Do you find free agency interesting? You may think FA began in 2012 but we can actually go back to 1973 when the VFL introduced the 10 year rule that allowed any player to move clubs after completing 10 years of service with their first team. Any football historian will tell you that North Melbourne were the major winners of the 10 year rule when they brought in Barry Davis, John Rantall and Doug Wade. The VFL removed the rule not long afterward after realising the impact it was having on the competition. You could make the argument that the recruitment of those three players for North led to their first VFL premiership just two years later. Now let's have a look at the big players that have been involved in the modern version of free agency:
2012 Free Agency
Brendon Goddard (2002 No.1 Draft Pick)
2013 Free Agency
Lance Franklin (2004 No.5 Draft Pick)
Dale Thomas (2005 No.2 Draft Pick)
2014 Free Agency
Bryce Gibbs (2006 No.1 Draft Pick)
James Frawley
We know the media have written a lot about both Gibbs and Frawley potentially leaving their respective clubs through free agency at the end of this season and it appears the media speculation is only going to get more intense each year. Then you look back to the frenzy Buddy caused last year with his nine year contract and you are getting stories that we would never have been exposed to in the past. You couldn't imagine a Collingwood player going to Carlton in the past but Daisy Thomas made it a reality last year.
The footy community seems to be slowly coming around to the concept and appear to be more accepting of player movement. So, as an AFL, do you find free agency interesting?
2012 Free Agency
Brendon Goddard (2002 No.1 Draft Pick)
2013 Free Agency
Lance Franklin (2004 No.5 Draft Pick)
Dale Thomas (2005 No.2 Draft Pick)
2014 Free Agency
Bryce Gibbs (2006 No.1 Draft Pick)
James Frawley
We know the media have written a lot about both Gibbs and Frawley potentially leaving their respective clubs through free agency at the end of this season and it appears the media speculation is only going to get more intense each year. Then you look back to the frenzy Buddy caused last year with his nine year contract and you are getting stories that we would never have been exposed to in the past. You couldn't imagine a Collingwood player going to Carlton in the past but Daisy Thomas made it a reality last year.
The footy community seems to be slowly coming around to the concept and appear to be more accepting of player movement. So, as an AFL, do you find free agency interesting?