Super bizarre and a amateur -ish if so?

They'll just run the draft as normal and up to pick 20, if a NGA player is selected they'll go to that club. From pick 21 onwards if a player is selected, the club with priority access to the player can then match.

 

[sruss]

They'll just run the draft as normal and up to pick 20, if a NGA player is selected they'll go to that club. From pick 21 onwards if a player is selected, the club with priority access to the player can then match.

Ah yes, of course. Ty for clarifying

 

[Marc_Remillard]

I have previously spoken with a member of a certain interstate clubs recruiting team (almost 10 years ago) who said they discount their ratings for Vic Metro players, because of the go-home factor.

They don't feel the need to discount Vic country or any other source...
Take from that what you will

So why is the AFL so unique with this issue?

It can only either be the AFL admin, the clubs or the AFLPA (ie the players). Or a combination.