How would the AFL look today if the draft had been declared illegal circa 1993?

[mianfei]

In the New South Wales Rugby League, a player draft was declared illegal by the Supreme Court in 1991, and I have strong memories of claims the AFL Draft would be declared illegal soon after (circa 1992).

Many scholars – such as Ross Booth - have argued that without the player draft clubs such as St. Kilda, North Melbourne, Footscray and the Sydney Swans would have become extinct quite soon after the middle 1980s when the old-style attendance-based version of Australian Rules could not compete in a new, private car- and television-dominated age with NBL and NBA basketball.

Although by the time the threat of the overthrow of the draft in court the VFL/AFL had began to radically alter its structure to meet the requirements of a private car- and television-ruled environment, it is still very interesting in light of periods of financial difficulty since whether St. Kilda, Footscray, North Melbourne and/or Melbourne would not have folded, merged or relocated soon after without the player draft? Then there is the question of Brisbane and Sydney, who were struggling massively at the time and did not get significant support until after rugby league was decimated by the Super League war.

How do you think today’s AFL would look with the draft declared illegal circa 1992 or 1993?

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

I might have a view, but the OP is indecipherable and nonsensical. I'm not sure, but it appears to make the claim the private car became a thing in the 90s? After the oil crisis of the early seventies.That basketball is a serious rival to the AFL competition.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Wce would have 23 premierships and as much as you claim some melbourne clubs would dominate. Everyone would basically be a feeder club to the dockers hawthorn wce geelong and carlton

 

[Thegibbsgamble]

AO would seat 100 thousand and have a roof. Security would be robots who can see through clothing. Ordered to shoot on sight. So everyone safe

Would also have a roof. And a whole grandstand for all those premiership cups Adelaide and port won.

 

[Interstater]

AO would seat 100 thousand and have a roof. Security would be robots who can see through clothing. Ordered to shoot on sight. So everyone safe

Would also have a roof. And a whole grandstand for all those premiership cups Adelaide and port won.

Why 2 roofs

This thread is proof drugs and the internet don't go together.

 

[Wojcinski]

West Coast and Geelong would be top 2 clubs every year. Any team from NSW or QLD would get flogged by 100 each week and most Melbourne clubs would be middling strugglers only surviving on their large supporter bases

 

[Firestarter]

The hell is the above mangled attempt at the English language. Is WA that far behind the times?

 

[Snake_Baker]

In the New South Wales Rugby League, a player draft was declared illegal by the Supreme Court in 1991, and I have strong memories of claims the AFL Draft would be declared illegal soon after (circa 1992).

Many scholars – such as Ross Booth - have argued that without the player draft clubs such as St. Kilda, North Melbourne, Footscray and the Sydney Swans would have become extinct quite soon after the middle 1980s when the old-style attendance-based version of Australian Rules could not compete in a new, private car- and television-dominated age with NBL and NBA basketball.

Although by the time the threat of the overthrow of the draft in court the VFL/AFL had began to radically alter its structure to meet the requirements of a private car- and television-ruled environment, it is still very interesting in light of periods of financial difficulty since whether St. Kilda, Footscray, North Melbourne and/or Melbourne would not have folded, merged or relocated soon after without the player draft? Then there is the question of Brisbane and Sydney, who were struggling massively at the time and did not get significant support until after rugby league was decimated by the Super League war.

Wasn't Collingwood bankrupt in the mid 80's?

North had plenty of coin back then (Bob Ansett)

How do you think today’s AFL would look with the draft declared illegal circa 1992 or 1993?

As it was in 1993.

 

[kranky al]

The hell is the above mangled attempt at the English language. Is WA that far behind the times?

If you are going to accuse someone of mangling the english language, best not to do so with a sentence that was tortured into position with a cattle prod.

 

[EscapeHere]

Why was the draft declared illegal for Rugby but fine for AFL? Is this a NSW state law that wasn't applicable in Victoria?

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Why was the draft declared illegal for Rugby but fine for AFL? Is this a NSW state law that wasn't applicable in Victoria?

Pretty sure it was restraint of trade, and an issue of the constitution. The drafts weren't designed the same as I understand it. I dont take much interest in the NRL though.

 

[flamethrower]

Why was the draft declared illegal for Rugby but fine for AFL? Is this a NSW state law that wasn't applicable in Victoria?

The Rugby League players challenged the validity of the draft as a restraint of trade in court and won.

The AFLPA have never taken the AFL to court over the validity of their draft, as they took the view that removing the draft would lead to clubs disappearing, and therefore fewer jobs for their players - a classic case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face".

The interesting thing is that the league without a draft has more parity in terms of teams being successful than the league with a draft - the draft is not the quick fix for bottom clubs that the socialists make it out to be.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

You’d imagine zoning would’ve remained.

West Coast would’ve had WA, which then would’ve been split with Freo.

Same with Adelaide and then Port

Sydney and then GWS

Brisbane and then Gold Coast

NT would probably have gone to Qld.

Possibly the biggest question would be the introduction of Freo, Port, GWS and GC. With the existing clubs in those states facing having their zones cut straight in half, how big would their objections be? Huge you’d think. Would all of the new clubs have come in?

