melonhead2011
Debutant
Every year we get to september and all the noise from the season about trades gets louder. Players wanting to move home for soft reason a, b, c; clubs getting held to a threat that a young player who they invested in now wants to leave and they won't get a fair trade.
Mid-season drafts could work for the AFL but they will destroy the lower levels, which in many cases are already under real threat.
Instead I think the league could get a lot smarter with how those in the system are allowed to move. The AFLPA has far too much power for the first suggestion to materialise, however for the first 7 years of your time in the AFL you can be moved at any point to any team. If a player doesn't like it they can sit out or not play, but it isn't right for teams to have to move young players who they have invested in and received minimal return. Then after this cut off each player becomes an unrestricted free agent. After 7 years a club should have done enough to secure players long term, and if not that is on the mismanagement of the club.
In addition I would introduce a change in trading rules. Yes after the season trades start and flow through until the round 6. With the above player movement rules players could be traded on draft night along with picks. Following the draft teams needs will have changed and further trades could be better for clubs that didn't make sense prior to the draft. We know that many injuries are sustained in the preseason and early season, so allowing players to be traded will help offset this, and also offset players wanting a trade at seasons end and being a distraction. With the salary cap there would be minimal movement, but there would still be some.
These changes will remove the immature discussions on player movement that dominate our headlines all season, and also protect lower leagues.
Here is a biased scenario that could've occured after round 6 this year. Gold Coast have identified that Geelong player Horlin-Smith could give them value, and the player himself will soon be out of contract and isn't getting a game. Geelong have identified they lack ruck depth and are willing to punt on Pruess. North Melbourne are up and running, performing better than expected and are starting to scope out adding Gaff via FA, and maybe another crack at Kelly from GWS at seasons end. Geelong send Horlin-Smith to GC who sign him to an extended deal for 2019 and beyond and he plays 12-14 games in 2018 making them more competitive. Geelong receive a 3rd round draft pick from GC, which is likely pick 38-42, while Geelong send their second round pick to North Melbourne. Pruess goes from playing reserves to having a crack at first team football with a dominate midfield. North acquire another top 36 pick and add to their asset pile and can then use multiple picks to trade up in a loaded draft or trade for an established player. I say this is biased as being a Geelong supporter we needed a ruck this year (and the last few) badly. Ideally, i'd hope the 3rd round GC pick would be ample for Pruess but North would be giving their back up to Goldstein away so Geelong would need to pay overs.
Thoughts?
Mid-season drafts could work for the AFL but they will destroy the lower levels, which in many cases are already under real threat.
Instead I think the league could get a lot smarter with how those in the system are allowed to move. The AFLPA has far too much power for the first suggestion to materialise, however for the first 7 years of your time in the AFL you can be moved at any point to any team. If a player doesn't like it they can sit out or not play, but it isn't right for teams to have to move young players who they have invested in and received minimal return. Then after this cut off each player becomes an unrestricted free agent. After 7 years a club should have done enough to secure players long term, and if not that is on the mismanagement of the club.
In addition I would introduce a change in trading rules. Yes after the season trades start and flow through until the round 6. With the above player movement rules players could be traded on draft night along with picks. Following the draft teams needs will have changed and further trades could be better for clubs that didn't make sense prior to the draft. We know that many injuries are sustained in the preseason and early season, so allowing players to be traded will help offset this, and also offset players wanting a trade at seasons end and being a distraction. With the salary cap there would be minimal movement, but there would still be some.
These changes will remove the immature discussions on player movement that dominate our headlines all season, and also protect lower leagues.
Here is a biased scenario that could've occured after round 6 this year. Gold Coast have identified that Geelong player Horlin-Smith could give them value, and the player himself will soon be out of contract and isn't getting a game. Geelong have identified they lack ruck depth and are willing to punt on Pruess. North Melbourne are up and running, performing better than expected and are starting to scope out adding Gaff via FA, and maybe another crack at Kelly from GWS at seasons end. Geelong send Horlin-Smith to GC who sign him to an extended deal for 2019 and beyond and he plays 12-14 games in 2018 making them more competitive. Geelong receive a 3rd round draft pick from GC, which is likely pick 38-42, while Geelong send their second round pick to North Melbourne. Pruess goes from playing reserves to having a crack at first team football with a dominate midfield. North acquire another top 36 pick and add to their asset pile and can then use multiple picks to trade up in a loaded draft or trade for an established player. I say this is biased as being a Geelong supporter we needed a ruck this year (and the last few) badly. Ideally, i'd hope the 3rd round GC pick would be ample for Pruess but North would be giving their back up to Goldstein away so Geelong would need to pay overs.
Thoughts?
