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Mick Malthouse: What AFL must fix before it considers expansion
Mick Malthouse believes the system is broken. From weak youth talent pools, free agency making the rich richer and shallow lists, something has to change before the AFL expands.Mick Malthouse
5 min read
April 9, 2022 - 6:00AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
It’s the great football divide.
Three clear divisions among the 18 AFL clubs, already, at just round 4.
Those that will make the final eight, those that could still make the eight, and those that have no chance. There are five teams in the latter category, a high number so early in the campaign.
And the reason? The AFL talent pool is too far stretched.
Basically, there are not enough elite-standard players available to service 18 teams, let alone 19 or 20.
Interestingly, Geelong chief executive Steven Hocking recently suggested that 36 players is more than enough for a club’s list. And yet, as the football operations manager at the AFL, I’m not aware of this ever being his recommendation.
I believe clubs can’t afford to have a rope around their neck with list top-up players who aren’t up to standard. Instead reduce the numbers and focus on player development, which will also allow for a better distribution of talent to all clubs and give the bottom teams a boost.
North Melbourne’s list is threadbare. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images
There’s no doubt that many lists lack depth. In some instances, there are only 15 or so players of genuine AFL quality even in their match day 22, after that it peters out significantly.
The North Melbourne reserves team lost to the Brisbane Lions reserves by 104 points last week. That’s on top of the Kangaroos’ 108-point AFL drubbing by the Lions on the Saturday night. It’s not a good look.
Free agency hasn’t worked to even out the competition. It’s purely a top-up for the better sides. Just look at Robbie Tarrant leaving North Melbourne to go to Richmond. I’m not blaming the player – it’s the system that’s at fault.
On top of that, the national draft appears to be getting shallower and shallower.
47:56
In 2000 there were 80 draft positions used. In 2021 just 65 kids were picked, so there seems to be a lack of uptake by the clubs, rather, a recycling of players as recruiting managers are left underwhelmed by the talent coming through from underage ranks.
As a nation we have produced several NBA first-round picks (most recently Josh Giddey, Ben Simmons, Andrew Bogut, Dante Exum and Thon Maker, and let’s include Patty Mills as a second-round pick) because there was early identification of these kids and a lengthy development process.
Aussie basketball is producing big-time NBA talent like Josh Giddey. Does footy have a development issue? Picture: NBAE/Getty Images
It happens in cricket, tennis, soccer and Olympic sports too. Perhaps because they are on the world stage it matters more, but the AFL can’t sit back and assume that high participation rates in junior football is going to automatically lead to an abundance of football talent at draft age.
Are we identifying players young enough to go into elite training? And not just one or two, but tens and twenties of kids with potential who could benefit from a development program that leads to an opportunity at AFL level.
We need to encourage and support kids from all walks of life, all states and territories. It is fundamental to identify potential early, as young as 12 or 13, and develop it into talent, so they can mature into draftable 18-year old’s.
At the moment so much is left up to state bodies and schools where resources and time are limited, and potential is being wasted as participation numbers decline among teenagers.
Working in radio and watching every game, I am dismayed at the lack of genuine talent and skill level. It is quite astounding that some of these players, 15 to 22 on the list, are considered elite AFL footballers.
I fear for our competition, for the expansion – and yet I want expansion. I’d love to see a Tassie team in the AFL. But I also fear that right now the standard of the overall competition is below par and at times quite horrible.
Former Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson is pushing for AFL expansion into Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones
GROUP ELITE
Looking at the divide and today’s ladder, the first group consists of Brisbane, Carlton, Geelong, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs who are Monty’s to make the eight.The Cats, Lions and Bulldogs have been regulars in the finals in recent times.
Melbourne has played finals twice in five years under Simon Goodwin, finishing ninth in
2020 before its 2021 premiership.
The Blues have the true credentials this year though. High scoring forwards, multiple midfielders with class, and a solid backline.
GROUP HOPE
The next group includes:Of these eight clubs, only three will be added to the top group by season’s end.
In the last five years the Tigers have won three premierships. The Giants have played in four of the last five finals’ series including a Grand Final. The Magpies, Bombers and Swans have played finals three times. The Hawks and Saints have each made the eight once. And the Dockers haven’t played a final since 2015.
Four rounds in and it’s season over for winless Port. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images
GROUP FORGET ABOUT IT
That leaves the floundering group:
Of course stranger things have happened and we can’t look into a crystal football, but the fact that 12 points and over 100 per cent separates top from bottom by round four, says a lot, and if the AFL wants to expand its competition it needs to do more to fix the league, first.
