SA Footy

Q. If a player is out of contract, like Thorton and wishes to leave his club, his club refuses to do a trade, should the same club be allowed to pick him up in the pre-season draft with their #1 pick

this is an intersesting qustion, the club should be compensated for the development they have invested in the kid, but if the kid wants a fresh change and environment, is it right to prevent the kid if he wishes to change his work place, is it against restraint of trade laws?

well the club can pick the player up again in the pre-season draft, but why would you bother in drafting a player who wants to leave the club. wouldnt you rather go out and get somebody who might actually want to play for the club.

If i was a player in that situation wanted to leave a club and then they drafted me in the pre-season you would just go through the motions at VFL level and then when they wasted another season on you, you are bound to be de-listed or traded.

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:If i was a player in that situation wanted to leave a club and then they drafted me in the pre-season you would just go through the motions at VFL level and then when they wasted another season on you, you are bound to be de-listed or traded.

I don't think there would be many players who would "go through the motions" at VFL level should this happen to them. If you did that, you could seriously hamper your trade prospects for the following year. Spitting the dummy when things don't go your way is a poor thing to do to your club & especially your team mates who are out there giving 100%, when you are only playing at 85% because you don't give a stuff.

It is an excellent question though - surely there must be a law somewhere stating that the club couldn't do this to him, if he really wanted to leave??