List Mgmt. If you could change the AFLs team list structure, what would you do?

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Cleric

Brownlow Medallist
Oct 14, 2011
15,551
17,610
Adelaide
AFL Club
Adelaide
I think alot will agree the current list structure of teams with rookie spots and main list spots is not the ideal way to do it.
As it stands there are 38 Main list spots, and up to 6 Rookies, which I think could be changed.

The reasons for looking at this is threefold.
1. The possibility that the AFL will bring in a reserves competition, in which case all teams will require additional list spots.
2. To clean up the situation to where clubs have to delist players in contract, to then relist then again in the rookie draft.
3. I think it can be changed to allow more talent to come through the doors of clubs.

So putting the possibility of a reserves competition for now, I would look at changing the main list from 38 spots to 48 spots. The additional 10 spots obviously don't have to be used, but it gives clubs some room to keep young talent, or to leave an injured player in the list a bit longer to get them back.on the ground. When list spots are tight, a player who might have had an interrupted season with injury might find.himself delisted, when otherwise the club would have been happy to keep him another year.
I also think that with having a bigger list size, it will allow some more kids to be drafted and given a chance to make it. On top of that, it gives clubs the ability to maybe carry another development ruck for instance.

Now I'm sure some will say that it's just diluting the talent pool, which is silly because the best players on each team play in the first 22, so having a couple more younger kids on a list isn't going to effect that.

I'm a believer that we do miss out on some talent by the size of the list, and I have no doubt that if another 30 players were added to the list, another 5 or 6 would kick on. As much as anything, it's a move for more kids getting exposure and development.

Now, in addition to that, there can be 3 development spots for where Cat B rookies can be added from other sports like we currently do.

One of the other reasons for increased list spots is to do away with the mid season draft, which is really a disrespectful thing for the state league teams which have built their own lists up, to then have their best players taken halfway through their season by AFL clubs.
The players also find themselves having to possibly move interstate halfway through their season, and as all state league players have full time jobs, it just creates situations which should be avoided.

The other benefit is that with more young players getting into the AFL system, if they don't make it, they go back to the state leagues better players, with better training habits than they otherwise would have. It should improve the standard of the teams there as well.

What would others put forward as a possible change up?
 
The money involved is enormous. There’s a reason list sizes are so small and the “rookie list” exists, even though there’s no longer any meaningful difference from the main list except for pay.

People seem to think the game just can or would add another (for example) ten players per club.

Even at $200k per year, an extremely low AFL wage, that’s $2 million per club.

$36 million across the league, each and every year. These players cost money, add no extra games to the fixture and don’t improve the quality.

Ain’t gonna happen.
 

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Change the name of the Rookie list to ‘Supplementary List’ and allow clubs to simply move contracted players to the supplementary list without needing to ‘redraft’ them. Just a completely pointless exercise if the player holds a contract already.

The name change will also help reduce inane online comments from Nuffies who are confused/frustrated/angry that it’s called a ‘Rookie’ list but Jack Gunston isn’t a Rookie! It’s a blooooming outraaaage! :drunk:
 
The notion of a "rookie" list is outdated and has been for 15 years. A complete revamp for how players are brought into a club is also needed


Draft picks should be as follows;

first round draftees (4 years) this would be enough time for a first round draft pick to show themselves or if they do want a move, the drafting club has a fair bit of power.

second round draftees (3 years), similarly to first rounders, 3 years is enough time for these kids to show what they have or not.

third round draftees (2 years), as above

4th rounders and beyond (1 year deal), this is a bit contentious but 1 year deals for players taken so late.

Scrap free agency compensation. I heard the notion that if you cant keep a free agent after 6, 7, 8 years then you dont deserve any compensation. I dont dislike this notion. Certainly resets the draft order free from all the garbage, behind-closed-door contracts the AFL hands out crincey FA compo picks on.

This is 2024, a "rookie list" has been redundant for a decade at least. Make list managers earn there keep. If you want to renegotiate the deal for Taylor Duryea, Adam Kennedy, Jake Melksham, Jack Gunston, Connor McKenna, Ryan Lester, Sam Reid


Absolute mockery of it all. List sizes should be fine, how it is structured is what's a mess
 
I am going to go a bit off track with the topic....

Changed the Rookie list rules for a start. The rookie list should be for players under 23 and that have not been on an AFL list before.
All clubs to have 1 marquee player that isn't included in the salary.

List sizes to increase to 42 primary list players

Father son/academies to be scraped by 2030. equal playing field... no compensation picks for free agency either.

If you are going to have a mid-season draft then have a mid season 3 day trade period.

