Western Sydney AFL Football Club

[mighty_tiger_79]

AFL gives new Western Sydney team free kick
Mark Stevens | October 20, 2009 12:23pm

Have your say!Add your comments or read what others are sayingEmail Article Share Add to Digg Add to del.icio.us Post to NewsVine Post to Facebook What are these? Printer friendly Text size+- THE new western Sydney AFL team has been handed a massive free kick in a raft of set-up concessions. Team GWS will not only have the same golden run of early draft picks as the new Gold Coast team but also have double the time to lure uncontracted players.

The new team will have picks 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 in the 2011 AFL Draft.

But in a massive double whammy for other AFL teams Team GWS will have two years to lure uncontracted players from rival clubs – one more than the Gold Coast franchise.

Team GWS will have access to 16 uncontracted players but if it can’t manage the full complement in 2011, it can go back to the market in 2012 to complete its quota.

The team will enter the AFL in 2012.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou reiterated that getting Western Sydney be one of the biggest challenges in the league’s history.

“The AFL Commission understands that establishing a team in Greater Western Sydney is a generational decision. If a licence is granted, its success won’t be truly judged for 20-30 years but we need to ensure Team GWS – like the Gold Coast Football Club – is given every opportunity to develop into a community club that is strong on and off the field,” Mr Demetriou said.

"The aim was also to have list development rules that impacted on as few national drafts as possible, for the National Draft to return to its pure form."

The Entry Rules for Team GWS will be as follows:
1. National Rookie Access:
From the end of the 2010 season, Team GWS has the right to select up to a dozen 17 year olds born in the January - April window (Jan-April 1993), with the option to relocate to Sydney for the 2011 season. The club also will have the option to trade some of this group to secure experienced AFL players from other clubs, consistent with the rule that applies to the Gold Coast FC.

2. 2011 NAB AFL Draft:
Team GWS to have Pick No.1 in each round.
Team GWS to have Picks 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 in round one. Please note that these selections have priority over any other special assistance/priority selections which may be available to other clubs, as per the rule that applies to the Gold Coast FC for the 2010 Draft.

3. 2010 NAB Rookie Draft:
Team GWS to have Selections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

4. 2011 NAB Rookie Draft:
Team GWS to alternate NSW priority selections with the Sydney Swans. Team GWS to have first selection.

5. Zoned Access:
Team GWS to have zoned access to up to 16 NSW players from southern NSW/ACT and all areas outside the current NSW scholarship region during the period covering the 2010 to 2013 national drafts.

Team GWS to be zoned players from the Northern Territory who will be draft eligible by the time of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 national drafts.

6. 2011 and 2012 Post Season, AFL-listed Player Access:
Team GWS to have capacity to pre-list 10 players who had previously nominated for the AFL Draft, or were previously listed with an AFL club. If the club does not sign 10 players after the 2011 season, it can sign the balance of up to 10 players at the end of the 2012 season.

Team GWS to have capacity to sign up to 16 uncontracted players. Maximum of one player from other AFL clubs, unless a club agrees to trade more than one player to Team GWS. If the club does not sign 16 uncontracted players after the 2011 season, it can sign the balance of up to 16 players at the end of the 2012 season.

7. Incentive to Other Clubs Trading with Team GWS in the 2011 and 2012 post-season:
Team GWS to be given access to four 17-year-olds born in the January to April 1994 window, with all players to be traded to other clubs. Selections will be allocated to Team GWS so the club can trade for established players, but the club will not have access to these 17-year-olds. If the four trades are not completed in the 2011 post-season, the balance of up to four trades may be used in the 2012 trading period.

Expanded list and increased salary cap:
Team GWS will also have an expanded list size and TPP allowance in the club’s initial time in the competition, through to 2019, as follows:

2012 - 44-50 senior list, nine rookies with $640,000 - $1m TPP extra allowance;
2013 - 44-50 senior list, nine rookies with $640,000 - $1m TPP extra allowance;
2014 - 44-50 senior list, nine rookies with $640,000 - $1m TPP extra allowance;
2015 - 44-48 senior list, nine rookies with $640k - $880k TPP extra allowance;
2016 - 42-46 senior list, nine rookies with $520k - $760k TPP extra allowance;
2017 - 40-44 senior list, nine rookies with $400k - $640k TPP extra allowance;
2018 - 38-42 senior list, nine rookies with $200k - $520k TPP extra allowance;
2019 - 38 senior list, nine rookies in line with other AFL clubs.

Compensation picks
Further, as part of the entry rules and in line with the rules that are in operation for the Gold Coast Football Club, Demetriou said the AFL Commission had again confirmed that any club that lost a player to the expansion side would be eligible for a compensation pick.

