Push for Free Agency [merged]

[one-eyed]

Show 'em the money, says Nixon
Mark Robinson
Herald-Sun
20apr06

PROMINENT player manager Ricky Nixon has called for a radical overhaul of the player payment system, the cornerstone being a 15 per cent pay rise in the salary cap.
 
Nixon, who will put a submission to the AFL Players' Association next week, has also put "franchise players" and restricted free agency back on the agenda.

As clubs, the AFLPA and AFL try to thrash out a revised restructure of the total player payments (TPP) from next year, Nixon has hurdled all predictions and demanded a 15 per cent rise for players.

Under Nixon's plan, on this year's TPP of $6.47 million, it would mean an increase of $970,500 a club.

The AFL, which will reap $780 million from the broadcast rights over five years from 2007-2011, hasn't officially put a percentage to the AFLPA, although 5 per cent has been reported. Nixon, however, argues that if the league's profit and revenue have increased 30 per cent more than what was projected three years ago, which he says has happened, then players must benefit.

"The players are quite within their rights to ask for a 15 per cent increase. In fact, I don't understand why they wouldn't be batting to have an overall percentage of the revenue full stop," Nixon said.

In the past three seasons the TPP has increased 3 per cent each season.

Players' association boss Brendon Gale said yesterday the 2007 increase was not finalised and that talks were continuing with the league. A deadline is set for June 30.

He refused to comment on Nixon's claim for 15 per cent.

"It's what we work out over the next few weeks," Gale said.

Nixon, who recently had discussions with Gale, has suggested -- for at least five years -- the use of a franchise player.

Nixon's theory is that a franchise player -- such as Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Lloyd, Jonathan Brown and Luke Hodge -- would have their salary excluded from the cap, meaning up to, and perhaps more than, $700,000 would be available to their teammates.

Nixon also wants to scrap additional services agreements, which basically pay players outside the cap for marketing.

"They've become a joke," Nixon said. "Every player these days is there to market, promote, train and play for their footy club."

Nixon's free agency issue is not an immediate concern but will be as the next Collective Bargaining Agreement comes into play for the 2009 season.

Free agency would allow an uncontracted player, who cannot come to agreement with his club, to go to the club of his choice, providing it can fit him under the salary cap.

Nixon said it should be 10 years but would settle for seven, eight or nine years.

"It is radical, but let's throw the cat amongst the pigeons," he said. "The only reason it hasn't been looked at previously is because of Matthew Lloyd and Steven King being 16-year-olds when they were chosen and that means if it was a 10-year rule, they would've been free agents two years ago."

Gale yesterday said he expected free agency to be tabled for discussion.

"It is such a departure, free agency is a significant shift, so that will be a discussion for another time," Gale said.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18866128%255E11088,00.html

[one-eyed]

Bring in franchise players: Nixon
By Caroline Wilson
The Age
April 20, 2006

Influential player agent Ricky Nixon is urging the AFL Players Association to push for the introduction of a franchise player at each club whose payments would not be included in the salary cap.

Nixon, who also backed Leigh Matthews' call for at least a 15 per cent pay rise for the players next season, said yesterday that the prospect of a star player at each team would stop clubs hiding behind marketing deals as a way of meeting total player payments.

"I don't see why a Matthew Lloyd or a Ben Cousins should not be rewarded for their position at their clubs and their talent without having to hide behind the additional service allowance," he said. "Kids would get to see their heroes stay at their clubs forever.

"I'd be flabbergasted if the AFLPA doesn't push for it. I understand they read what I had to say and they were looking at it.

"Brendon Gale is by far the most aggressive chief executive the players have ever had and they're happy with that. The game has seen 42 per cent growth, this is not a down time for the game and the players have not been recognised anywhere near their worth over the past few years and they realise that."

Nixon, who said it was unrealistic for the AFL to even moot a pay rise of just 5 per cent — as it recently did to the 16 clubs — said it was inevitable that a qualified form of free-agency be introduced for footballers who had played for 10 years at their clubs.

"The AFL know it's inevitable," Nixon said. "The only reason they have a pre-season draft is so they can get around the restraint of trade situation.

"If you've had 10 years of service with a club and you can't come to terms with them like Scott Camporeale faced, then you should be allowed to move to the club of your choice.

"In the past they've baulked at it because players like Matthew Lloyd and Steven King reached their 10 years at such a young age. But footballers can't start at the age of 16 like they used to. I'd be pushing as strongly for a qualified form of free agency as I would for a franchise player."

