Strategy Fixing the Academy System

[SplintWhisky]

So, we have the chat most years and every year everyone cries out that the system isn't fair and that its broken with Academy and Father-Sons. And I agree that it is broken, but its broken because those wanting to fix it only look at it from one angle and that is; Is the club tied to this player paying a price that makes it slightly fairer to the other clubs?

Frankly that way of thinking is flawed. We should be looking at this from a competition wide fix and this is what I think should be done straight away

All Clubs should be allowed to have a reasonable shot at getting the academy or father son

At the moment, there is no reason to bid on a player unless they are sliding too much. Why would you want to piss off another club by bidding at fair value when you have no chance of getting the player?

Solution? Clubs can bid multiple picks like the academy club can.

Imagine if on draft night, Dillon comes up and says "With Picks 5, 28 and 62, Richmond has bid on Player X from the Gold Coast Academy, Gold Coast is on the clock". Richmond could have a genuine shot at an academy kid that would be top 10 or top 5 in talent and if Gold Coast wants them, they have to pay what the market has determined as fair value.

Now every club has a shot at getting these academy players AND every club now values picks the same way. Gold Coast and other academy sides would be less likely to just trade away their picks for points since now, those picks could bite them in the arse. They also don't have the ability to do the math before draft night. No more "We have enough points to cover the worst case scenario for these 3 kids".

Also the other thing I would introduce is no refunds. If you have to make up 1000 points but you only have a combo that leads to 1500 then tough t***ies, you lose 500 points, shit happens.

I think by making so other clubs ACTUALLY have a genuine chance at getting an academy kid they bid on, then the academy systems become fairer in the current form.

 

[Julio Dulio]

Just make it mandatory that every club is required to have an academy and all players go into an open pool.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

To fix this mess of an Academy System...First you have to fix The AFL Old Boys Club...

 

[partycorolla]

Just make it mandatory that every club is required to have an academy and all players go into an open pool.

That's pointless. Why would clubs put time and money into a system that doesn't benefit them?

You may as well have the AFL own and run the academies, not the clubs. Just have an academy for every state/region, develop the talent, send the kids to train with clubs randomly (within their state) and then make they can go into the open pool.

The issue with NSW and Qld academies is that one of their selling points is that they can attract kids who may otherwise play rugby/basketball etc by offering them an elite pathway and the chance to start their career in the state they live in.

 

[Julio Dulio]

That's pointless. Why would clubs put time and money into a system that doesn't benefit them?

You may as well have the AFL own and run the academies, not the clubs. Just have an academy for every state/region, develop the talent, send the kids to train with clubs randomly (within their state) and then make they can go into the open pool.

The issue with NSW and Qld academies is that one of their selling points is that they can attract kids who may otherwise play rugby/basketball etc by offering them an elite pathway and the chance to start their career in the state they live in.

Firstly i said it would be mandatory. Second, you think developing players and the game in your state would be pointless? You think having high quality players from your state with the go home factor not an advantage, more players being drafted from your state not an advantage? High level grass roots footy in your state not an advantage? You, like the afl, look too short term