Melbourne teams are lucky in that they can afford to finish on the lower rungs of the ladder for several consecutive years -therefore obtaining a number of high draft picks- without compromising their fan base. St Kilda is an example of a team that is currently reaping the rewards of the draft system. We, on the other hand, can't afford not to make the finals every year, and certainly can't afford to finish last consistently because our fan base would suffer just too much. So in fairness to the club, we haven't really had the quality draft picks that other sides have had for a number of years.
Because short term success has been sought by the club in order to break into the code-saturated market up here, I also think we have had a tendancy to look for short term solutions to problem areas in the team, and our draft policy has consequently been compromised. I think that attitude is changing a little now, though.
Also, I saw in the SMH recently that the AFL is considering bringing in a system that allows the Swans first access to all NSW draft picks. Is this right? And does anyone know the status of that possible policy?
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