Gale, who is negotiating the final two years of the current collective bargaining agreement, said his association had not ruled out the franchise option.

"When you're in negotiations you'll consider anything," Gale conceded last night.

"The prospect of a franchise player is obviously something we've looked at but it's not one of the key components we need to discuss as part of this collective bargaining agreement.

"We do have the discretion to raise some other things we believe could be worthwhile and that could be one of those things."

As for the potential to add some form of free-agency into the next agreement, Gale said that was more likely to be put forward early next year when the two parties could start negotiations for 2009.

"It's fair to say that we have some fairly experienced and well-researched player agents," said Gale, "and Ricky Nixon is one of those so we take on board his suggestions as discussion points."

Gale, key executives and a group of legal advisers have spent significant parts of the past two days in discussions in a city hotel before negotiations start with Andrew Demetriou and his team.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/04/19/1145344155691.html

[mightytiges]

The A-League allows one franchise or marque player per club. Archie Thompson was Melbourne Victory's while Dwight Yorke was Syndey FC's. IIRC they allowed something like up to $1 million outside the salary cap. In our current financial state I'd presume our capacity to have one would be hindered given we've put our own constraints on our TPP.

As for free agency - it most likely won't help us either unless there was a 7-year rule whereby we could  instantly add one or two quality players b/w say 23-25 y.o. to fill the hole in the middle-age bracket of our list.

I'm not a fan of free agency but if it was brought in I hope Miller remembers his former club's initiative and drums up a list of every 10-year player in the League. Anyone who debuted in 1997 or prior to that. Most are over the hill but there's a couple with a few years still left in them:

Adel -  Clarke, Edwards, Goodwin, Hart, McLeod, Riccuito, Torney, Welsh

Bris - Akermanis, Bradshaw, Chris Johnson, Keating, Lappin, Leppitsch, Michael, Scott brothers, Voss.

Carl - Kouta, Lappin, Whitnall

Coll - Buckley, Burns, Caracella, Clement, Licuria, Morrison, Prestigiacomo, A.Rocca, Wakelin

Ess - Camporeale, Fletcher, Heffernan, Hird, Jason Johnson, Lloyd, Lucas

Freo - Bell, Heath Black, Cook, Farmer, McManus, Parker, Schoefield

Geel - King, Milburn, Riccardi

Haw - Barker, Crawford, Dixon, Everitt, Joel Smith

Roos - Archer, Shannon Grant, Brent Harvey, Hay, Jade Rawlings, Sav Rocca, Simpson, Sinclair

Melb - Bizzell, Holland lol, McDonald, Neitz, Nicholson, Pickett, Robertson, White, Yze

Port - Peter Burgoyne, Dew, Francou, Kingsley, Lade, Tredrea, Wakelin, Wanganeen, Wilson

Rich - Joel Bowden, Browny, Chaffey, Gaspar, Kane Johnson, Richo, Stafford

St K - Gehrig, Hamill, Robert Harvey, Hudghton, Peckett, Powell, Thompson, Brett Voss

Syd - Barry, Hall, Mathews, O'Loughlin, Williams

WCE - Banfield, Braun, Chick, Cousins, Gardiner, Wirrpanda, Wooden

Dogs - Darcy, Eagleton, Chris Grant, Brad Johnson, Montgomery, Robbins, Rohan Smith, West     

[WilliamPowell]

I reckon Ricky wants the players to get a big payrise so he gets a big payrise 

[mightytiges]

I reckon Ricky wants the players to get a big payrise so he gets a big payrise 

Too true WP  . And the more players move around the bigger the cut he gets.

[one-eyed]

AFL looking at free agency system
Breaking News - The Age
January 15, 2007 - 7:29PM

The AFL will consider introducing a free agency system as part of a review of its player trade and draft rules.

The free agency proposal came from the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) and is part of a raft of potential changes forwarded by the AFL to clubs to seek their input.

Under the proposal, a player who had been contracted to an AFL club for a specified number of seasons would be able to move to a different club without needing to nominate for a draft.

In another mooted change, any player who was out of contract on October 31 would be able to nominate for the national draft.

The pre-season and national drafts could then be combined into one, with the rookie draft held on the same day.

The changes are aimed at encouraging more player trading, given there has been a steady decline.

There were 33 trades after the 2000 season, but that decreased each subsequent year, with just nine after the 2006 season.

Also under review is the father-son rule, with proposals to assign "market value" to father-son draft picks either by a panel of experts or through a bidding system.