Compensation picks will be tradeable and can be used by clubs at any time within five years covering the period 2011 to 2015. First round compensation picks can not be until the 2012 draft onwards. Clubs will be required to nominate the year in which they plan to use the compensation pick before the first round of the Toyota AFL season in that particular year.

As per the rules with Gold Coast, the compensatory pick would be assessed around the player’s age (greater weighting for younger players), club contract ranking (greater weighting for club key players), on field performance (greater weighting for strong club best and fairest performance) and draft position if less than four years experience.

This ranking system will then determine if a club is eligible for a compensatory pick in one of five spots -- first round pick, end of first round pick, second round pick, end of second round pick or third round pick. Under the model, the round one, round two or round three picks would be taken immediately after the pick the club already has in that round in the draft that year.

Please find attached below an example of how the 2011 NAB AFL Draft would look, under these concession rules.

2011 NAB AFL Draft Example:
Draft order before trading and please note the AFL is a 17-team competition at that point, allowing for Gold Coast as team 17.

Round One
1 Team GWS
2 Team GWS
3 Team GWS
4 Club 17 on 2011 ladder
5 Team GWS
6 Club 16 on 2011 ladder
7 Team GWS
8 Club 15 on 2011 ladder
9 Team GWS
10 Club 14 on 2011 ladder
11 Team GWS
12 Club 13 on 2011 ladder
13 Team GWS
14 Club 12 on 2011 ladder
15 Team GWS
16 Club 11 on 2011 ladder
17 Club 10 on 2011 ladder
18 Club 9 on 2011 ladder
19 Club 8 on 2011 ladder
20 Club 7 on 2011 ladder
21 Club 6 on 2011 ladder
22 Club 5 on 2011 ladder
23 Club 4 on 2011 ladder
24 Club 3 on 2011 ladder
25 Club 2 on 2011 ladder
26 Club 1 on 2011 ladder

Round Two
27 Team,GWS
28 Club 17 on 2011 ladder
29 Club 16 on 2011 ladder
30 Club 15 on 2011 ladder
31 Club 14 on 2011 ladder
32 Club 13 on 2011 ladder
33 Club 12 on 2011 ladder
34 Club 11 on 2011 ladder
35 Club 10 on 2011 ladder
36 Club 9 on 2011 ladder
37 Club 8 on 2011 ladder
38 Club 7 on 2011 ladder
39 Club 6 on 2011 ladder
40 Club 5 on 2011 ladder
41 Club 4 on 2011 ladder
42 Club 3 on 2011 ladder
43 Club 2 on 2011 ladder
44 Club 1 on 2011 ladder

Round Three
45 Team GWS
46 Team 17 on 2011 ladder
47 Club 16 on 2011 ladder
48 Club 15 on 2011 ladder
49 Club 14 on 2011 ladder
50 Club 13 on 2011 ladder
51 Club 12 on 2011 ladder
52 Club 11 on 2011 ladder
53 Club 10 on 2011 ladder
54 Club 9 on 2011 ladder
55 Club 8 on 2011 ladder
56 Club 7 on 2011 ladder
57 Club 6 on 2011 ladder
58 Club 5 on 2011 ladder
59 Club 4 on 2011 ladder
60 Club 3 on 2011 ladder
61 Club 2 on 2011 ladder
62 Club 1 on 2011 ladder

The List Management Group was: Andrew Dillon (Chairman, AFL General Manager Legal and Business Affairs), Graeme Allan (Brisbane Lions FC Football Operations Manager), Adrian Anderson (AFL General Manager Football Operations), Derek Hine (Collingwood FC Recruiting Manager), Andrew Ireland (Sydney Swans FC CEO), Brad Lloyd (Fremantle FC Player Development Manager), David Matthews (AFL General Manager National and International Development), Tony Peek (AFL Assistant to CEO), Ian Robson (Essendon FC CEO), Kevin Sheehan (AFL National Talent Manager), Cameron Schwab (Melbourne FC CEO), Steven Trigg (Adelaide FC CEO), Stephen Wells (Geelong Cats FC Recruiting Manager), Grant Williams (AFL Development Projects Manager).

Entry rules courtesy AFL website.

[spell_check]

Yep, they really do wanna go for the jugular - how many dollars will they throw at the club before they realise it is a futile exercise?

[gadj1976]

Port and other teams having to sell games interstate to "survive" yet the AFL hand out money to this mob with no subsantial, viable business plan that I'm aware of. Ironic.

