Australian Football League draft

The Australian Football League draft is the annual draft of unsigned players, especially new nominations, by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League (AFL).

History

When the competition was known as the Victorian Football League (VFL), the league introduced the first incarnation of a draft system in 1981, where teams had two selections each of interstate players determined by reverse finishing position order.[1]

The draft was introduced as an equalisation strategy in response to the increasing transfer fees and player salaries at the time, which in combination with declining attendances threatened to derail the league. It was also a result of the failure of country zoning, introduced in 1967, which had led to a systematic inequality whereby the clubs with the best zones, like Carlton and Hawthorn, could dominate over clubs with poorer zones like Melbourne.

In 1986, the first of the modern VFL Drafts was held. The draft was run in conjunction to the existing zone system. Players from West Australian Football League and the new West Coast Eagles were excluded from the 1986 draft, with the Eagles able to recruit up to 35 West Australian players with no more than 6 players from any single WAFL club. The other new club for the 1987 VFL season, the Brisbane Bears, received 6 concessionary picks before the other clubs and exclusive access to all Queensland based players.

Since then, the rules associated with priority picks, zone allocations, the father–son rule, mid-year, pre-season and rookie drafts, expansion clubs concessions and trading of players and picks have been frequently changed, but the basic premise of draft being an equalisation measure to assist the poorer performed teams has remained.

Draft

In the AFL draft, clubs receive picks based on the position in which they finish on the ladder during the season. The draft is held each year at the end of November, to allow the draftees to finish their school examinations before being drafted.[2]

Eligibility

From the 2009 draft, players must be at least 18 years of age on 31 December in the year in which they are drafted, so that players who turn 18 during their first months of Year 12 will be able to finish studying without the pressure of AFL. This was increased over the past few years due to concerns about school age players potentially having to leave home to play football interstate.[3]

A selection of approximately 50 players are chosen to attend the annual AFL Draft Combine at the conclusion of the AFL season, prior to the National Draft. Further smaller scale state screenings are held around the country in the weeks after the national combine.

Priority draft pick rule

The priority draft picks were first introduced in the 1993 AFL Draft as a special assistance rule to aid teams that consistently perform poorly to obtain additional early draft selections.

Under the current rules, in place since the 2012 season, priority draft picks are given out struggling teams at the discretion of the AFL Commission. This replaced a system in which a priority draft pick was automatically given to team whose win-loss record fell below a pre-defined value; this had become controversial, and there were accusations by commentators that teams out of finals contention would tank at the end of the season to gain access to the additional draft picks, although the AFL itself never brought such accusations against any club.[4]

Father–son rule

To continue the traditions of association that a family has with a particular club, sons of former players are able to be selected by the same club as their father played with under the father–son rule. For clubs with an established history in the VFL/AFL, the father must have played at least 100 games for the club to be eligible for the father/son rule; clubs with no long term history in the league (such as the Western Australian and South Australian clubs) have different eligibility criteria based on the state leagues.

Under current rules, players eligible under the father–son rule are selected in a bidding system prior to the draft. Firstly, any club in the league may nominate a draft pick with which it intends to take the eligible son; then, if the father's club wishes to draft the son, it must use its next available draft pick, after the highest bidder.[5]

Earlier versions of the father–son rule allowed the sons to be recruited automatically, without need for the draft, or allowed the club to recruit the son using a third round draft pick. The father–son rule itself pre-dates the draft, and prior to the draft it could be used to contravene zoning rules.

Host

For most of its existence, the National Draft has been held at a large function or convention centre, with many of the predicted top draft selections in attendance. Since 1993, most draft events have been televised live, pick-by-pick. The mid-year, pre-season and rookie drafts, however have never been televised.

