How did the draft work in the 1980s?

[Cleric]

Did interstate players have to nominate for the VFL/AFL draft back in the 80s?
From what I can make out, the VFL clubs used to just draft anyone around the country and then have the rights to that person if they ever decided to go and play in Victoria? So a young SANFL player could get draftee by say Hawthorn, without even nominating for the draft and then Hawthorn would have the rights to that player if he decided to play in Vic.
Is this correct? If so it's pretty outrageous.

 

[RUNVS]

I was under the impression there was no draft for most of the 1980's? I could be wrong though.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

The draft was secondary to the zoning system, which was intended to be a rotating zonal system before clubs who hit the jackpot early - namely Haw and Carl - protested rotation and the zones became stagnant.

The 1981-82 drafts was as you describe, with VFL clubs selecting players from SA and WA exclusively. 1986 onwards and selections begun to expand further. West Coast upon entry gained multiple years of exclusive access to WA talent.. No surprises they won premierships with that initial assistance.

 

[Dangerousfield]

The first proper draft as we know it today was in 1986. Prior to that there were the Vic zones and players from other states tended to go to the clubs with the biggest cheque books and biggest bags of cash. There was also getting promising kids to move zone by going to live with their aunty. Zones were as dodgy as NGAs are today!

Carlton of course were famous for the latter. They also famously bought blue Brock Commodores for a number prospective interstate recruits Dorotich, Kernahan, Bradley, Naley (and the unfortunate Peter Motley) who powered their 1987 flag. Ah, the good old days of paper bag recruiting.

People really should invest the $40 and every pre season purchase the AFL Record season guide available at every good newsagent. It is an absolute bible on the game right back to the beginnings of the VFL in 1897. If you've got a question, this tome has the answers.

 

[parsons nose]

Richmond kept on getting round one picks and stuffing them up. That’s all I can remember.

 

[Cleric]

T⅙he draft was secondary to the zoning system, which was intended to be a rotating zonal system before clubs who hit the jackpot early - namely Haw and Carl - protested rotation and the zones became stagnant.

The 1981-82 drafts was as you describe, with VFL clubs selecting players from SA and WA exclusively. 1986 onwards and selections begun to expand further. West Coast upon entry gained multiple years of exclusive access to WA talent.. No surprises they won premierships with that initial assistance.

So with regards to the interstate drafts they did, there wasn't a requirement for the players to nominate?
So for instance if say Platten was playing for Centrals, and in the draft Geelong drafts him, then they had the rights to the player for three years?
So they wernt drafting the players, but drafting the rights to that player if he ever wished to join a Vic club?

Reason I ask is I heard that SA players would find out that they had been drafted by a Vic club, yet they had never nominated to be drafted, and then they found themselves unable to play for a club of their choice unless the club got the rights to the player from the club that drafted him?

 

[Billy ray]