Why compromised AFL draft is forcing clubs to pitch inflated contract offers to free agency stars
The Bombers will likely have two top-six draft picks in this season’s draft but will not reap the full value of those selections in a drafted dominated by northern academies.
Scott was guarded in his response about the potential of losing free agent Sam Draper but was open when asked why the free agency environment had become so direct.
His analysis comes as Brisbane had access to the most talented player in the 2024 draft, Levi Ashcroft, via father-son and has more right of entry to this year’s top 10.
Scott said clubs without tied draftees were forced to get aggressive with rival players or “sit back and be mediocre�.
“If you look at the draft this year, 50 per cent of it is compromised … I’ve worked at the AFL, I know how difficult, in fact impossible, it is to get everything right,� he said.
“I think what’s clearly happened is you’re looking at a situation where the reigning premier has access to top-end academy players in the draft.
“The northern states have got a mortgage on the top five, six, seven or eight in the draft this year and so it leaves other clubs with very little choice other than to get ultra-aggressive in the trade and free agency market.
“I’m sure there will be a discussion out there about the inflationary nature of these big contracts, but what choice have clubs got?
“They either sit back and be mediocre or they get aggressive and that’s the flow-on effect of the situation we’re in at the moment where access to top talent is incredibly hard to get.�
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon last week said the draft system was under review but this year’s would remain the same.
Scott on Wednesday said the signalled change was positive but it “doesn’t help anyone this year�.
“The change that’s been flagged won’t happen this year, often it’s the case, you need change but for this year’s draft it’s too late,� he said.
“The horse has already bolted on that â€' that doesn’t mean the change shouldn’t happen.
“That’s been flagged, that change will be coming, but that doesn’t help anyone this year.�
Scott said while the number of father-sons at some clubs was difficult to manage, it was an aspect he and AFL supporters were “prepared to tolerate�.
“The situation with father-sons is that it’s a nostalgic thing,� he said.
“I think most football people have said, ‘Well it’s not equitable or fair but most people in the industry have been prepared to tolerate’.
“What I don’t think we foresaw was a situation where it’s not the father-son rule (anymore), it’s the father-sons rule, where families are just now.
“Talking Daicoses, Ashcrofts, Darcys, they’re multiples now, so it’s distorting the competition somewhat, but the fair value is improving to a certain extent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
43 minutes ago
- Herald Sun
Izak Rankine homophobic slur timeline, full investigation
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Izak Rankine saga is set roll into a sixth day as Adelaide and the AFL continue their jousting over the penalty. Here is what has transpired: SATURDAY In an emotion-charged clash before the biggest AFL crowd at Adelaide Oval, Crows superstar Izak Rankine calls a Collingwood player 'a f----t' during the Crows' three-point win over the Magpies. Several Collingwood and Adelaide players overhear the comments, with the Crows later becoming aware of the incident. AA rankine v sidebottom SUNDAY A series of phone hook-ups take place between Adelaide and Collingwood, with the Crows informing the AFL Integrity Unit of the incident. Rankine calls the player who was the subject of the slur to apologise. This masthead breaks the story on Sunday night, reporting that the alleged slur took place in the game and the AFL Integrity Unit is set to investigate, putting Rankine's season in doubt. MONDAY The AFL Integrity Unit begins its investigation process, with both Rankine and the Collingwood player among those interviewed. The Crows begin working on a defence in order to try and save Rankine's season Rankine does not turn up to Crows training, while teammates Jordan Dawson and Darcy Fogarty speak to the media, insisting the incident won't derail the club's season. TUESDAY This masthead reveals Adelaide has launched a multifaceted defence to keep Rankine's season alive, including citing an escalating war of words with Dan Houston, who was suspended for striking him last season. Part of the defence also includes the Crows assertion that missing finals games should carry greater weight more than home and away clashes. Correspondence between the AFL and the Crows centres on a proposed five-game ban, with Adelaide given 24 hours to respond. WEDNESDAY This masthead reveals Adelaide used the inconsistency of booking US rapper Snoop Dogg – who has lyrics with the same slur Rankine used – for grand final entertainment as part of its defence in talks with the AFL. The AFL advises the Crows that it has been granted additional time to respond to the league's 'proposed determinations', which pushes the saga into at least Thursday. Originally published as The full timeline of Izak Rankine's homophobic slur investigation
