Drafting Age

[Lunchtime]

This was an interesting article from 2025. Derek Kickett suggests the Drafting age should be raised.

Thoughts?

WA great joins push for AFL draft age to be lifted

West Australian great Derek Kickett has backed a push by the State’s peak football body to lift the minimum AFL draft age.

thewest.com.au

Would this lead to younger players not getting injured as much? I mean a lot of them aren't up to AFL level, their bodies haven't fully matured/developed at 18.

Anyway it's an interesting discussion.

 

[Clark G]

As mentioned in the article, raising the draft age risks players choosing other sports.

 

[NeutralFan]

Have said in a different thread I would want the age lifted by 12 months not only for the sake of helping the kids but it also helps clubs get a better look and understanding when they watch them play against bigger bodies in state leagues. It benefits the bottom clubs more to have this change.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Unlikely to happen but raising the draft age would likely enable players from different walks of life (not just the private school system) getting selected

 

[basashi]

Unlikely to happen but raising the draft age would likely enable players from different walks of life (not just the private school system) getting selected

I would like to see a system that did something for the fairly large amount of draftees who are out of the system within 3-4 years with a handful or zero games. They are in the system just long enough to destabilise their study and career establishment potential. AI tells me that the median career length is just 19 games, and nearly 70% of players who debut never reach the 50-game milestone.

Not sure if an age limit is the best way - maybe a system where draftees under 22 for their first 2 years they have to be engaged 25 to 50% with something else like uni, tafe, employment that leads to a trade. It would basically make them similar to US "college sports" athletes.

But then of course the risk is that doing that undermines their ability to establish themselves as a player. And that is why they might voluntarily focus 100% on footy now. But perhaps if you make it compulsory then it is an even playing field and they all have to do it.

Of course if there are any rules like this they would only be valuable if they were followed properly, fairly, in good faith and without clubs establishing scam ways of complying that barely meet plausible deniability. With the AFL being a probity and governance pig sty, this is too much of an ask i suppose.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

This was an interesting article from 2025. Derek Kickett suggests the Drafting age should be raised.

Thoughts?

WA great joins push for AFL draft age to be lifted

West Australian great Derek Kickett has backed a push by the State’s peak football body to lift the minimum AFL draft age.

thewest.com.au

Would this lead to younger players not getting injured as much? I mean a lot of them aren't up to AFL level, their bodies haven't fully matured/developed at 18.

Anyway it's an interesting discussion.

The AFL has become a glorified Colts competition. It is supposed to be the best of the best, not a development league but in general it is a development league.
It should be unheard of to have such large numbers of players playing in a best of the best competition that we need to give 50 games to find out if they can play.
AFL = Auskick Football league

As to your question, they should remove the age limit and make it mandatory to play 25 league games of State league Mens Football before you can be drafted, that is 2 seasons. now if you can do that before you are 18 then thats great, others will take until they are 20.
This way we get players that are ready to play with men and don't need the 2-3 years of excuses at the highest level.

 

[iameviljez]

This was an interesting article from 2025. Derek Kickett suggests the Drafting age should be raised.

I think that's a classic case of trying to fix something that isn't actually broken.

Plenty of players are ready to start playing AFL football by age 18. Of the 2024 draft, for example, 13 players have already played 20 games, Levi Ashcroft has a premiership medal, other players like Harvey Langford, Finn O'Sullivan and Riley Bice are ripping it up.

It's up to the clubs to be better recruiters to look for that Lawson Humphries style 21-year-old if they really are out there in greater numbers.

 

[juss]

I'd keep it as is. Creating a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist.

 

[iameviljez]

I would like to see a system that did something for the fairly large amount of draftees who are out of the system within 3-4 years with a handful or zero games. They are in the system just long enough to destabilise their study and career establishment potential. AI tells me that the median career length is just 19 games, and nearly 70% of players who debut never reach the 50-game milestone.

Not sure if an age limit is the best way - maybe a system where draftees under 22 for their first 2 years they have to be engaged 25 to 50% with something else like uni, tafe, employment that leads to a trade. It would basically make them similar to US "college sports" athletes.

I think the current system is probably better, because at least if they're going to "waste" a couple of years of their lives, at least they're doing it between 18 and 20, not 20 and 23 where it really, really hurts.

My understanding is that clubs are pretty good now with putting pressure on kids to continue with tertiary study or TAFE, even if it is one subject per semester.

 

[p4p1]

I think that's a classic case of trying to fix something that isn't actually broken.

Plenty of players are ready to start playing AFL football by age 18. Of the 2024 draft, for example, 13 players have already played 20 games, Levi Ashcroft has a premiership medal, other players like Harvey Langford, Finn O'Sullivan and Riley Bice are ripping it up.

It's up to the clubs to be better recruiters to look for that Lawson Humphries style 21-year-old if they really are out there in greater numbers.

In Levi's 1 VFL game before he was drafted he got 35 and a goal. Running around in a state league for players like Levi doesn't do anything for them.

 

[iameviljez]

Unlikely to happen but raising the draft age would likely enable players from different walks of life (not just the private school system) getting selected

Blame the private school scholarship system IMO, there's a reason why the best players all come from there and it's not 100% brilliant development.

 

[iameviljez]

In Levi's 1 VFL game before he was drafted he got 35 and a goal. Running around in a state league for players like Levi doesn't do anything for them.

Yeah, exactly.

The USA system only works for American football and basketball because, IMO, there is a massive college sport infrastructure that funds these kids and keeps them ticking over with massive crowds, free college, etc etc.

I can't see the next Harley Reid really wanting to fart around dishing out don't-argues to teenagers for two years before he's finally 20.

