Import Rule

[redandblack]

It's reported today that the SANFL are looking to change the import rule to scrub the current proposal, to bring in a maximum 2 imports a year from other State leagues.

I think this is just as flawed as the previous proposal. What happens to clubs who lose several juniors in the draft, for a start. Secondly, we all know what will happen with this one. The best quality players will go to the clubs with the most cash.

(Don't pretend it doesn't happen).

The new rule would be OK if there was a compensation clause for drafted players.

[sjt]

It's reported today that the SANFL are looking to change the import rule to scrub the current proposal, to bring in a maximum 2 imports a year from other State leagues.

I think this is just as flawed as the previous proposal. What happens to clubs who lose several juniors in the draft, for a start. Secondly, we all know what will happen with this one. The best quality players will go to the clubs with the most cash.

(Don't pretend it doesn't happen).

The new rule would be OK if there was a compensation clause for drafted players.

From what you've mentioned it's sounding better. Agreed, if you lose four players in the draft perhaps you should be able to replace four players, that should become the import limit.

[Adelaide Hawk]

In the past I would have agreed, but having seen what Norwood have been able to do after losing several players and not being allowed to recruit, I think limiting the number of imports to 2 may not be such a bad idea.

We talk about losing juniors, but a number of those juniors would only be fringe league players the following year, and they spend their time playing mainly in the VFL or other minor leagues around the country. In effect, you may lose 4 juniors in the draft, but probably only 2 of them would be regular players in the league team the following season.

Maybe with the advent of the two new AFL clubs, and with the possibility of more players than usual being drafted out of SANFL (as well as some mature age recruits), next season may not be a good time to restrict imports to 2. Maybe we should be able to replace experienced league players as a special case.

[LBJ8]

You should be able to replace any player who played 5 or more league games the previous year, as well as the 2 included players.

[Dutchy]

The best quality players will go to the clubs with the most cash.

(Don't pretend it doesn't happen).

Most cash in the salary cap comes down to management of your clubs and player list.

[PhilH]

Hi Dutchy

How did your flaggies go in the U8's? HV gold lost its first game of the year (to the other flaggies) and didn't have enough Pct to get to the 1/4 finals.

[Dutchy]

Yeah no good mate, played terrible to be honest but all good fun. I dont think Flaggies Blue progressed either even after beating Valleys.

[SANFLnut]

A danger with bringing in this rule is that it reduces the pool of available players for the league and encourages clubs to feed off each other. There are already SANFL clubs drawing up significant lists of players from other clubs to target partly as a result of the import rule. Do we really want a comp where a club brings over a player as an import and the next year or 2 years later they move to anpther club. Imagine South identifying and recruiting Nick Liddle who comes over has a cracker year and the another club (ie. North) throw bigger dollars at him and poach him, without him counting as an import.

[whufc]

A danger with bringing in this rule is that it reduces the pool of available players for the league and encourages clubs to feed off each other. There are already SANFL clubs drawing up significant lists of players from other clubs to target partly as a result of the import rule. Do we really want a comp where a club brings over a player as an import and the next year or 2 years later they move to anpther club. Imagine South identifying and recruiting Nick Liddle who comes over has a cracker year and the another club (ie. North) throw bigger dollars at him and poach him, without him counting as an import.

in that scenario the player would still be an import until he had played the required 3 seasons in the SANFL

[on the rails]

This whole import rule and the chopping and changing of what is actually going to happen is a shambles! Two imports only per year is goign to severely restrict a number of clubs moving forward.

The SANFL or more so the 9 clubs need to be united on this and ask the Commission to leave it as it is until the full effects of the 2 new AFL teams is really felt in 3 years time.

We are slowly heading towards Andy's dream of an under 18 feeder comp for the AFL.

[whufc]

This whole import rule and the chopping and changing of what is actually going to happen is a shambles! Two imports only per year is goign to severely restrict a number of clubs moving forward.

The SANFL or more so the 9 clubs need to be united on this and ask the Commission to leave it as it is until the full effects of the 2 new AFL teams is really felt in 3 years time.

We are slowly heading towards Andy's dream of an under 18 feeder comp for the AFL.

And that will be the day i stop followiing football all together.

[nickname]

This whole import rule and the chopping and changing of what is actually going to happen is a shambles! Two imports only per year is goign to severely restrict a number of clubs moving forward.

The SANFL or more so the 9 clubs need to be united on this and ask the Commission to leave it as it is until the full effects of the 2 new AFL teams is really felt in 3 years time.

Agree. How on earth is a team like South (or West for that matter) supposed to make up ground on a team like Centrals under either of these proposals? I realise interstate recruiting isn't the whole answer but without it it's almost impossible. As long as there's a level playing field, why limit how good the comp could be?

[topsywaldron]

This whole import rule and the chopping and changing of what is actually going to happen is a shambles!

A North supporter calling another organisation a shambles.

Now I've heard everything.

[redandblack]

Fair go, topsy, at least otr no longer lectures me on how Westies should be as professional as North

[Squawk]

An import rule is just another restraint of trade arrangement to complement the draft.

At the end of the day, the AFL wants every other competition set up to fuel it directly. Dont forget, the transfer prices have already been increased between leagues. We now have an under 16s and under 18s competition. Next thing we know, teams in the SANFL will be allowed a bench of 8 players so scouts can view more players in the one game.

[nickname]

An import rule is just another restraint of trade arrangement to complement the draft.

At the end of the day, the AFL wants every other competition set up to fuel it directly. Dont forget, the transfer prices have already been increased between leagues. We now have an under 16s and under 18s competition. Next thing we know, teams in the SANFL will be allowed a bench of 8 players so scouts can view more players in the one game.

I don't think this is being driven by the AFL Squawk.I agree in general about the AFL's all-consuming approach, but I'm extremely reliably informed their prints aren't on this one.

[redandblack]

That's my info as well, nickname.

[Dirko]

Out of curiosity how many "imports" did clubs pick up this year?

Glenelg = Tenace & Curran.

[SANFLnut]

SANFLnut wrote:
A danger with bringing in this rule is that it reduces the pool of available players for the league and encourages clubs to feed off each other. There are already SANFL clubs drawing up significant lists of players from other clubs to target partly as a result of the import rule. Do we really want a comp where a club brings over a player as an import and the next year or 2 years later they move to anpther club. Imagine South identifying and recruiting Nick Liddle who comes over has a cracker year and the another club (ie. North) throw bigger dollars at him and poach him, without him counting as an import.

in that scenario the player would still be an import until he had played the required 3 seasons in the SANFL

Even if the rule becomes 2 imports per club per year. Surely in that case they are only an import for that 1st year?

[Mark_Beswick]

Stupid Rule - won't the off-season be boring