SA Footy

I was having a bit of a think about the SANFL Mini-Draft over the weekend ... Granted I didn't put a great deal of thought into it, but I was wondering if it was actually required?

Couldn't the AFL clubs find a system whereby they negotiate with the SANFL clubs and then with the blessing of the SANFL clubs, allocate their players as they would prefer?

In this day and age the successful SANFL clubs are those who develop strong enough lists that don't require the assistance of AFL listed's anyway, and this should further emphasise that need at SANFL club level.

Perhaps the two local AFL clubs could develop a system where by they place their players to those clubs aligned with them, with the number of players evening out for each SANFL club over x amount of years.

I'm sure there's something I've overlooked, but is it a concept that could be tinkered with to work .. Or is the concern that eventually the SANFL clubs would refuse to accept them and some AFL listed players end up without a local home?

I agree that the system needs some work, when lists are drawn up of what players were allocated to which club and then the players that then transfered from the club, South Adelaide loses the most. I think that the reason for that is the sheer distance that the said player has to travel. If you were a young interstate player drafted for the Power, naturally you are going to be living near the AFL club as you spend most of your time there. Yet when that player has to then travel for an hour or so to get to SANFL training and matches I think that is pushing the thin end of the wedge somewhat and not neccessaraly fair on the player concerned. I dont think that it would be inappropriate on that basis for South to be excluded from the Mini Draft.

Split the players up between the AFL clubs nominated father son clubs.

Crows and Power recruit more local players then they will stay their whole career in South Australia be happy at home and stay with the club that developed them when not playing AFL or retiring from AFL.
Why those clubs..Crows in particular keep recruiting interstate youngsters only to lose them when in their prime is beyond comprehension.
When will Crows or Power ever get a number 1 draft pick....of course never because both will always finish at worse half way up the ladder.
You cant tell me the better young South Australian kids are not as good as their Victorian and Western Australian counterparts !

Problem with most models is it isn't fair on some teams. If the Power were allowed to work out where there players should go, the magpies would get a stack of free recruits each season. Conversely if it's among the clubs the father-son picks are generated from then 1 AFL club might get 8 new players, and the other only 1. The best system IMHO is the current system with clubs being able to forfeit their pick if they choose.

Grahaml wrote:Problem with most models is it isn't fair on some teams. If the Power were allowed to work out where there players should go, the magpies would get a stack of free recruits each season. Conversely if it's among the clubs the father-son picks are generated from then 1 AFL club might get 8 new players, and the other only 1. The best system IMHO is the current system with clubs being able to forfeit their pick if they choose.

Not sure if your comments about Port are correct. Most of the Power-listed players who've played for the Magpies have had some previous connection with the club.

It's a bit uneven and random as it is, but I can't think of a better way, other than offering the chance to "bank" any forfeited picks.

This would mean next year that if a club felt that no-one from the 2008 AFL-drafted players suits the requirements of the club for that season they could pass their pick (rather than selecting one "just in case" and having him end up in the stiffs and getting pissed off), but the following year they would get their 2008 pick offered again early on, as well as any 2009 picks.

I think this would serve to have clubs pick players that they need, and would probably help even out the comp too.

Not expressing an opinion SDK but you seem to be answering your own question.

SDK wrote:
Why those clubs..Crows in particular keep recruiting interstate youngsters only to lose them when in their prime is beyond comprehension.

because both will always finish at worse half way up the ladder.

The AFL clubs have to pick the best players that come along. The players lost balance the players that are gained in the "come home stakes" IMHO. Some interstate players give great service, and the ones that don't allow the clubs to get a pick higher than they otherwise might have gotten.

The reason I say Port would allign with the magpies is firstly the old boy's club mentality. What helps the magpies helps the power and vice versa. Also, what more convenient location to be based than the club based at the same ground. No travelling to Elizabeth or Noarlunga for trainings or home matches. Plus I dare say the magpies would allow Williams more of a say in where to play the kids if they could get them all.

Grahaml wrote:The AFL clubs have to pick the best players that come along. The players lost balance the players that are gained in the "come home stakes" IMHO. Some interstate players give great service, and the ones that don't allow the clubs to get a pick higher than they otherwise might have gotten.

The reason I say Port would allign with the magpies is firstly the old boy's club mentality. What helps the magpies helps the power and vice versa. Also, what more convenient location to be based than the club based at the same ground. No travelling to Elizabeth or Noarlunga for trainings or home matches. Plus I dare say the magpies would allow Williams more of a say in where to play the kids if they could get them all.

Disagree totally. Power pay the Magpies scant regard.

There may be some credence in your thoughts about the benefits of sharing a training venue, but I think that wouldn't amount to too much...

Not directed at you specifically Grahaml, but it always amuses me that on the one hand you get people saying that the Magpies and the Power are two totally distict entities and that the Magpies gave up their heritage when they sold out to the AFL etc, etc... But on the other hand these people also suggest there is some under-handed relationship between the two parties that somehow gives the Magpies an unfair advantage over other SANFL clubs.

If you want to pick out an SANFL club with a curiously close relationship with an AFL side - then I suggest you start with Glenelg and the Crows...