Clubs to fill rookie lists in strings-attached deal
Michael Gleeson
The Age
August 17, 2006
All AFL clubs are likely to have to take a full complement of players on their rookie list next year in exchange for at least $5 million each as their share from the new television rights deal.
Under the strings-attached dividend to clubs from the $780 million five-year broadcast deal, all clubs would be compelled to include six players who are either rookies or veterans after receiving at least $1 million a year for five years.
Under the plan, clubs could have a maximum of two veterans and four rookies but clubs without a player who qualified for the veterans' list would be required to make up the balance to six players with rookies.
Each rookie-listed player will cost about $60,000, while half of a veteran's salary is excluded from the salary cap.
The AFL is also likely to announce that clubs can include among their rookies one player of a mature age — older than 23. At present, players must be no older than 22 on the day of the rookie draft.
The AFL will meet club presidents today to advise them of the cash they will get from the broadcast rights.
It is understood all clubs will receive at least $1 million each a year for the five years of the deal.
In addition, as revealed in The Age a fortnight ago, the AFL will provide financial help to some Victorian clubs by topping up the returns for clubs with poor stadium deals.
The Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne already receive millions through the annual special distribution fund but the AFL has largely accepted a model presented by Richmond that other clubs, too, might be entitled to more money to equalise the competition if they have poor stadium deals.
The clubs likely to benefit from a topping-up strategy are MCG tenants Hawthorn, Richmond, Melbourne, Telstra Dome tenant St Kilda and possibly even Port Adelaide.
The proposal to require clubs to be fully loaded with rookies would compel clubs such as the Western Bulldogs to use the extra money received from the broadcast rights to fund more players and not be absorbed into consolidated revenue.
The Bulldogs had to rely on the generosity of benefactors this year to raise money to select one rookie, which they used to take former Collingwood player Tom Davidson.
Bulldogs president David Smorgon had already indicated the club would be asking fans this year to give more to raise the money for the club to select more rookies and be competitive with the powerful clubs that invariably fill all rookie positions.
It is understood the AFL is further investigating a third list of players to cover international and NSW rookies.
Nine NSW teenagers have so far been signed to AFL clubs under the AFL-NSW apprenticeship scheme that forms an innovative part of the game development program.
One of those players, Scott Reed, who has been signed by Collingwood, was among 30 teenagers announced yesterday as part of the next intake at the Australian Institute of Sport AFL Academy.
Under the NSW apprenticeship scheme should a player, such as Reed, prove worthy of being drafted then the club that has signed them and worked to develop them can automatically nominate them with their final selection in the draft.
In Reed's case, that will be 2008.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/16/1155407885843.html
