Strategy How would you fix free agency?

[dazedjosh]

I think most people think FA compensation is broken the way it currently exists. So how would BigFooty fix it? All opinions welcome. Would you just completely ditch it? Would you tweak it? If so, what tweaks would you make? Would you completely revamp it so that it involved the list managers in gladiator outfits fighting each other to the death in a coliseum style sandpit that elevates out of the ground at Marvel Stadium and gets televised pay per view every time a free agent signing happens?

I'll get the ball rolling.
I don't think they should can it, but I definitely think it should be changed.
First I'd like to see compo bands simplified and the value lowered.
Band 1 - End of Round 1
Band 2 - End of Round 2.................etc. etc. etc.

The reason for this is having Band 1 potentially giving Adelaide, GWS, and Essendon picks inside the top 10 this year, and other teams getting similar results in other years, disadvantages other side that didn't make finals. Maybe Band 1 could start at Pick 11, so that it doesn't disadvantage teams that didn't make finals but still gives the compo pick a bit of extra weight. But in my mind if you miss finals and the AFL's equalisation measures help another team by inadvertently punishing you, that is a flawed system.
Next, if we're going to do a compensation system, and I'm not necessarily opposed to one, then it should be based on more than just contract length, value, and age. It needs to be relevant to the talent of the player. The NBA does something vaguely similar when deciding who qualifies for a supermax contract. Now, there are contractual requirements, a player needs to be with the team that signed them for a certain number of years, etc. but there are also performance requirements.

NOTE - This is not an exchaustive list but is just being used to illustrate my point and start the conversation.
For a player to receive a supermax, a player must meet one of the following three criteria.

• Be named to an All-NBA team in the most recent season or both seasons before it
• OR, be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in the most recent season or both seasons before it
• OR, be named NBA MVP in any of the three previous seasons

This is obviously a VERY exclusive list of players eligible for a Supermax contract. But the AFL could use something like this merit based framework to start a framework of their own for FA compo. In my mind, something like the following criteria would work.

• Age, length of contract, value of contract (they still have a place)
• How many Brownlow votes has the player received in the past 3 seasons? (This obviously discriminates against certain positions so it's not perfect but it's a starting point and would need to be weighted.)
• How many All-Australians has the player received (Both squad nominations and final 22 would count, but obviously just making the squad is a bit less valuable. This would help cover lower rated Brownlow positions)
• How many club B&F votes has the player received in the last 3 years?
• How many games have they played in the last 3 years?

I think that would at least start to provide a better framework for compensation, and when combined with a lower value of compensation, would help stop free agency compensation screwing other teams over. My biggest concern would be the risk of weighting compensation in favour of midfielders and key forwards. We know defenders don't get as much recognition in the Brownlow, so a measure would need to be introduced to account for that. But this would be a start.

EDIT - Other people mentioned number of games played over 3 years previous to Free Agency, so I'm adding that here as well because I think it's another good measurement for compensation.

 

[RUNVS]

I wouldn't just have contract length and dollar value of that contract as the determining factor. I would also include things like games played in the last 3 years, position in the teams best and fairest in the last 5 years, coaches votes in the last 3 years and stuff like that.

 

[dazedjosh]

I wouldn't just have contract length and dollar value of that contract as the determining factor. I would also include things like games played in the last 3 years, position in the teams best and fairest in the last 5 years, coaches votes in the last 3 years and stuff like that.

Games played over 3 years. That's another good one.

 

[RUNVS]

Games played over 3 years. That's another good one.

Yes, as someone who has played 65 games in the last 3 years is obviously worth more than someone who has played 15 games in the same time period.

Taking into account the coaches votes they have received as well also helps determine how good the player is.

 

[HairyO]

Im not a fan of compensation but if you are going to have it remove age from the formula - the length of the contract is far more important.

And Band 1 begins at the end of the 1st Round.

No compensation should ever be allowed to influence the 1st Round.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Compensation should be end of R1, end of R2, end of R3. No more linking it to finishing position.

The poaching club should also have to wear some of it, either by having picks downgraded via points deductions or added to the compensation mix.

 

[HairyO]

Compensation should be end of R1, end of R2, end of R3. No more linking it to finishing position.

The poaching club should also have to wear some of it, either by having picks downgraded via points deductions or added to the compensation mix.

Thats not free agency then, is it?