The other part that I'm not happy about is GWS playing games in front of only a few thousand people. For instance, GWS vs Port, GWS vs Freo, GWS vs Melb won't be huge drawing games, so it'll be like watching pre-season games. Obviously the AFL aren't worried about games being played in front of sub 10k crowds for the longer term growth of the game.... so... I can see clubs like Melb, Rich, Port and maybe the Western Bulldogs selling home games into GWS, and be heavily subsidised by the AFL for massive returns, thereby promoting the game into that area.

[Sojourner]

The AFL had had several free kicks over the NRL because of their internal problems, being pigheaded enough to persevere with the ridiculous idea of having a side in Western Sydney may well stunt their growth and pull them back some way. The AFL will have to channel funding to the team for as long as the side are in existence essentially owning the side as News Limited owns and funds the Melbourne Storm. This will do signficant damage to several AFL sides. I dont think they will exist for to many years before they either merge with another bankrupt side or move to Tasmania which is where the next side should be coming from in the first place. Its a pity they cant get rid of Demetriou now and save the AFL a massive amount of $$$ and embarrassment.

[Hondo]

They'll get some of their money back with the new TV rights deal with 18 teams and a game in Sydney every week. Some of that will also flow back to the existing 16 clubs. From there on I don't see GC and WS as being as hard a nuts to crack as the Swans and Bears were in the 80s entering those markets for the first time. At least there's much higher exposure of AFL in NSW and QLD than there was then.

I'm not saying it will be a success (because I don't know), just that I'm not convinced it will be a failure. I admit I think new teams are exciting so I'll keep an open mind on it as it unfolds.

Yes, the start up conditions are frustrating for those of us that support any of the previous expansion teams that didn't get such a good leg up. But, if it means they will be competitive quickly rather than be fodder for 3 years then so be it.

Matt Rendell reckons that with these concessions, both GC and WS will be 2 of the most dominate teams in 5+ years time

[heater31]

Matt Rendell reckons that with these concessions, both GC and WS will be 2 of the most dominate teams in 5+ years time

I would have to agree. Both these clubs walk into an instant premiership window within 2 years of starting up

[Dutchy]

I'm not saying it will be a success (because I don't know), just that I'm not convinced it will be a failure

Agree, Im not sure why everyone is so negative about it, in any business you need to take risks, sure this is a big one but what if it succeeds? The bigger risk is to not take a risk

[CK]

The biggest issues I have with this are:

- The further dilution of the AFL brand. This means yet another group of players to be found to be of AFL standard. Is there a genuine perception that there are another 50-odd AFL standard players out there that are ready to play at that level straightaway, or be ready as juniors? If there actually are, then:

- It means that the state competitions of SANFL and WAFL will have their standard reduced further by taking these players out of their competitions (and others, such as VFL and QAFL), either as juniors or more mature (20 years old+) players, which will further weaken the standards of these competitions. Don't forget - the concessions handed to Gold Coast are already seeing this draft as being perceived as one of the weakest in memory, with many top candidates already off to GC. Imagine this doubled for the 2011 and 2012 drafts and look at the flow-on effects for other clubs.

- How can anyone be truly convinced that there are suddenly another 20,000+ disaffected people in NSW that will suddenly switch to AFL on the back of a new club springing up? I've selected 20,000 as a rough "breakeven" point for financial reasons, and simply cannot see how a state that already has rugby as its heartland sport - with attendances there often quite low for NRL - will suddenly embrace AFL with open arms, after having Sydney Swans there for 30 years by the time WS comes in, and take on another team.

- Yes, the TV rights deal will be great for revenue. Why not, therefore, concentrate on putting large portions of that back into state leagues, regional leagues and country football to ensure their viability rather than dilute the brand further with another team at the top level?
At the moment, the perception is that state/country/regional leagues are merely feeder leagues for the AFL. This does NOTHING to dispel that myth for me at all. The lower leagues are being treated merely as nurseries for the AFL and little more and that frightens me considerably as a passionate SANFL person. We have seen it slowly coming in for years. This will confirm it once and for all, if considerable dollars for these rights aren't poured back into these levels to ensure their continued viability as actual standalone leagues, not just feeders.

[Wedgie]

They won't just make some of their money back from TV, they'll make more than their money back which is why its a no brainer. 20 teams won't be too far down the track too.

[Pottsy]

The biggest issues I have with this are:

- The further dilution of the AFL brand. This means yet another group of players to be found to be of AFL standard. Is there a genuine perception that there are another 50-odd AFL standard players out there that are ready to play at that level straightaway, or be ready as juniors? If there actually are, then:

- It means that the state competitions of SANFL and WAFL will have their standard reduced further by taking these players out of their competitions (and others, such as VFL and QAFL), either as juniors or more mature (20 years old+) players, which will further weaken the standards of these competitions. Don't forget - the concessions handed to Gold Coast are already seeing this draft as being perceived as one of the weakest in memory, with many top candidates already off to GC. Imagine this doubled for the 2011 and 2012 drafts and look at the flow-on effects for other clubs.

