2015 academy discussion thread (with some FS thrown in for good measure)

[707]

Clever solution Barry, wonder why the VFL didn't think of that?

Why not get in touch will Gillon and tell him you can make his trading future picks angst go away. Better ring Eddie before that, just to make sure it gets his approval first!

[Dosser]

Where would they be relocated - maybe Tasmania I guess but I'm still not sure it has the corporate support and infrastructure?

I can se both GWS and Gold COast struggling long term - GWS will have on field success with that list for sure but their off-field challenges are enormous.

Reckon you'd get a LOT of oppositin from the Melbourne clubs if WA/SA each get to split their top kids between two clubs with the Melbourne clubs excluded. Bottom line is that I really can't see how the comp can sustain 10 Victorian sides from the Victorian recruitment base so on that masure I reckon a return to the zone system would get a lot of opposition from the

If the zone system comes back then we should all start supporting Geelong.

[sharp9]

I think that the current points system is hideously unfair to us....until you get into the real world and ask a club would they trade picks 18, 36, 54 and 72 for pick 1....pretty sure they'd all say yes. Damn.
Personally I think that the maximum payment should be two picks with 50% of the round discount - i.e. if you have 18 then bids 10-17 you pay #18. - bids 1-9 you pay 18 and 36.

[Mug Punter]

I think that the current points system is hideously unfair to us....until you get into the real world and ask a club would they trade picks 18, 36, 54 and 72 for pick 1....pretty sure they'd all say yes. Damn.

Spot on.

And it is only really onerous when you are a top 4 team.

If we finished eighth this year then we'd only give up a first and second round pick and a bit of loose change.

The capping of the discount at pick 18 is also a significant concession to allow us to draft second rounders onwards with smaller relative penalty.

Also, I know I shouldn't be wishing ill on Brisbane and Gold Coast but just this year it would really be helpful if they could finish last and second last. As we all know Mills slipping from pick 1 to 3 will make it so much easier to draft Mills and Dunkley

[troyjones2525]

Interesting that Dunkley has been back playing for a few weeks now and hasn't found his way into the goal kickers or best list for the gippsland power at all.

[Conor_Dillon]

Interesting that Dunkley has been back playing for a few weeks now and hasn't found his way into the goal kickers or best list for the gippsland power at all.

Not a bad thing at all!

[jono2707]

Not a bad thing at all!

Unless that means that he's not as good as some of his peers as compared to when he was younger....

[Conor_Dillon]

Without being able to find the actual post, I mentioned last season that a lot of his junior dominance could be because he was the size he is now at 15 years old (when he won a senior premiership for Sale) and therefore always one of the biggest kids on the field. Having said that, I still think he'll be a decent AFL player if given the chance, just maybe not worthy of a first round pick.

[707]

Interestingly some of the dedicated U18 watchers don't rate Dunkley's skills that highly. I get the feeling that as a number of other kids make their mark that Dunkley may slip down the order. Hopper BOG in his championship game is good news.

Liking how the bottom four is shaping too, two academy sides at the bottom, great that Melbourne appear to be going up the table, great win by them yesterday and should have won last week too. Stating the obvious but Mills slipping out is very important to us.

[kangle4]

The TAC Cup footy show spoke about Dunkley last Sunday. Said he had played a couple of games for Gippsland and they expected him to be back for VIC Country in the next round of games. Had him ranked 15th overall, Mills 5th.

Still hasn't nominated for father/son yet either, they think he'll wait until after the carnival is finished to make a decision.

[Mug Punter]

The TAC Cup footy show spoke about Dunkley last Sunday. Said he had played a couple of games for Gippsland and they expected him to be back for VIC Country in the next round of games. Had him ranked 15th overall, Mills 5th.

Still hasn't nominated for father/son yet either, they think he'll wait until after the carnival is finished to make a decision.

I think we'd all be happy with that scenario in temns of picks, and I'd be surprised if he didn't niminate for F/S

[CureTheSane]

Interestingly some of the dedicated U18 watchers don't rate Dunkley's skills that highly.

He's a Dunkley
Some skills are bound to be lacking

[Nico]

Interesting that Dunkley has been back playing for a few weeks now and hasn't found his way into the goal kickers or best list for the gippsland power at all.

Did he not play a game for Richmond 2's?

[liz]

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/angry-hawthorn-threaten-to-ditch-afl-revenue-share-scheme-20150622-ghug6f.html

So, the Hawks are having a dummy spit and threatening to "refuse" to comply with the AFL's equalisation measures (revenue sharing). I wasn't under the impression clubs could pick and choose.

How about the Swans (and other Northern clubs) have a dummy spit of their own and refuse to comply with the changes to the access they were promised to Academy players seven years ago as an inducement to invest in those academies, which has led to them each investing millions of dollars and goodness knows how many hours? After all, every single club knew about the academy system back when they were set up, and presumably their silence over the six or so years before Ed'n'Andy got wind of Isaac Heeney, indicates they were in agreement with this inducement.

[Ampersand]

I honestly think that if Newbold gets his way it's time to seriously consider abandoning the Academy system once and for all. The changes so far proposed, which decimate our draft picks, make it borderline untenable already. It makes no commercial sense for the Swans to invest revenue and administration into a program from which they devise absolutely no benefit.

Will the AFL be willing and able to take over, pay for and administer a development program for the northern states with a view to increasing the amount of general talent in the draft? I somehow don't think so.