Allow clubs to trade players without consent. its ok for a player to walk out on club.
 
The money involved is enormous. There’s a reason list sizes are so small and the “rookie list” exists, even though there’s no longer any meaningful difference from the main list except for pay.

People seem to think the game just can or would add another (for example) ten players per club.

Even at $200k per year, an extremely low AFL wage, that’s $2 million per club.

$36 million across the league, each and every year. These players cost money, add no extra games to the fixture and don’t improve the quality.

Ain’t gonna happen.
A proper AFL reserves competition run by the AFL (and not VFL, SANFL organisations) could make money to offset some of that.

TV rights. People would watch because it would be their reserves team going up against other AFL reserves teams. Foxtel exclusive, maybe 1 game per week on 7.

Attendance. Have the games as curtain raisers but ask for 5 dollars (just a plugged number) a head on top of the main ticket if you want to attend earlier to watch.

Merchandise. Each team to have a non first grade guernsey to wear for supporters to purchase.
 
The money involved is enormous. There’s a reason list sizes are so small and the “rookie list” exists, even though there’s no longer any meaningful difference from the main list except for pay.

People seem to think the game just can or would add another (for example) ten players per club.

Even at $200k per year, an extremely low AFL wage, that’s $2 million per club.

$36 million across the league, each and every year. These players cost money, add no extra games to the fixture and don’t improve the quality.

Ain’t gonna happen.
The clubs don't have to use all their list spots. Clubs have elected not to already to save on cap space. Sydney did it for years for that exact reason.
If you offered clubs the ability to add another 8 list spots, they would all love it.
The AFL spends 30 mill a year propping up the AFLW competition, and the men's game is far more important than that is.
 
The Northern states with their academies should probably sit out any conversations about one set of clubs having an advantage the others don't have.
1 thing, and would be happy to give them up if equality measures were there such as investment in the pathways & development across the board.
 
A proper AFL reserves competition run by the AFL (and not VFL, SANFL organisations) could make money to offset some of that.

TV rights. People would watch because it would be their reserves team going up against other AFL reserves teams. Foxtel exclusive, maybe 1 game per week on 7.

Attendance. Have the games as curtain raisers but ask for 5 dollars (just a plugged number) a head on top of the main ticket if you want to attend earlier to watch.

Merchandise. Each team to have a non first grade guernsey to wear for supporters to purchase.

No chance. State league footy with the reserves teams is already on TV and nobody watches it. People aren’t interested.

They didn’t get rid of the reserves league years ago for no reason. It costs a lot of money for very little benefit.
 

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No chance. State league footy with the reserves teams is already on TV and nobody watches it. People aren’t interested.

They didn’t get rid of the reserves league years ago for no reason. It costs a lot of money for very little benefit.
Plenty of benefit. Raises the standard and allows all clubs to compete.
 
No chance. State league footy with the reserves teams is already on TV and nobody watches it. People aren’t interested.

They didn’t get rid of the reserves league years ago for no reason. It costs a lot of money for very little benefit.
That's because it's state league, not AFL reserves and isn't a curtain raiser to the main event.

And for statement "no one watches it" that's just completely false.
An average of 25k per game for the sanfl on 7. For a full blown national reserves with AFL eyes this would be dwarfed.
TV companies would pay for this.

 
More flexibility in season for player movement.

For ideas taken from the NBA.
(1) Trade period up to the middle of the season.
(2) Buyout Market - teams could delist a player and other teams bid for their services. The difference in salary will be taken off the salary cap original team.
(3) Supplementary players 20 years plus can be taken from the state leagues replace a player to be placed on the inactive list or delisted player from the buyout market. The new player contract is for only to the end of season and then becomes a free agent.
(4) Sign and trade deals. Team could sign uncontracted player then trade with another club and paid a partial of the contract for extra trade assets.

One idea from the Soccer
(1) Loan a player out but still keeps the contract and club still owns the rights of the player. Player is listed on the inactive list and the player is temporary placed on the active list of the loanee club and his salary is taking off the loanee cap.

My ideas
(1) List of active lists of 32
(2) Inactive lists of up to 6


Major issue is that disadvantages the Northern states and Tasmania. They would need to another measure to reduce the disadvantage.

Players still have the option not to agree to the movement unless delisted. If Delisted players are not picked up, their contract is honored.
 
Scrap the rookie list

Just one list of 44
Agree with this except for 1 exception. There should be 1-2 rookie spots available for the current Cat B rookies. Allows a club to try an Irish player or someone from another sporting background without losing a list spot
 

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List Mgmt. If you could change the AFLs team list structure, what would you do?

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