Strategy What Would Happen if the AFL Raised the Draft Age to 21?

[moses]

What Would Happen if the AFL Raised the Draft Age to 21?

I’ve been thinking lately about what raising the draft age to 21 could do to the competition.

It feels like it could change the whole football landscape — not just at AFL level, but across the second-tier leagues too.

Potential Positives:

- State & Second-Tier Leagues Would Get Stronger
Imagine the VFL, SANFL, WAFL, etc. full of 18–20-year-old players pushing themselves week in, week out for a shot at the big time. It would lift the quality and interest in those leagues significantly — a bit like how European footballers often spend time in competitive “second division” comps before stepping up.

- Players Enter AFL Ready to Go
At 21, players are more physically developed, have had more match experience against mature bodies, and are likely better equipped to handle the mental demands of professional footy.

- Greater Career Longevity
Starting later could reduce early wear-and-tear, meaning we might see more players able to sustain high performance well into their 30s.

- Better Talent Identification
By 21, clubs have more data and match vision to judge who can really cut it at AFL level, rather than relying on underage form.

- commercial incentives for second tier comps to develop AFL ready players.

Possible Downsides:

- We’d lose some of the excitement of 18-year-old debutants making an immediate splash.

- Clubs might need to overhaul development pathways and scouting to keep pace with a different draft timeline.

Would this make the AFL better overall — stronger state leagues, more mature debutants, and longer careers? Or would it take away from the thrill of seeing the best kids hit the big stage straight out of school?

 

[Farang83150]

AFL should lift draft age to 21 for the good of the game

I don't see any good in drafting players at the age of 17,18,19. At this age the male body is still developing and to pit them up against fully grown men is unfair and stupid. When you draft a player at this age he is thrown into the deep end, may lose confidence at not being able to succeed and...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[The Filth Wizard]

I wonder if it would lessen the draft pool, it's hard to expect each crop of 17-18 year olds to lose those years of wages. There'll be a number of kids that may have been drafted at 17 but they've got to live so may seek full time employment or study instead of footy for a couple more years at a lower level. Not to mention the quality of development in a high performance setting as opposed to the state leagues.

 

[Hamingja]

I wonder if it would lessen the draft pool, it's hard to expect each crop of 17-18 year olds to lose those years of wages. There'll be a number of kids that may have been drafted at 17 but they've got to live so may seek full time employment or study instead of footy for a couple more years at a lower level. Not to mention the quality of development in a high performance setting as opposed to the state leagues.

You would bleed a lot of players to other sports. There are always kids in the draft that also played rep cricket or basketball. The NSW/QLD kids would just play league instead.

 

[stallon]

Would kill the sport.

All the kids go do other things after finishing school - other sports/study/a trade/whatever.
Most of them are not going to keep up with all the training and stuff for 3 more years while not getting paid for it(or getting state league pay), putting everything else in their life on hold just to get a chance at being drafted.

 

[Hamingja]

It would be a good scam. The best footballer in the u-18s takes a sports scholarship to college in the States. Finishes their degree over there and comes back and nominates Geelong under Cat B rules instead of getting drafted to West Coast.

 

[Bletch]

What Would Happen if the AFL Raised the Draft Age to 21?

Law suits.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

What Would Happen if the AFL Raised the Draft Age to 21?

I’ve been thinking lately about what raising the draft age to 21 could do to the competition.

It feels like it could change the whole football landscape — not just at AFL level, but across the second-tier leagues too.

Potential Positives:

- State & Second-Tier Leagues Would Get Stronger
Imagine the VFL, SANFL, WAFL, etc. full of 18–20-year-old players pushing themselves week in, week out for a shot at the big time. It would lift the quality and interest in those leagues significantly — a bit like how European footballers often spend time in competitive “second division” comps before stepping up.

- Players Enter AFL Ready to Go
At 21, players are more physically developed, have had more match experience against mature bodies, and are likely better equipped to handle the mental demands of professional footy.

- Greater Career Longevity
Starting later could reduce early wear-and-tear, meaning we might see more players able to sustain high performance well into their 30s.

- Better Talent Identification
By 21, clubs have more data and match vision to judge who can really cut it at AFL level, rather than relying on underage form.

- commercial incentives for second tier comps to develop AFL ready players.

Possible Downsides:

- We’d lose some of the excitement of 18-year-old debutants making an immediate splash.

- Clubs might need to overhaul development pathways and scouting to keep pace with a different draft timeline.

Would this make the AFL better overall — stronger state leagues, more mature debutants, and longer careers? Or would it take away from the thrill of seeing the best kids hit the big stage straight out of school?

The upside you mention is definitely there but you should also consider how much player development happens from young players being on a list and playing and training with full time professional football players.

I don't think you could do it without a big investment in the state leagues to make them basically fully professionalised

 

[Elixuh]

It'd stretch the talent too thin. Any players that are 'missed' can be picked up at any time - whether they're 21, 25 or 28. There is nothing stopping you.

The Lions have...
Lohmann who just turned 22 on 48 games
Wilmmot 21 on 77 games
Fletcher 21 on 62 games
Ashcroft 21 on 52 games
Morris 20 on 39 games
Ashcroft 18 on 21 games
Marshall 19 on 5 games
McLachlan 20 on 6 games
Brain 21 on 9 games
Gallop 19 on 1 game

The ones in bold have been best 22 since before they would have been draftable. That is almost 30% of our gameday team.

