AFL set to introduce live bidding for father-son picks Jon Pierik
The Age
January 28, 2015The AFL could introduce live bidding during this year's national draft for father-son and academy selections if a proposal put to clubs on Tuesday is passed.
Under the plan, the league would establish a draft value index that assigns a points value for each selection. These points are calculated using statistical analysis of player salaries from 2000 to 2014, which the league says shows the relative market value of players at each draft.
The No.1 pick is rated at 3000 points, with the last pick — No.74 — not having a score. Clubs also must determine whether a 25 per cent discount is applied to both father-son and academy selections, or a 15 per cent discount applied to father-son selections and 25 per cent to academy selections.
The present bidding system is retained, with clubs bidding or nominating for father-son or academy picks. But rather than a rival club securing the player only with its next available pick, which drew criticism last year, the nominating club must use one or more subsequent picks using the value of the points rating.
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For instance, Melbourne last year bid its first pick, No.2 overall, for promising Swans' academy midfielder Isaac Heeney, rated a top-three selection by club recruiters. This meant the Swans had to use their first pick, but that was a relatively low 18th pick overall because of where the Swans finished on the ladder. Heeney's selection was dubbed a "steal" by rival clubs.
Under the proposal, with a 25 per cent discount applied as Heeney is an academy player, the Swans would now owe 1888 points (pick two in the draft is rated at 2517 points) and would have to use their first, second (owing 903 points) and third (owing 420 points) round selections. But they would not entirely lose these second and third-round selections – they would shift to the end of the draft.
If a team has leftover points or is in debt, this would carry over to the next year.
It is envisaged that clubs would be given greater time in the draft count to determine whether they would bid for a father-son or academy player, potentially adding more drama to the night.
The idea was developed in conjunction with the player movement advisory group and endorsed by Melbourne University's department of economics.
If introduced, the new system could lead to clubs having the opportunity to exchange future draft picks – that is, in drafts outside of the immediate one.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and Hawthorn counterpart Andrew Newbold last year urged AFL chief Gillon McLachlan to change the bidding system for academy and father-son players.
AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the league wanted to introduce a more equitable system, all the while ensuring the northern-state clubs continued to invest in their academies.
"The draft is in place to ensure equitable access to player talent for all 18 AFL clubs, while acknowledging that we do wish to encourage investment in the development academies and preserve the tradition of allowing players to follow their fathers and play at the same club.
"A revised bidding system would seek to provide consistent and objective compensation for father-son and academy selections, while continuing to incentivise clubs to select father-son players and invest in their local academies to continue to grow the overall talent pool for the AFL."
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-set-to-introduce-live-bidding-for-fatherson-picks-20150127-12zb9b.html