The AFL also needs to warn clubs doing dodgy side trades like the Saints and Adelaide that Adelaide are free to change their mind on the trades after Couch is gone, and the Saints then have to wear the Cap penalties if they cant clear space.

 

[TheBoss]

Compensation should be scrapped entirely. Stupid system in a salary capped league.

 

[HairyO]

I wouldn't just have contract length and dollar value of that contract as the determining factor. I would also include things like games played in the last 3 years, position in the teams best and fairest in the last 5 years, coaches votes in the last 3 years and stuff like that.

I really just think its the $ and the years. Its a future purchase. History shouldnt matter. Nor should age.

But really, teams have 8 years to work on a player staying loyal to the club. With no compo maybe they would work even harder.

How many Crows supporters are salivating over picks 1 and 2 in the Draft ?

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Thats not free agency then, is it?

Players have the "free agency" to move to a club of their choice. We're discussing if/how their clubs should be compensated.

 

[HairyO]

Players have the "free agency" to move to a club of their choice. We're discussing if/how their clubs should be compensated.

Its not then free for the new club if they end up losing draft picks.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

 

[Robroy22]

Scrap it and go back to free trade. Let the clubs spend to their own budgets.

Go on....howl it down....

No one can be that responsible for their own money...

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Its not then free for the new club if they end up losing draft picks.

Free agency describes the freedom of the player, not whether they are free to the new club.

 

[HairyO]

Free agency describes the freedom of the player, not whether they are free to the new club.

RFA is really no different to a player out of contract if the current team matches.

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

Compo should start after pick 10 imo

 

[TheVelourFog]

I don't think there should be any compensation for losing a free agent but then I also think that the minimum salary cap spend should be removed. This will allow those teams rebuilding and who have bottomed out to save money and then be able to offer massive contracts for players from the top teams.
I feel the issue is it just seems that it's made the bottom teams get raided by the top teams so this may give the opportunity for bottom teams to return favour.

Although honestly I don't think there is any perfect method and no way of making everyone happy with free agency.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

RFA is really no different to a player out of contract if the current team matches.

How often does that happen?

But by all means, get rid of the ability to match. It's a grey area anyway.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

And Band 1 begins at the end of the 1st Round.

No compensation should ever be allowed to influence the 1st Round.

I think this is the big one for me. You can't design a system which on one hand aims to compensate teams down the bottom better, but in the process of doing so disadvantages the other clubs down the bottom. At the very least it should start after the top ten so that teams who missed the finals aren't being pushed down the order.

I think picks should be end of round only, and from there they can be determined by finishing position.

I also think the team being compensated should need to have tabled a competitive contract offer to the player who is leaving, at least within the last 12 months.

 

[CharacterFirst]

Any player over 28 can automatically move to Geelong as an UFA.

No compo. paid.

Geelong also allowed multiple first round draft picks, a cheat ground, double Salcap, and free pubs for all players.

 

[TryAnHit]

Why even have free agency.... contracted players get to make specific requests all the time they want to leave and go to exactly X club.

Other sports have it to give power to players as they have 0 power when contracted and can be traded at will without their permission.

 

[RUNVS]

Scrap it and go back to free trade. Let the clubs spend to their own budgets.

Go on....howl it down....

No one can be that responsible for their own money...

Unfortunately it can't work like that in its current form. Gold Coast for instance have to pay 95% of their cap, so when they lost Lynch they didn't suddenly have a war chest to go after opposition players as they were still paying almost as much in their salary cap as Richmond, the team that took Lynch were.

If you want to get rid of compensation then you need to drastically lower the salary cap floor so clubs at the bottom of the ladder who have just lost a star player can build a war chest and go after player or two from other clubs.

 

[Jeremias]

It is absurd that there is "compensation" at all.

That's how you fix it - get rid of it.

 

[Brian McGee]

Why even have free agency.... contracted players get to make specific requests all the time they want to leave and go to exactly X club.

Other sports have it to give power to players as they have 0 power when contracted and can be traded at will without their permission.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. What’s the difference between crouch nominating someone as a free agent after 8 years, and hately and Caldwell nominating teams to go to after 2 years? They are de facto free agents the first time they are out of contract. Clubs need to be able to move players on against their will to even it out.

 

[the big lebowski]

Make the receiving club pay for the player based on the contract they have offered.

That will see realistic contracts offered by clubs, as opposed to artificially increasing contracts.