Clubs would argue that players learn and develop far quicker in an AFL system than a state system. And I think they'd be right.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Raise it 1yr and make it an U/19's comp leading into the draft.
Last year with school exams out of the way.Some might flourish and clubs get a clearer picture.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Given that most draftees come out of the private school system, the days of AFL players going from plumber's apprentice onto and AFL list are over, most of the kids would go onto university and I would imagine a 'college' style league would develop.

 

[Freomaniac]

Raise it 1yr and make it an U/19's comp leading into the draft.
Last year with school exams out of the way.Some might flourish and clubs get a clearer picture.

Would be an interesting comp.

You finish high school and just turned 18.

You can focus on playing SANFL or WAFL or VFL as a 19 year old. That one year of development makes a huge difference. That one year of improvement in strength and endurance can be huge too.

Would be interesting if you are drafted as a 21 year old.

3 more years of experience, fitness and strength and conditioning. 3 full seasons of development.

Rather than breaking down at 30, you could play solid footy at 35 or even 40 years old

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Given that most draftees come out of the private school system, the days of AFL players going from plumber's apprentice onto and AFL list are over, most of the kids would go onto university and I would imagine a 'college' style league would develop.

I actually wouldn't mind an RMIT vs UMelb.

I can also see sides taking note of which kids moved out of home and what kind of self driven stuff did they do etc.

 

[King Patty]

Its a bad idea, increasing age to 21, players would be lost to other sports.
I would go the other way
I would make it Father sons and NGA academy kids are eligible at 17 for draft. (only 1 17 year old per club can nominate to enter draft as a 17 year old)
Imagine Daicos could have played as a 17 year old. Could also help clubs spread academy kids or father sons over years.
Essendon could take Bewick early as a 17 year old and then still draft Rodan and Darwish as NGA Academy kids the following year. Only the ones more physically ready would nominate. Even if they don;t play much AFL would get a year head start in AFL conditioning. And could still play School footy.

 

[M Malice]

That move would be insane, elite junior talents would gravitate to other sports and the others would move on to off field pursuits eg. business.

 

[bzparkes]

Just improve the junior talent pathways for every state instead.

 

[Golumless]

Raise it 1yr and make it an U/19's comp leading into the draft.
Last year with school exams out of the way.Some might flourish and clubs get a clearer picture.

I doubt that'd help the clubs out a great deal. The biggest unknowns are still the biggest unknowns, I.e. does your talent hold up with the step up, can you thrive under the spotlight, does the next 3 years of intakes destroy your chances etc.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

I doubt that'd help the clubs out a great deal. The biggest unknowns are still the biggest unknowns, I.e. does your talent hold up with the step up, can you thrive under the spotlight, does the next 3 years of intakes destroy your chances etc.

A year at state league level would be a better indication than under-age atm.

 

[T4P]

Don't see it happening, but I do see clubs becoming more conservative with young talent to protect them during development e.g. Tigers' approach to Josh Smillie this year

A far more relevant question for 195cm+ kids than <190cm ready to go kids.

 

[kaiserchief13]

If there was a competition where 18-20 year olds could play where they get decent pay it could work, but I don't think Australia's population is big enough to support that

 

[Mutineer]

Voting age is 18, you're considered an adult end of story.

 

[Astro35]

Nothing would happen. People would grumble, predict the end of football as we know it, and then shut up once the next season started.

 

[Danog]

19 is the highest I'd go.

 

[Obeanie1]

What Would Happen if the AFL Raised the Draft Age to 21?

I’ve been thinking lately about what raising the draft age to 21 could do to the competition.

It feels like it could change the whole football landscape — not just at AFL level, but across the second-tier leagues too.

Potential Positives:

- State & Second-Tier Leagues Would Get Stronger
Imagine the VFL, SANFL, WAFL, etc. full of 18–20-year-old players pushing themselves week in, week out for a shot at the big time. It would lift the quality and interest in those leagues significantly — a bit like how European footballers often spend time in competitive “second division” comps before stepping up.

- Players Enter AFL Ready to Go
At 21, players are more physically developed, have had more match experience against mature bodies, and are likely better equipped to handle the mental demands of professional footy.

- Greater Career Longevity
Starting later could reduce early wear-and-tear, meaning we might see more players able to sustain high performance well into their 30s.

- Better Talent Identification
By 21, clubs have more data and match vision to judge who can really cut it at AFL level, rather than relying on underage form.

- commercial incentives for second tier comps to develop AFL ready players.

Possible Downsides:

- We’d lose some of the excitement of 18-year-old debutants making an immediate splash.

- Clubs might need to overhaul development pathways and scouting to keep pace with a different draft timeline.

Would this make the AFL better overall — stronger state leagues, more mature debutants, and longer careers? Or would it take away from the thrill of seeing the best kids hit the big stage straight out of school?

Interesting topic but will never happen.

Why?

It's a restraint of trade and age discrimination.

Saying an adult cannot apply to participate in your industry until they are 21. When they can join the Army at 18?

As a side note what happens in the year the rule comes in to all the draftees under 21 already in the system?

 

[Cleric]

Wouldn't work.
Waiting another three years to see if they have a job at AFL, while playing for $100 a week and a meat hamper at the local clubs, while having to make big decisions about their further education and job prospects.
It would kill the development of the next generation of players.