Opinion Will Brisbane’s win finally spell the end of the Academies?

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

It’s the most logical way to do it, I’ve said that before.

But why do you think the AFL doesn’t fund it?

Northern clubs will still need to run the academies. We won’t be able to stay as involved as we like. The afl can’t run them.

The AFL does fund it. Stop lying to yourself

 

[Elixuh]

The AFL does fund it. Stop lying to yourself

Show me where they fund it old boy

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Show me where they fund it old boy

AFL Funding - 29.6 million dollars

 

[Elixuh]

AFL Funding - 29.6 million dollars

So you can’t demonstrate that the AFL funds it.

And why do we fund the academy via corporate sponsorship, like the Swans QBE Swans Academy if it’s paid for by the AFL?

 

[WittsEnd]

The Vics will settle down when they realise the Qld academies are bare for the next couple of drafts. It’s not going to be like 2023 every year.

 

[2big sound]

Keep the academies – they’ve clearly been successful in building pathways where NRL and soccer are bigger competitors – but just re-brand them or make them part of a more “open” system.

What doesn’t sit right is the exclusive access for Brisbane, Sydney, GWS and Gold Coast. If the goal is genuinely about development and growing the game, then the academies should be funded and run the same way, but their talent should enter the draft pool like everyone else. That way, Queensland and NSW kids still get elite coaching and resources from age 13–14 onwards, but without the automatic pipeline to the local AFL club.

It would preserve the development benefits, but remove the distortion at draft time.

Who says no?

The Northern Academies weren't established for "development and growing the game." That was the reason the established the Giants and Suns. The Northern Academies were established first, to overcome the "go home to mummy" syndrome which saw players leaving the four northern teams to return to mainly Victoria, to the great benefit of the Victorian teams, and second, to provide the elite development pathway that exists in the other states, and is funded by the AFL in Victoria, and the state leagues in SA and WA. The Giants still lose 3 to 4 of the first choice players every year, plus a lot more of their young developing players.

 

[WittsEnd]

The AFL does fund it. Stop lying to yourself

Just like how the afl funds the Coates league which develops Vic talent

 

[dean33]

Gallop didn't exactly have much of an impact in the grand final. Played a great prelim but was in the team because Day is cooked. Will be replaced by OAllen next year.

Gallop is a kid who will only get better. Allen might replace him next year but Gallop will push him out in another couple of years. The academies are a rort but will stay because the afls dream is the 4 northern clubs contending each season.

 

[Knight82]

So you can’t explain it, nor why Brisbane requires so much more funding than other teams … but North is financially unviable?

These types of questions can't be answered by anyone on BigFooty IMO

AFL House or Andrew Dillon would only know the 'why' and 'how' relating to these decisions.
Average punters on both sides of the arguments in this thread can only ever speculate IMO

 

[Philhawk]

The Northern Academies weren't established for "development and growing the game." That was the reason the established the Giants and Suns. The Northern Academies were established first, to overcome the "go home to mummy" syndrome which saw players leaving the four northern teams to return to mainly Victoria, to the great benefit of the Victorian teams, and second, to provide the elite development pathway that exists in the other states, and is funded by the AFL in Victoria, and the state leagues in SA and WA. The Giants still lose 3 to 4 of the first choice players every year, plus a lot more of their young developing players.

It doesn’t seem like the AFL agrees with this assessment.

The AFL has been pretty consistent about the Northern Academies being about development and expansion of the code, not just retention.

AFL’s own explainer says:

“The northern academies are open to all players as the game looks to expand its footprint in states that have traditionally been under-represented.” (AFL.com.au)

Mark Evans, when he was GM of football operations, said:

“We will use the expertise, resources and brand power of clubs out in regional communities to help find and attract and develop young talent, boys and girls, all cultures, all backgrounds.” (SBS)

And the AFLPA has backed them on the same grounds:

“From the data we’ve seen [the club-based academies] are proving to be a very effective method of developing football in those two northern markets … If we stop giving the clubs that advantage … the number of people and the interest in AFL drops in those two states.” (AFL.com.au)

So the AFL line has always been about pathways and growth in NSW and QLD, not just preventing “go home factor.”