Then again, if the draft was declared illegal, would somebody challenge the zoning system too?

 

[CURVE]

No GWS and Gold Coast.
Collingwood and Carlton are forced into a merger after Collingwood go belly up.
Hawthorn and Melbourne's planned merger in 1996 goes ahead.
Footscray, Richmond, St. Kilda and Fitzroy are cut from the AFL or forced into mergers with interstate teams after their tin rattling of the early 90's fails to keep them from insolvency.
Fremantle and Port Adelaide are reluctantly accepted into the AFL in the early 00's after the competition is reduced to 10 teams.

Carey, Longmire, McKernan and co usher in a golden era for NMFC which starts in 1993 and continues to this day.

With the exception of Freo and Port entering the league, I think it is a good story all round.

 

[Dazzler9]

How do you think today’s AFL would look with the draft declared illegal circa 1992 or 1993?

The AFL would've hired their suburban lawyer mate to launch a High Court challenge. Although working in the Small Claims Tribunal, their lawyer friend would've had a crack at Constitutional law, basing his arguments on gut feel, the vibe if you will.
Fortunately the AFL would've eventually hired a retired Queen's Counsel on a pro bono basis, who they luckily met by chance. The QC would've known his stuff, and would've had a win for the little guy, aka the AFL.
The AFL would therefore look exactly the same as it does today. Where no stakeholder ever seems happy with anything.

 

[kranky al]

The AFL would've hired their suburban lawyer mate to launch a High Court challenge. Although working in the Small Claims Tribunal, their lawyer friend would've had a crack at Constitutional law, basing his arguments on gut feel, the vibe if you will.
Fortunately the AFL would've eventually hired a retired Queen's Counsel on a pro bono basis, who they luckily met by chance. The QC would've known his stuff, and would've had a win for the little guy, aka the AFL.
The AFL would therefore look exactly the same as it does today. Where no stakeholder ever seems happy with anything.

Dont know if im happy with this

 

[Furn2]

Would have cap and zones/junior team affiliation so it wouldnt have become premier league like.

I guess having cash would help with developing your youth but not with getting retaining players.

Rugby seems to go ok without a draft band in footy getting 1 good pick doesn't do a whole lot in a game with 22 players.

 

[woopedazz]

should only drive public cars no private cars

 

[The Goon]

The Rugby League players challenged the validity of the draft as a restraint of trade in court and won.

The AFLPA have never taken the AFL to court over the validity of their draft, as they took the view that removing the draft would lead to clubs disappearing, and therefore fewer jobs for their players - a classic case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face".

The interesting thing is that the league without a draft has more parity in terms of teams being successful than the league with a draft - the draft is not the quick fix for bottom clubs that the socialists make it out to be.

Having only 13 players on the field helps a lot with parity. You need to fill about 30% less spots to build a winning team. Plus player movement is more open and easier.

 

[Thegibbsgamble]

Why 2 roofs

This thread is proof drugs and the internet don't go together.

You just don't want to admit we would win more flags than you


You would still win more than anyone else

 

[Crankyhawk]

I might have a view, but the OP is indecipherable and nonsensical. I'm not sure, but it appears to make the claim the private car became a thing in the 90s? After the oil crisis of the early seventies.That basketball is a serious rival to the AFL competition.

In the 80s and early 90s basketball was getting crowds similar to many H&A games. Then the NBA became more accessible and the crowds vanished.

 

[Thegibbsgamble]

The AFL would've hired their suburban lawyer mate to launch a High Court challenge. Although working in the Small Claims Tribunal, their lawyer friend would've had a crack at Constitutional law, basing his arguments on gut feel, the vibe if you will.
Fortunately the AFL would've eventually hired a retired Queen's Counsel on a pro bono basis, who they luckily met by chance. The QC would've known his stuff, and would've had a win for the little guy, aka the AFL.
The AFL would therefore look exactly the same as it does today. Where no stakeholder ever seems happy with anything.

Will someone tell him he's dreaming.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Carlton would have remained a powerhouse, and certainly wouldn’t be gunning for their 5th spoon

 

[sydney_gws]

T

Having only 13 players on the field helps a lot with parity. You need to fill about 30% less spots to build a winning team. Plus player movement is more open and easier.

The main difference is that only really 2 teams dont produce their own players, melbourne and sydney roosters ( they have the wealthiest club chairman though to counterbalance the junior shortfall). The excess players from qld and nz are happy to play their, also the night life is pretty good everywhere, it is not like afl where the Melbourne night life is coveted by interstate afl players.

 

[Established1870]

also the night life is pretty good everywhere, it is not like afl where the Melbourne night life is coveted by interstate afl players.

1) Name me one person who has ever said "the nightlife in Canberra is off the hook m8".
2) Non-Victorians will (usually) be happy to go to a Vic club for bigger games/more money from sponsorship's over the nightlife.

With the exception of Freo and Port entering the league, I think it is a good story all round.

We've always had excellent development of our players with the zones we had. Give us half the state and we'd be a perpetual juggernaut on the field.