- Aug 28, 2010
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It's been the talk all season list-management wise. Carlton, during the 2018 AFL draft, decided to trade it's 2019 first round pick to Adelaide in exchange for pick 19 and Adelaide's 2019 first round pick.
Now this isn't a post about whether they should've done it, nor is it a post about whether Liam Stocker will end up being worth it. It's also not a post about what Carlton would've done had they not done the trade - many Carlton people believe they would've traded it this year anyway.
This is a post about whether the AFL should introduce pick protection, similar to the NBA. The reason I'd like to raise this question, is because as things stand at the end of round 13, Adelaide sit in the top 4 and are primed for a tilt at the flag, while Carlton languish dead last in 18th. There is still a way to go in the season, but it is not unconceivable that Adelaide could win the premiership, and also receive pick 1 in the draft. This goes against everything the AFL have sought to achieve with their 'equalisation' mantra.
For those who are unfamiliar with how the NBA draft works, there is a system of 'protected' picks. I will use an example with AFL teams:
Let's pretend Richmond traded their 2019 first round draft pick to North Melbourne.
However, Richmond's pick is top 10 protected.
What does this mean?
It simply means that if Richmond's draft pick ends up being in the top 10, they get to keep their pick. In the NBA, when a draft pick is top 10 protected, the pick will defer to the next draft at which point there is no protection. In this example, if Richmond's pick ended up being in the top 10, North Melbourne would get Richmond's 2020 first round pick.
This system gives teams a fail-safe when trading future first round picks and could deter potential catastrophic list management choices like the Carlton one.
Some of you may argue 'well that's Carlton's choice, you make your bed now lie in it', which is a fair argument, and I'm sure Adelaide fans will be thinking it. However I believe with the current system in place, there is nothing stopping clubs from making the same mistake Carlton have.
Thoughts?
Now this isn't a post about whether they should've done it, nor is it a post about whether Liam Stocker will end up being worth it. It's also not a post about what Carlton would've done had they not done the trade - many Carlton people believe they would've traded it this year anyway.
This is a post about whether the AFL should introduce pick protection, similar to the NBA. The reason I'd like to raise this question, is because as things stand at the end of round 13, Adelaide sit in the top 4 and are primed for a tilt at the flag, while Carlton languish dead last in 18th. There is still a way to go in the season, but it is not unconceivable that Adelaide could win the premiership, and also receive pick 1 in the draft. This goes against everything the AFL have sought to achieve with their 'equalisation' mantra.
For those who are unfamiliar with how the NBA draft works, there is a system of 'protected' picks. I will use an example with AFL teams:
Let's pretend Richmond traded their 2019 first round draft pick to North Melbourne.
However, Richmond's pick is top 10 protected.
What does this mean?
It simply means that if Richmond's draft pick ends up being in the top 10, they get to keep their pick. In the NBA, when a draft pick is top 10 protected, the pick will defer to the next draft at which point there is no protection. In this example, if Richmond's pick ended up being in the top 10, North Melbourne would get Richmond's 2020 first round pick.
This system gives teams a fail-safe when trading future first round picks and could deter potential catastrophic list management choices like the Carlton one.
Some of you may argue 'well that's Carlton's choice, you make your bed now lie in it', which is a fair argument, and I'm sure Adelaide fans will be thinking it. However I believe with the current system in place, there is nothing stopping clubs from making the same mistake Carlton have.
Thoughts?