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Alex Johnston edges closer to all-time tryscoring record with 210th career score in Souths win over Dragons
Alex Johnston needs three tries in one game to break the NRL's try-scoring record before the end of the season after edging closer to the history books in South Sydney's 40-0 thrashing of St George Illawarra. The left winger had one try in Souths' penultimate game of a forgettable year, touching down from a very suspect Tallis Duncan pass in front of 7,213 fans on Thursday night. It was the Souths' smallest crowd at Stadium Australia since Round 1, 2020 — not including games that had COVID-19 restrictions. Johnston's 210th career try came in the final minutes before half-time and leaves the veteran only two four-pointers shy of equalling Ken Irvine's mark that has stood since 1973. With Souths on the bye next week, the stage is set for Johnston to take a shot at history against bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters in the last round of the regular season. The win finished as Souths' biggest of the year, and also their biggest over the Dragons either as a joint venture or as their predecessor club, St George. Johnston could've come even closer to rarefied air amid the carnage, The winger tore past Hayden Buchanan and Corey Allan on a line break down the left side in the first half but passed inside to Jye Gray for the Rabbitohs' second try. After the break, Duncan had Johnston unmarked on his left but did not need the veteran as he crashed past Buchanan for a four-score lead. From there, it was Johnston's teammates inflicting the pain, with right winger Tyrone Munro putting the icing on the cake by stepping around Clint Gutherson en route to an 85-metre try in the final minutes. The victory guarantees Souths cannot finish last on the ladder, after last week's win had all but confirmed Wayne Bennett would avoid the first wooden spoon of his premiership career. The Dragons had already been relying on a miracle to play finals but are now mathematically out of contention, left to rue errors and an inability to create opportunities against Souths. AAP
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
RICHO'S TOP 10: Crows star Izak Rankine has only himself to blame over AFL ban for homophobic slur
He would be contrite and remorseful. His brain fade is going to cost him and the Adelaide Crows dearly. Without he and Josh Rachele, suddenly the Crows' class inside forward 50 is diminished severely. But this is a very black and white issue — the AFL will not tolerate homophobic slurs — as it has shown time and time again. The precedent is clear. West Coast's Jack Graham received four weeks only last month so that should have been fresh in Rankine's mind. The AFL was right in making Rankine's suspension the same length as Graham's. If it hadn't, then we would have needed a very clear reason why. The seemingly never-ending sagas of player movement that free agency creates is now part of our game, as NAS was a restricted free agent and had the right to make sure he got top dollar for his services. There is always a go-home factor with some players. One rusted-on Saints fan told Dale Thomas and me over the weekend it would be worse than when they lost Tony Lockett to the Swans in 1995 if NAS had jumped ship. Some Saints fans have still not recovered from Plugger going north. Win and you're in. Lose and you can book those plane tickets to Bali. Now that's a bitter pill to swallow if you're a Freo fan, as your team will have won 15 games. But the good thing is it's still in the Dockers' hands, 'just win baby,' as the late great Las Vegas Raiders owner Al Davis would say. The Dockers will also be motivated by Nat Fyfe playing his final regular season game. There have not been many better players in the AFL era than Fyfe at the peak of his powers. Those peak years were 2013–19, during which he won two Brownlow medals. One of the best marking midfielders we have seen. Not many, if any, have been as courageous and tough in the contest. Fyfe also has a bit of mystery about him and an aura that draws people in. Unfortunately, his career