- How can anyone be truly convinced that there are suddenly another 20,000+ disaffected people in NSW that will suddenly switch to AFL on the back of a new club springing up? I've selected 20,000 as a rough "breakeven" point for financial reasons, and simply cannot see how a state that already has rugby as its heartland sport - with attendances there often quite low for NRL - will suddenly embrace AFL with open arms, after having Sydney Swans there for 30 years by the time WS comes in, and take on another team.

- Yes, the TV rights deal will be great for revenue. Why not, therefore, concentrate on putting large portions of that back into state leagues, regional leagues and country football to ensure their viability rather than dilute the brand further with another team at the top level?
At the moment, the perception is that state/country/regional leagues are merely feeder leagues for the AFL. This does NOTHING to dispel that myth for me at all. The lower leagues are being treated merely as nurseries for the AFL and little more and that frightens me considerably as a passionate SANFL person. We have seen it slowly coming in for years. This will confirm it once and for all, if considerable dollars for these rights aren't poured back into these levels to ensure their continued viability as actual standalone leagues, not just feeders.

1. A fair point. More clubs = more players = less talent in the "worst 6" in your club.

2. The AFL couldn't care much less about this I reckon.

3. I don't think anyone would imagine that 20K people will "suddenly" switch. They'll be thinking in decade terms at least. And after that time elapses and there's some support, there'll be the rivalry of Sydney v Sydney. The AFL must have their collective mouths watering over that one. There's nothing a footy supporter likes more than having a neighbour to have a crack at, and Sydney would be no different. This one might even get us Good Friday footy down the track!

4. The SANFL etc ARE feeder comps for the AFL. There's just no getting around it. Any player with talent isn't going to stay at the Bays etc because they've got an affiliation with them. They're going to try their luck in the big smoke. We'll always have to watch teams full of blokes who are not quite at the standard required for AFL. I for one say who cares? I don't go to the SANFL to watch the single most skillful game. I go because I love the atmosphere of the local league. I'm sure most people who are supporters feel a similar way, otherwise they'd be down at AAMI stadium.

[ezydoesitbigfella]

Can we suggest some colours and nicknames for this new team?

Does anyone know when all of this is settled - no doubt, someone is being paid tens of thousands of dollars in consultancy fees to determine new logo, mascot etc.

I like the nickname / mascot - Dragons - has a link to rugby league - large ethnic population in these areas identify with it.

Colours - I always thought Green and Black was striking - and can be alternated for away / clash strips.

Discuss?

[Wedgie]

I think with St George/Illawarra being the Dragons you could safely rule that one out.

[Booney]

Easily done. Anyone who has been out there will agree.

The West Sydney Gangsta's.

[rogernumber10]

Can we suggest some colours and nicknames for this new team?

Does anyone know when all of this is settled - no doubt, someone is being paid tens of thousands of dollars in consultancy fees to determine new logo, mascot etc.

I like the nickname / mascot - Dragons - has a link to rugby league - large ethnic population in these areas identify with it.

Colours - I always thought Green and Black was striking - and can be alternated for away / clash strips.

Discuss?

It will be settled over the next 12 months. They currently have an advisory group made up of people from Western Sydney region who are looking at all of these things - logo, mascot, colours, song etc. Direction comes from the region, not from the AFL.

As a national competition team, they will have to steer away from anything currently being used in a national environment, be that A League, NRL, Union or AFL.

[Choccies]

Having spent a bit of time working in Western Sydney over the last few years I would think something with a Maori/Islander type meaning would suit or even something from the Koran maybe...

[Psyber]

AFL = Pursuit of money, SANFL = Value for money ?

[Rik E Boy]

West Sydney Spit
West Sydney DILLIGAF
West Sydney Waste
West Sydney Bogans
West Sydney Boaties
West Sydney Queue
West Sydney Who
West Sydney Moccasians
West Sydney Panthereels
West Sydney Jihad

regards,

REB

[JK]

The West Sydney Fully Sick Killa's

[Interceptor]

They won't just make some of their money back from TV, they'll make more than their money back which is why its a no brainer. 20 teams won't be too far down the track too.

Yep, Tassie might even get its team in that case too:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-thinks-big-with-talk-of-20-teams/story-e6frf9jf-1225789047210

[rogernumber10]

Chk Chk Boom