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Evolution of the AFL

By Mr Dandalooa

Like it or hate it the AFL is evolving.

Gold Coast’s AFL debut will take place next year, and Western Sydney will join the competition in 2012 as the league also faces the introduction of free agency.

The AFL is fearful that the free agency scheme could undermine the level playing field of the competition, highlighting the poaching of players in European soccer leagues and the exorbitant pay packages that follow.

The AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA) however, has been mooting free agency for some time and welcomes its introduction.

But with the two new clubs entering the league there are a raft of other changes to the AFL that clubs must endure.

Geelong foresees the massive changes poised to unfold in the AFL over the next three years and will be forced to overhaul its recruiting strategy to cope with Gold Coast looking to poach Gary Ablett with the Cats also hurriedly trying to retain the service of Joel Selwood.

Cats coach Mark Thompson said while Ablett has been at the top of Gold Coast’s recruiting list it was too early to tell whether Geelong can save the prized Brownlow medallist or Selwood from what he calls hostile recruiters.

FootyGoss understands that the Cats are overhauling their recruiting strategy as Ablett is being targeted by Gold Coast for a reported $1.5 million contract.

AAP reported this week that the Cats would look at the way they do business, “because it’s a big change in the rules of the game ... free agency and two new teams in three years.

“It’s just huge, it’s going to have consequences on the quality of players you can get, how you contract players and how you do business,” Thompson was reported as saying.

“We’re doing a lot of work in planning and coming up with blueprint on how we want to go forward.”

“We’ve been a club that has traditionally recruited and developed our own players.

“But in saying that, if you get some players walking out on you after eight years of service, we might be forced to change the way we do business and look at another way of doing it, and that’s by getting some ready-made players from other clubs.

“We’ve been good at adapting to all the rules and the way we do business, I’m sure we’ll be okay.”

Adelaide coach Neil Craig reckons a club’s playing environment would become even more important as it becomes harder for clubs to retain key players.

But the Sydney Swans have shown support of thes announcement from the AFL and AFLPA regarding the free agency structure.

Swans football general manager Dean Moore said the club felt the AFL and AFLPA have found a good balance and that the free agency framework is fair to clubs and players.

“We believe the process of negotiation and collaboration between the AFL, AFLPA and the Clubs was thorough,” he said.

“We are satisfied that the outcome has protected the best interests of the Clubs and works for the players.”

The agreement, which will start in 2012 when Western Sydney joins the league, follows extensive negotiations between the AFL, AFLPA and Policy Development Group, which included representatives from AFL clubs.

The agreement gives increased choices to players to play wherever they want and to the highest bidder, greater flexibility for clubs to manage their lists and it takes into account the interests of members and supporters, according to the AFL.

A key feature of the free agency agreement is the ability of clubs to match any offer from a rival club for a leading player on its list.

If the offer is matched, the player can choose to remain with his current club, be traded or nominate for the AFL draft.
AFL head honcho Andrew Demetriou said the agreement was a positive outcome for players and the AFL competition and maintained the competitive balance of the AFL competition, which is unrivalled by any sport in Australia.

“Importantly, the agreement protects the integrity of the salary cap and draft—key pillars in the ongoing success of the competition,” he said.

AFL general manager of football operations, Adrian Anderson, said the AFL had entered negotiations with the AFLPA in “good faith” as part of the current collective bargaining agreement and was pleased they could reach an outcome that balanced the needs of players, the needs of the competition while creating safeguards for clubs to maintain key players.

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis said that securing a more flexible labour market for AFL players has been a key objective for the association for several years.

He said the deal has struck a balance between respecting the culture and traditions of our competition, whilst acknowledging the rights of players for increased self determination.  This is an outcome that is good for players, clubs and the game.

“We’re pleased to be able to introduce a model of free agency which is uniquely structured to suit the AFL competition.  Our campaign for free agency has never been about revolution - rather it has been focused on improving a system which has helped to secure the AFL competition as the pre-eminent professional team sport in the country,” he said.

Under the agreement (as listed on AFL website):

• Players delisted by a club on or before 31 October will be unrestricted free agents. • Players who are not in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their clubs will be eligible for unrestricted free agency if they have served eight years on the primary list of the club.
• Players who are in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their club will be eligible for restricted free agency for their first new contract after they have served eight years on the primary list of the club. This is the case regardless of when the first new contract arises. For example, a player who is contracted after his seventh year for 2, 3, 4 or years will still only be eligible for restricted free agency for his next contracts as a 9, 10, or 11 year player.
• A top 25 per cent player will then be eligible for unrestricted free agency for his next contract, provided that a player can’t be an unrestricted free agent until completing at least 10 years service at one clubs.
• Restricted free agents have the right to move to a club of their choice subject to the current club’s right of first refusal over their services. That is, if the current club can match the offer from a rival club, the player must stay or enter the draft. The tabled offer only includes capped salary and capped ASA amounts.
• Compensation in the form of AFL allocated draft picks will apply to clubs with a net loss of free agents. This will be based on a formula to be determined by the AFL.
• The Veterans List allowance will be amended to apply to players with 10 years service at one club and will be based on a set amount of TPP per player calculated as a percentage of TPP.
• The AFL will closely monitor access to uncapped third party independent arrangements.
• All player investments with associates must be lodged with the AFL.
The new system will commence at the end of 2012 after the entry of Team GWS into the competition. It will remain in place until the end of 2016 when it will be reviewed.

The AFLPA and AFL said the new system would give greater flexibility to players and clubs, with the NAB national draft, pre-season and rookie drafts and AFL trade period to remain in place.

A Policy Development Group was set up to negotiate with the AFLPA. As well as AFL officials, it included the following club representatives: Steven Trigg (Adelaide CEO), Andrew Ireland (Sydney Swans CEO), Peter Rohde (Port Adelaide General Manager Football), Chris Pelchen (Hawthorn Recruiting and List Manager), Scott Clayton (Gold Coast Recruiting and List Manager).

How the new system will work:

1. A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and is now out of contract.

The player is not eligible for free agency if his club wishes to retain him. He may only move clubs via a trade or the Draft. If he delists himself, he is subject to the Draft, and may be selected by any club.

2. A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and has been delisted by his club.

The player is a Free Agent and is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
The player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
The player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
His original club, which chose to delist him, does not receive any compensation pick for the loss of the player.

3. A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the 10 highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service.

The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
His club has the right to match the presented offer.
If the club matches the offer, he may choose to remain with his original club, seek a trade or enter the Draft.
If the club does not or can not match the offer, the player can move to the new club of his choice.
His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period.

4. A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is NOT one of the 10 highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service.

The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula.

5. A player has served ten or more seasons of AFL football at one club, has already come out of contract once in the period after serving his first eight or more seasons at his club, and is now out of contract.

The player is eligible to field offers from all rival clubs.
If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula.