Some will say it's ironic coming from a Port supporter, given we've benefited from this more often than we've lost out - however it really is something the AFL should address.
We see clubs deliberately avoiding players from interstate if there is a comparable player from their home state - even if they are slightly inferior. Whilst this may sound ok, it compromises the draft to a degree.
We don't want to see players getting drafted and jumping ship early in their career - going home is often the reason touted, but it's clear that there is also a financial element involved.
The proposal here is that if you draft a player out of their home state, the AFL would kick in an extra 10-15% (or whatever that number may be) for the first 5 years of that players contract (or extensions up to 5 years). If they end up being traded back home at any point in the first 5 years, they forfeit that benefit. This could be done as an ongoing payment or a bulk sum at the end of 5 years. Yes, this may lead to players leaving after 5 years and not 2-3, however my thoughts are that if the club hasn't managed to make them feel at home by that stage, then it is what it is.
Whilst it won't completely eliminate players wanting to go home, it does give just a little bit of extra incentive for the player to stay.
We see clubs deliberately avoiding players from interstate if there is a comparable player from their home state - even if they are slightly inferior. Whilst this may sound ok, it compromises the draft to a degree.
We don't want to see players getting drafted and jumping ship early in their career - going home is often the reason touted, but it's clear that there is also a financial element involved.
The proposal here is that if you draft a player out of their home state, the AFL would kick in an extra 10-15% (or whatever that number may be) for the first 5 years of that players contract (or extensions up to 5 years). If they end up being traded back home at any point in the first 5 years, they forfeit that benefit. This could be done as an ongoing payment or a bulk sum at the end of 5 years. Yes, this may lead to players leaving after 5 years and not 2-3, however my thoughts are that if the club hasn't managed to make them feel at home by that stage, then it is what it is.
Whilst it won't completely eliminate players wanting to go home, it does give just a little bit of extra incentive for the player to stay.