 

[Philhawk]

These types of questions can't be answered by anyone on BigFooty IMO

AFL House or Andrew Dillon would only know the 'why' and 'how' relating to these decisions.
Average punters on both sides of the arguments in this thread can only ever speculate IMO

You’re right, but I would challenge that and add part of the reason it’s brought up is due to the haziness around who funds the Brisbane academies.

When people see Brisbane posting stronger balance sheets than some Vic clubs and still receiving larger distributions, the assumption is it’s a straight handout.

That’s where the confusion comes in. Is the extra money going to prop up the Lions financially, or is it essentially the AFL underwriting pathways that don’t exist in QLD/NSW the way they do in Vic, SA and WA? The lack of transparency on what’s distribution and what’s development spend muddies the waters.

 

[Rosscoe_666]

It wouldn't be a big change. Just move the draft back to where it was prior to 2010, bar priority picks which should be completely abolished.

You and the Suns can still trade up to try and take Queensland kids before anyone else, but you wouldn't have the rights to match any bids. Could always try to lure those Queensland kids back at a later date as well.
Junior development returns to a whole of state approach run by AFL Queensland rather the clubs.

If all interstate clubs had academies, then the vic clubs should have exclusive access to their own areas. Just do away with the draft and return to zoning.
Can't be 4 in and 14 out, has to 18 in or 18 out and open national draft.

Tell you what: if you - and, by extension, all whingeing southerners (not me, despite living in Victoria) - are so desperate to get hold of Qld and NSW kids who might otherwise play something else, the AFL can institute a draft system where clubs can't draft kids from their own state for the first two rounds. That way, no top 40-rated Northern Academy kids can go to NSW or Qld clubs. Also, no SA kids to Port or the Crows, and no WA kids to Freo and WCE in rounds 1 and 2. One other thing though: no Victorian kids to Victorian clubs for the first two rounds. Oh, and a minimum 5-year contract with guaranteed pay levels for the top forty draftees, to obviate the "go home" factor. Seems fair to me. What do you think, Rightwinger?

 

[RightWingRoo]

Tell you what: if you - and, by extension, all whingeing southerners (not me, despite living in Victoria) - are so desperate to get hold of Qld and NSW kids who might otherwise play something else, the AFL can institute a draft system where clubs can't draft kids from their own state for the first two rounds. That way, no top 40-rated Northern Academy kids can go to NSW or Qld clubs. Also, no SA kids to Port or the Crows, and no WA kids to Freo and WCE in rounds 1 and 2. One other thing though: no Victorian kids to Victorian clubs for the first two rounds. Oh, and a minimum 5-year contract with guaranteed pay levels for the top forty draftees, to obviate the "go home" factor. Seems fair to me. What do you think, Rightwinger?

Bit of an overreaction

Just move it back to where it was pre 2010, bar priority picks and with the introduction of pick trading. Clubs were able to rebuild much quicker back then, having unimpeded access to top end talent.

I know you want to defend and maintain your competitive advantage. But in a competition with a salary cap, draft and regulated player movement, it's too much of a free kick.
Has to be all in or all out

 

[Viceregal]

Bit of an overreaction

Just move it back to where it was pre 2010, bar priority picks and with the introduction of pick trading. Clubs were able to rebuild much quicker back then, having unimpeded access to top end talent.

I know you want to defend and maintain your competitive advantage. But in a competition with a salary cap, draft and regulated player movement, it's too much of a free kick.
Has to be all in or all out

So if there was a salary cap (I am assuming you mean the soft one we have always used not a real one), a 'pure' draft (except for F/s), and the current restrictions on movement ... do you believe that no state or region would be benefitted over any other and that the playing field would be level?

 

[Rosscoe_666]

If it wasn't for the Father Son and Academies we win this game. Fact.

If it wasn't for Father-Son selections Ablett Jr, Scarlett and Hawkins, there's premierships which wouldn't have been won. Fact