Currently, clubs must use a third-round national draft pick.

The proposed changes are being discussed by an AFL and AFLPA working party as part of collective bargaining agreement negotiations for the next five seasons.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/AFL-looking-at-free-agency-system/2007/01/15/1168709675610.html

[mightytiges]

I'm not totally against free agency but I believe the time frame should be at least 10 years or a age limit should be put on it. If it was say 7 years then someone like Lids who starts AFL footy when he is 17 could walk out at 24 just as he's hitting his prime and after the club he left has put all that development time into a player for no reward.

If it does come in then the Club should immediately get in contact with every player potentially available under a free agency rule and who still has plenty of footy left in them. That's what North did in the 70s. Yes there's now a salary cap which means you might only get one or two but we have space under the salary cap whereas most other clubs that are full to the tilt in terms of Total Player Payments. A quality ready-made key defender or midfielder wouldn't go astray with the current crop of youngsters we have. We are also a club on the up  .

As for the F/S rule. Leave it as it is IMO. Luck of the draw. Imagine if we had outbidded the Pies for Jason and Cameron Cloke plus Damir  .

[Puntroadroar]

Still unsure about this idea TBH

Could you imagine an interstate team with salary cap room? Money isnt an issue for them.

Could you imagine Collingwood offering the world to Deledio and we cant match what they are offering? We could lose him for nothing.

[mightytiges]

Benny Gale said on SEN the AFLPA was still discussing about how many years service it should be but 10 years was mooted. The NFL has seven years service before free agency is available. Even if free agency is rejected it seems the AFLPA want any uncontracted player by Oct 31 to be able to nominate for the National draft as well as the PSD to give recycled players more of chance to stay in the system.

The rookie draft IMO should stay where it is. We know Miller gets a few kids down to our preseason training after the main draft to test them out. If the National, PSD and rookie drafts were all on the same day we would lose that.

Could you imagine Collingwood offering the world to Deledio and we cant match what they are offering? We could lose him for nothing.

Well you wouldn't go to the Pies if you wanted to play in a premiership lol .

[Rodgerramjet]

Well you wouldn't go to the Pies if you wanted to play in a premiership lol .

Well, you might if you wanted to play in a grandfinal and come second

[one-eyed]

Draft change tipped
11 March 2007   Herald-Sun
Jon Ralph

THE AFL will take a raft of conflicting and radical club submissions to the drawing board before deciding whether to make significant changes to the father-son rule and trade-draft system this year.

The AFL is visiting clubs to discuss responses to topics including free agency, the possible abolition of the pre-season draft, lifting the draft age and allowing players easier access to the veterans list.

The ideas will form the basis of an agenda for an eight-person working party on player movement, initiated after only nine players moved clubs in the trade period last year.

One proposal being discussed would see every player yet to sign a contract by October 30 allowed to nominate for the national draft, giving them greater freedom to move clubs.

The AFL is considering raising the age of footballers drafted by three months, so players would need to turn 18 by December 31 in the year they were selected.

A bidding system for the father-son rule has gained favouritism over a panel of experts ruling on which draft pick a club must use on a player.

The AFL Players Association will again push for some form of free agency.

While there is not widespread support for such a move, some clubs believe it could work in a limited form.

Clubs are overwhelmingly happy with the length of the trade period and say it is necessary for medical reports and player interviews at a time when many players are interstate or overseas.

Other club submissions include:

GEELONG, which has mined the father-son pool in recent years, would prefer the rule to stay in its current form, but expects it to change.

HAWTHORN has suggested a 24-to-48-hour trade window after the national draft to allow fringe players the chance for a fresh start at other clubs.

RICHMOND says the system is perfect as it is and says there is no need to change it.

MELBOURNE believes it may be too easy to play 100 games to qualify for father-son status, and has suggested a rise to 150 or 200 games.

THERE is continuing opposition from Victorian clubs to Sydney and the Lions having first choice of rookies from their local zones before other clubs in the rookie draft.

AFLPA general operations manager Matt Finnis confirmed the players were in favour of some form of free agency.

"We think it is necessary with the current levels of movement of players over the past three years, and it's something worth having a look at," Finnis said.

"The AFLPA is of the view that there needs to be greater freedom for players to control their careers after they have been in the competition for a certain period of time."

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the working party would scrutinise all the submissions before deciding on any changes to the system.