was at times plagued by injuries, which must have worn him out mentally. He never showed it though. Let's hope this weekend isn't his final game and the Dockers can take him into a final September run. It will be must-watch Sunday footy on Channel Seven. To me, it's pointless holding it in mid-February with Victoria taking on WA at Optus Stadium. It will be circle work, nothing more than an exhibition game. And I doubt all the stars will be there either. Why? Because it will never be supported by the clubs who don't want their star players injured. Imagine the Western Bulldogs' reaction if The Bont was injured in this game. It will never be the pinnacle of the game like it is in the NRL to the players. So, to me, it is pointless unless it's fully supported by all stakeholders 100 per cent. Some stars of the game have said they want it, but need to show it's more than ticking it off on their career achievement list. As a small forward with 553 goals to his name, it puts him at the very top of the tree in that position. Incredible numbers in a position that at times you're living off scraps. He is so hard to tackle with great movement and footy IQ. He was a huge part of the Hawks' threepeat from 2013–15 – one of the all-time great teams. He sits comfortably among Stephen Milne, Eddie Betts, Jeff Farmer and Boomer Harvey as the best small crumbing forwards of the AFL era. A potential Hall of Famer, no doubt. The AFL would be pumped as well, with a Port win making the Suns' final game against the Bombers do-or-die. More so than that, he just deserves to walk off the Adelaide Oval with a win and a chance to sing the song one last time for the Power. He is a players' man to the end that never lost his group over his entire career. He only suffered two losing seasons in 13 years at the helm, and in four of those, he made the preliminary final. Always an honest straight shooter with no BS when dealing with him in the media as well. Put the feet up, Kenny. A job in footy awaits somewhere when he's ready. Maybe at Carlton with Vossy? Look back at the last four years. In 2022, they needed one win to secure a finals spot, only to give up the last two goals of the game against Melbourne in round 22 to lose by five points, and in round 23 they kicked 0.6 in the last quarter to Collingwood's 5.1 to lose by one point and surrender a finals berth. In 2023, they made a preliminary final. But on closer inspection, when the pressure and expectation was on that year after a 4–0 start, they went 1–8. Then, when there was a nothing-to-lose mentality, they made a run. Last year, they were second on the ladder by round 18, then stumbled into a finals campaign after they lost to the Saints and had to rely on other results. They will probably finish this year with a win tonight to finish 11th at best with a 9–14 record. It feels like the pressure valve went down after the club backed Vossy in for 2026, but over the summer they have to find a way to deal with the expectations of being a big four club, if they really want to be one. He's a fan favourite already at West Coast, and when he was at Richmond, he was the same. A committed, total team player. Desperate and willing to play any role for his team. But, and I'm sorry for this Liam, he is about to become just the fifth AFL player to win back-to-back flags (at the Tigers in 2019–20) and back-to-back wooden spoons with the Tigers in 2024 and now West Coast in 2025. The other players with this unwanted honour are all Lions: Marcus Ashcroft, Shaun Hart, Chris Johnson and Martin Pike. Now that's a quirky footy trivia question for your next club fundraiser. I get it, he's different and marketable and controversial. He draws heaps of attention for all the obvious reasons. But I love it. As I've said before, we need more personalities in our game who are not afraid of being themselves. Apart from that, he gets the job done on the field every weekend. Smith has been massive for the Cats and will be a key factor in a strong September run for Geelong. As a player, Simpson had a top score of 311 and was known as just about the best slips fielder of all time. But it was as Australia's coach that I remember him the most from 1986 to 1996 – my peak cricket-watching years. Under his tutelage and Allan Border's captaincy, Australia was transformed as a team. Think of the players that came through in that time. Too many to name, but I will single out my childhood hero and great Tasmanian Boony. Some of the team's greatest achievements in his time as coach were winning the 1987 World Cup and regaining The Ashes in England in 1989. I vividly recall both those achievements. What a time it was for Aussie cricket fans.