 

[Ratboys]

I think the current system is probably better, because at least if they're going to "waste" a couple of years of their lives, at least they're doing it between 18 and 20, not 20 and 23 where it really, really hurts.

My understanding is that clubs are pretty good now with putting pressure on kids to continue with tertiary study or TAFE, even if it is one subject per semester.

I'm going to guess being on an AFL list pays a fair bit better than Youth Allowance and a couple casual shifts a week.

 

[Daniel6]

Don’t mind the idea of the AFL rising the draft age from 18 to 20 and then add a national competition for 19 and 20 year olds.

Keep the state carnival for under 16’s and under 18’s and then implement a national under 20 competition. A youth league

Have a 14 team competition

4 Victorian clubs
2 from NSA
3 from Queensland
1 from NT
2 from WA
2 from SA.

Then give clubs an exemption to allow 5 players to be 20 years old if they miss the draft year.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Yeah, exactly.

The USA system only works for American football and basketball because, IMO, there is a massive college sport infrastructure that funds these kids and keeps them ticking over with massive crowds, free college, etc etc.

I can't see the next Harley Reid really wanting to fart around dishing out don't-argues to teenagers for two years before he's finally 20.

He wouldn't have to, he would be playing against Men in the VFL where he will learn his trade.

 

[MarcMaverick]

To be fair, it's not as though the AFL are mandating clubs select only 17 year olds. It's not exactly a hard and fast rule, there have been, on numerous occasions, clubs selecting overagers, or mature age recruits

 

[Ratboys]

Players don't gain from rising the age to 23. They get a career pay cut.

Problems with how draftees handle their new status can be handled directly not by kicking the can down the road.

 

[Former Decathlete]

I would like to see a system that did something for the fairly large amount of draftees who are out of the system within 3-4 years with a handful or zero games. They are in the system just long enough to destabilise their study and career establishment potential. AI tells me that the median career length is just 19 games, and nearly 70% of players who debut never reach the 50-game milestone.

Not sure if an age limit is the best way - maybe a system where draftees under 22 for their first 2 years they have to be engaged 25 to 50% with something else like uni, tafe, employment that leads to a trade. It would basically make them similar to US "college sports" athletes.

But then of course the risk is that doing that undermines their ability to establish themselves as a player. And that is why they might voluntarily focus 100% on footy now. But perhaps if you make it compulsory then it is an even playing field and they all have to do it.

Of course if there are any rules like this they would only be valuable if they were followed properly, fairly, in good faith and without clubs establishing scam ways of complying that barely meet plausible deniability. With the AFL being a probity and governance pig sty, this is too much of an ask i suppose.

Just one example off the top of my head - but Oscar Adams delisted by Saints then SANFL now at Suns and still only 22.

AFL clubs are in a weird position of running an elite senior team program and then a semi Auskick development program for 17 year olds who are probably 4 years off being AFL ready.


I can't think of any other league where this happens?

EPL clubs have Under 23s but they are on a separate playing list.

 

[Former Decathlete]

Players don't gain from rising the age to 23. They get a career pay cut.

Problems with how draftees handle their new status can be handled directly not by kicking the can down the road.

Some players aren't ready at 17 and would gain a lot by 19.

Also seems stupid that people are doing their VCE (HSC etc) in their draft year and that people feel their chances are gone once they miss their draft year.

Pretty stupid to have players on the chopping block at 18.

 

[iameviljez]

He wouldn't have to, he would be playing against Men in the VFL where he will learn his trade.

He wouldn't be learning that much in the VFL, and besides, he'd still be playing against a mass of other 18 to 20 year old hopefuls.

Reid is continually physically dominating opponents in the AFL, he'd learn nothing by bullying skinnier men in the state league. And meanwhile he'd also have to go get a day job, instead of being a full-time athlete.

 

[iameviljez]

AFL clubs are in a weird position of running an elite senior team program and then a semi Auskick development program for 17 year olds who are probably 4 years off being AFL ready.


I can't think of any other league where this happens?

EPL clubs have Under 23s but they are on a separate playing list.

Heaps. NHL draft age is 18, every elite soccer team has youth programs that run up to the age of 18 and then tends to farm them out on loan to lower leagues. Really, it's the two American college giants that are the outliers, not the other way around.

 

[iameviljez]

I'm going to guess being on an AFL list pays a fair bit better than Youth Allowance and a couple casual shifts a week.

And probably slightly nicer working conditions, too

Definitely cosier hours. That said, you'd have to give up at least one day every weekend...

 

[Lach72]

He wouldn't have to, he would be playing against Men in the VFL where he will learn his trade.

Ashcroft, Daicos. And the two Reid’s don’t need that.

If anything I’d prefer another 4-5 list sports for 17 year olds

 

[Former Decathlete]

Heaps. NHL draft age is 18, every elite soccer team has youth programs that run up to the age of 18 and then tends to farm them out on loan to lower leagues. Really, it's the two American college giants that are the outliers, not the other way around.

That's not true though. You are giving false information. The youth players are on a separate list. Please fact check yourself and get back to me.

https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4097471/premier-league-squad-lists-explained

"A club’s Under-21 players are not included on the 25-man squad lists. These players are also eligible to play in the Premier League."

 

[iameviljez]

That's not true though. You are giving false information. The youth players are on a separate list. Please fact check yourself and get back to me

I didn't say they weren't on a separate list. Chill out. The only thing, by the way, that this rule infers, is that under-21 players aren't counted toward the 25-man squad size limitations in the Premier League. It doesn't mean they can't be part of your first team setup, far from it.