"There is some great knowledge and experience in the clubs in the football and recruiting areas about drafts and trading, and we are trying to tap into that in preparation for the draft review working party with the AFLPA," Anderson said.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21359420%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Clubs call for changes to trade and draft
Stephen Rielly
The Age
March 22, 2007

THE AFL is being encouraged to make radical changes to the game's trade and draft systems, with several clubs urging the league to deregulate the recruiting market.

The introduction of short-term contracts and the adoption of an NFL/NBA-style trading of future draft picks are among the proposals the league has received as part of its draft review, which is expected to be completed this year.

Hawthorn and Fremantle have argued for picks from drafts at least one and possibly two years away to be available for trade, to build what they describe as greater currency into a system that has seen the number of deals consummated in trade week dwindle by more than 60 per cent over the past six years. In the 2000-01 trade week, 33 players were exchanged. Last October, deals involving only nine players were struck.

Hawthorn's general manager of player personnel and strategy, Chris Pelchen, a long-time advocate of future trading, says the current system has become gridlocked and needs to be unlocked in the interests of clubs and players.

"If you don't want to trade into the future, don't. It's that simple. No one is going to compel a club to do it but we say at least provide the opportunity for those who do," Pelchen said. "We have two opportunities to improve our lists each year and one of those opportunities or mechanisms saw only nine players, of a pool of more than 650, traded last year. That, to us, says we need change."

Fremantle's submission argues salary-cap restrictions have over time created a situation where a small number of elite players are traded each year but middle and lower-tier players have largely become trapped. Using other assets to bargain, the Dockers maintain, clubs will be better able to grease the wheels of negotiation.

"It is often very difficult to finalise trades because clubs have very little to deal with, particularly as the movement of mid-range salary players has become increasingly difficult due to most clubs' total player payments restrictions," it says. "We suggest that clubs should be permitted to trade future year(s) draft selections as part of the trading process, adding more tradeable currency into the trade market."

Historically, the AFL has been reluctant to permit future trading of picks for fear of myopic clubs, or more precisely their coaches, selling off the future to prop up the present.

Pelchen argues that this is an argument that penalises clubs who do manage their affairs professionally and discourages a higher level of draft and trading performance. If necessary, he adds, a limit could be placed on the number of future picks allowed to be traded. "Clubs who pay respect to the trade period through professional analysis of opposition lists would be, and should be, rewarded," Pelchen said.

"We would support, in the first instance, a limited form of future trading where we might only permit trading 12 months in advance rather than two or three years ahead."

The Hawks are also promoting an idea, shared with the Western Bulldogs among others, of short-term contracts that might allow, for example, an ageing star who cannot withstand the rigours of a full season to remain in the game or clubs to recruit a specific type of player in the event of rash of injuries.

The Dogs are pushing for a 15-game veterans list contract that would sit outside the salary cap and afford someone such as Michael Voss or Rohan Smith the chance to stay in the game.

Given clubs are unable to alter their lists between December and October, Hawthorn has also suggested top-up or short-term contracts for a mature-age player, an 11-game deal for either a legend or a player drawn from a state league to cover the unexpected loss of a player.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/03/21/1174153158412.html

[mightytiges]

This is becoming more like the stock market where we'll need to access the value of each crop of youngsters coming through in the next 3 or so years . Next they'll bring in Options where club X pays club Y a certain amount of dollars up front so it has the option to renege on a deal if it becomes unfavourable at a future time.

A bidding system for the father-son rule has gained favouritism over a panel of experts ruling on which draft pick a club must use on a player.

A bidding system for F/S looks pretty certain of occurring according to the Club yesterday.

[Harry]

Trading of future draft picks is a stupid idea.  A club on the verge of a flag could sell everything in order to snatch a flag. 

The reason not many players are traded is becasue clubs have come to the realisation that draft picks are so valuable.  Clubs keep their guns, try to offload their mediocre players and try to find more guns through the draft.  They have figured out that by trading for other clubs mediocre players gets you nowhere more often than not.

There needs to be a period after trade week where clubs can come together and exchange players only.  The reason why many clubs don't trade these days is because they are all trying to gain draft picks or improve on their current picks.  For example a club might be reluctant to offload a B grade player in the hope that another deal might come through where a draft pick is gained or improved upon.  Once the first week (or maybe 3-4 days) of player and draft pick trades is over, the player only exchange period can open for another week (or 3-4 days).  This could see say a Krakouer be exchanged for a Sampi without the interference of a possible option of packaging one of these players to gain say a 2nd round draft pick.

[Ramps]

I actually agree with most changes proposed. Trading has gone backwards every year ie. no of players traded. Something needs to happen.