Opinion Rookie list

[ant555]

Personally I think the rookie list has become a dogs breakfast. The alterations made to appease the clubs when GWS and GC came in have turned it into a bit of a joke. How can you have a rookie list and draft someone who has played 100 games
Time for change.

Scrap the current rookie list. Divide the list up into categories based on salary so you can sign the players you want on 1 year deals at the lower end of the wage scale . You could have A B C D for the normal salary range and E for players on $70k to $100k. You can only have say 4 or 5 players in this range.This fills the gap where players are delisted and taken again in the rookie draft. No delisting needed. Cat E replaces the current rookie list players as far as list numbers go. First year players can be signed to this group via the PSD or after round 5 in the ND. Players signed under the new replacement rule for injured players can be added as an extra to this list.

Then have the rookie list outside the cap. Merge it with the Cat B list and go back to it being for players who have not played an AFL game or to be slightly less stringent for players who have played under 10 AFL games . 5 rookies each. Like the old rule they can only be promoted to the senior list to replace injury until a mid season point where you can promote 2 if you want to.

List size would be increased by 5 with the new / rejigged rookie list. Rookie list goes back to what it is for and that is raw , unproven players. Same rules for length of time spent on rookie list with players not being able to be on the rookie for longer than 3 seasons.

Now that every team has their own seconds side or aligned seconds side I would also allow clubs first access to 1 player from their VFL , WAFL , SANFL or NEAFL side in the rookie draft if they have someone worth picking up. For example we would have first access to Nick Hind if we thought him to be good enough to be drafted.

 

[Lore]

Personally I think the rookie list has become a dogs breakfast. The alterations made to appease the clubs when GWS and GC came in have turned it into a bit of a joke. How can you have a rookie list and draft someone who has played 100 games
Time for change.

Scrap the current rookie list. Divide the list up into categories based on salary so you can sign the players you want on 1 year deals at the lower end of the wage scale . You could have A B C D for the normal salary range and E for players on $70k to $100k. You can only have say 4 or 5 players in this range.This fills the gap where players are delisted and taken again in the rookie draft. No delisting needed. Cat E replaces the current rookie list players as far as list numbers go. First year players can be signed to this group via the PSD or after round 5 in the ND. Players signed under the new replacement rule for injured players can be added as an extra to this list.

Then have the rookie list outside the cap. Merge it with the Cat B list and go back to it being for players who have not played an AFL game or to be slightly less stringent for players who have played under 10 AFL games . 5 rookies each. Like the old rule they can only be promoted to the senior list to replace injury until a mid season point where you can promote 2 if you want to.

List size would be increased by 5 with the new / rejigged rookie list. Rookie list goes back to what it is for and that is raw , unproven players. Same rules for length of time spent on rookie list with players not being able to be on the rookie for longer than 3 seasons.

Now that every team has their own seconds side or aligned seconds side I would also allow clubs first access to 1 player from their VFL , WAFL , SANFL or NEAFL side in the rookie draft if they have someone worth picking up. For example we would have first access to Nick Hind if we thought him to be good enough to be drafted.

If round 5 and after in the ND can be Cat E, should draftees taken in earlier rounds be assigned to a particular salary range/contract length? Should there be any limitations on the numbers of players in each of the A-D categories?

 

[ant555]

If round 5 and after in the ND can be Cat E, should draftees taken in earlier rounds be assigned to a particular salary range/contract length? Should there be any limitations on the numbers of players in each of the A-D categories?

Yes anyone signed in the first 5 rounds of the ND go into Cat D plus. As far as how many in each that is a list management issue. You may have more in B and C and less in A or more in A more in D and less in B and C. It would be based around a salary range. Cat A highest money earners say $700k plus and a downward scale from there.

Of course you could scrap the Cat range and find a name for the list of 5 lower price players. Or even not have a name for it and just have 5 spots for players on $70k - $80k 1 year deals and restore the original rookie list. But the rookie list needs to become a rookie list again.

The category idea was more to give an idea on player salary range without producing the exact figure.

 

[eth-dog]

Honestly should really only be for Category B players.

 

[owen87]

Given they can play every game, it does seem somewhat redundant.

Just expand the size of the main list, allow clubs to offer 1 year contracts to players beyond x round of the National Draft - or DFA signings.

The Rookie List becomes just Cat B type rookies - non-football signings, max 3 years - with no restriction on the ability to play senior games. Maybe adding a clause where if they play more than a certain number of games without any players on the LTI list then they must be elevated at the end of the season (or delisted) to prevent teams abusing it.

Some kind of priority access to reserve team players would be good, but I'm not sure I'd fully open it to just outright take the player, maybe make it more of an academy type arrangement where clubs can nominate a player from their seconds side to be eligible to match a bid on.

 

[Eleven 38]

There's a fair bit more than the rookie list that needs an overhaul.

I would:
-Remove the rookie list
-Over time extend lists out to 50.
-Allow clubs to trade contracted players wherever they want,
-uncontracted non-free agents have to select at least 4 clubs of choice if they want to leave.
-unrestricted free agency after 6years in the system
-get rid of the preseason draft and just make everyone free agents after the national draft.