Reward for club rookies
Jon Ralph | October 27, 2008
AFL rookies will have greater opportunity to shine next year, with clubs able to automatically elevate a rookie halfway through the season.
As part of the compensation for clubs giving away valuable draft picks to the Gold Coast, all 16 clubs will be allowed two extra rookies in the 2009-10 seasons.
In the past, clubs have had to put a senior-listed player on the long-term injury list for eight weeks to elevate a rookie.
That has seen the unfortunate situation where a well-performed rookie has had to return to the rookie list, and VFL footy, despite showing strong form in the AFL.
Starting next season, if a player has impressed enough a club can decide to elevate him irrespective of the club's injury list.
Clubs without two listed veterans can already nominate a rookie to play during the year, with Carlton rookie Michael Jamieson competing in 16 games last season.
The new ruling will give some clubs as many as two extra players on their list in the second half of the year.
It is another win for rookie-listed players, with some of the stars of the competition coming from the rookie list over the past decade.
Players such as Dean Cox, Brett Kirk, Brad Sewell, Dean Brogan, Tarkyn Lockyer, Ben Rutten and Nathan Foley have all been promoted rookies.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said yesterday the rule would help clubs maximise the extra rookies on their lists.
"There will be an opportunity to upgrade a rookie at the halfway mark of the season without having to put someone on the injured list," Anderson said.
"I was just talking to Mick Malthouse at the (International Rules) jumper presentation and of the players here in Perth, 10 have made their way off rookie lists.
"There are a lot of great players among them and it goes to show it is a vital pathway for players that missed out on being drafted."
The Gold Coast club will get access to 16 uncontracted players plus selections 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 in the 2011 national draft.
Existing clubs will be compensated with a future draft pick for losing an uncontracted star, with a complicated formula to determine the number of the draft selection
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24554863-19742,00.html