We had some discussions about this recently, but I think all those posts are in the Swans' draft and list management thread, which isn't really where the conversation belongs. (But nor can I be bothered to go and find and extract all the applicable posts from that thread.)
This is going to be an ongoing issue, mostly for the Northern Clubs and especially for those mired towards the bottom of the ladder.
Are clubs already approaching Lukosius about Suns departure?
Yes, it's just a rumour and, yes, it's SEN. But it also sounds highly plausible. If the AFL is serious about the game establishing a solid foundation in Queensland (and shoring up the solider foundations in NSW) it needs to act on this problem. NOW.
I really think clubs who pursue young players who haven't earned the right to free agency need to be hit with a substantial - very substantial - salary cap tax on the amounts they pay those players. Maybe it could be a reducing scale, based on how many years the player has been in the system. But if a club is going to try and lure Lukosis (or Rankine, or similar) away from the Suns at the end of their initial two year contract, there has to be a big penalty. I'd make it 100% of the salary they pay if they lure them after just two years. And make them continue to bear that tax in their salary cap right up to the point where the player becomes a free agent.
Anyone want to bet that the club (or one of the clubs) likely to be whispering in Lukosis's ear is Hawthorn, the club that has completely given up on drafting its own talent but believes it can eat out on its own self-perception as a "destination club" and pick off young players (while conveniently never having sufficient trade currency to properly compensate the club losing the player).
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