The Mockery that is the AFL Draft

We have all been waiting eaderly to see what was going to happen with Tom Scully and whether he would remain a Lion or become a Giant.

Well as a cyical observer would view, the dollar has won that battle.

But it isn't really about Scully, Melbourne's loss or the compensation it will receive. It is really the mockery the AFL has made with this contrived draft system, that would allow a 2 year player rightfully taken by Melbourne as the lowest ranked club in 2009, to flit off in chase of an almighty dollar ($6M for 6 years apparently).

Again the cynic could argue that the tanking issue that was suggested upon Dean Bailey's departure maybe coming back to bite them - Karma?

However, the AFL have completely lost the plot with this newly contrived draft system and again I use the word, "contrived" with much conviction. They continue to contrive and tweak this competition to be what they want it to be and not what the clubs and players make of it.

Furthermore, these arbitrary rules make a further and complete mockery of the salary cap system.

If any club is found guilty of cap breaches they MUST take the issue to court and challenge it in restraint of trade laws. Every club has played ball on this salary cap thing up to now. But I would really like to see it challenged. Melbourne could feel the strongest to do so in this respect, but I bet they won't.

Anybody that offers that this AFL competition is an even playing field for every club, is simply delusional.
I bet Andrew Demetriou considers it a level playing field, so I rest my case.

Once upon a time in the recent past the draft system was a working beast. It allowed a basket case club like Brisbane to ascend to the greatest streak in the modern game. It probably allowed the Crows their streak in the late 90s. It allowed Port Adelaide their shot at glory with 3 minor premierships. And it allowed interstate clubs since then a fair cop at the flag (viz Sydney and West Coast). It achieved its purpose and all clubs who were lowly ranked had a chance to resurrect themselves over time.

However, this was all before we had expansion clubs injected into the mix. It was before Collingwood reaped a financial bonanza from their high TV exposure and before the SA clubs went all stinky.

I would be interested to know what the average Victorian punter makes of all this and the state of the competition. Do they consider it a level playing field anymore?

The system is now biting the hands of those it is seeking to assist.
God I hope they don't think a 19th and 20th team will be the next boon to the game.

It is a classic case of "style over substance" spin being served up.

The competition will never in my lifetime be a level playing field that allows all clubs the same opportunities to prosper both on and off the field.

And that is why I support nobody in the AFL anymore.

Never will be an even playing field IMO. The draft annd cap are only a fraction of what makes it even.

Even means even . No side playing 18 of 22 games in their home state and playing each team twice etc makes it even.

Forget the draft crap where kids have to pack up and leave their home states. SA , WA , QLD , NSW divided by 2 and the clubs have zones and work them.Vic divide by 8/9 and do the same and all clubs will have approximately the same amount of population to work, exception is NSW and QLD , being of Rugby history I can live with that.

Work it and live with the consequences. The system now rewards poor performing clubs and penalises the good ones.

Then once that is sorted , or if not before , get rid of Demetriou.

All teams need to play each other twice. And we don't have to extend the length of the season to do it - just play more mid-week games.

Unless the AFL start policing the off-field spend of clubs it'll never be even.