Draft Date held Host city Venue
1981 8 October 1981 Melbourne, Victoria VFL House
1982 19 October 1982Melbourne, Victoria VFL House
1986 26 November 1986Melbourne, Victoria VFL House
1987 11 November 1987 Melbourne, Victoria VFL House
1988 9 November 1988Melbourne, Victoria VFL House
1989 9 November 1989 Melbourne, Victoria VFL House
1990 7 November 1990 Melbourne, Victoria AFL House
1991 6 November 1991
1992 11 November 1992
1993 29 October 1993 Melbourne, Victoria Radisson President Hotel
1994 28 October 1994 Melbourne, Victoria Radisson President Hotel
1995 8 December 1995
1996 25 October 1996
1997 31 October 1997 Adelaide, South Australia Football Park
1998 1 November 1998Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Park Function Centre
1999 31 October 1999Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Park Function Centre
2000 29 October 2000
2001 25 November 2001Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Park Function Centre
2002 23 November 2002Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Park Function Centre
2003 22 November 2003 Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Park Function Centre
2004 20 November 2004 Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Park Function Centre
2005 26 November 2005 Melbourne, Victoria Docklands Stadium
2006 25 November 2006 Melbourne, Victoria Docklands Stadium
2007 24 November 2007 Melbourne, Victoria Docklands Stadium
2008 29 November 2008 Melbourne, Victoria Docklands Stadium
2009 26 November 2009 Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
2010 18 November 2010 Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
2011 24 November 2011 Sydney, New South Wales Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
2012 22 November 2012 Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
2013 21 November 2013 Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
2014 27 November 2014 Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
2015 22 November 2015 Adelaide, South Australia Adelaide Convention Centre
2016 25 November 2016 Sydney, New South Wales Hordern Pavilion

Number one draft picks

The number one draft pick is generally given to the last-placed team from the previous season, or to any expansion team in its first draft.

Years where this was not the case are:

Despite the expectations of the number one pick, not all have forged successful VFL/AFL careers. Adam Cooney, the first pick of the 2003 AFL draft, was the first number one draft pick to be awarded the prestigious Brownlow Medal (in 2008). In the same year, Luke Hodge, the number one pick in 2001, won the Norm Smith Medal with Hawthorn. No number one selection has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

The following is a list of the number one overall draft picks since the draft's inception in 1981:

Draft Player Selected by Recruited from League recruited from
1981 Johnson, AlanAlan Johnson Melbourne Perth WAFL
1982 Purser, AndrewAndrew Purser Footscray East Fremantle WAFL
1986 Leslie, MartinMartin Leslie Brisbane Bears Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL
1987 Lounder, RichardRichard Lounder Richmond Central District SANFL
1988 McDonald, AlexAlex McDonald Hawthorn Ballarat YCW Ballarat Football League
1989 Banik, AnthonyAnthony Banik Richmond Won Wron Woodside Alberton Football League
1990 Hooper, StephenStephen Hooper Geelong East Perth WAFL
1991 Hutton, JohnJohn Hutton Brisbane Bears Claremont WAFL
1992 Banfield, DrewDrew Banfield West Coast Eagles Subiaco WAFL
1993 Gaspar, DarrenDarren Gaspar Sydney South Fremantle WAFL
1994 White, JeffJeff White Fremantle Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
1995 Waterhouse, CliveClive Waterhouse Fremantle Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL
1996 Gardiner, MichaelMichael Gardiner West Coast Eagles Claremont WAFL
1997 Johnstone, TravisTravis Johnstone Melbourne Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
1998 Headland, DesDes Headland Brisbane Lions Subiaco WAFL
1999 Fraser, JoshJosh Fraser Collingwood Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup
2000 Riewoldt, NickNick Riewoldt St Kilda Southport Sharks QAFL
2001 Hodge, LukeLuke Hodge Hawthorn Geelong Falcons TAC Cup
2002 Goddard, BrendonBrendon Goddard St Kilda Gippsland Power TAC Cup
2003 Cooney, AdamAdam Cooney Western Bulldogs West Adelaide SANFL
2004 Deledio, BrettBrett Deledio Richmond Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup
2005 Murphy, MarcMarc Murphy Carlton Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup
2006 Gibbs, BryceBryce Gibbs Carlton Glenelg SANFL
2007 Kreuzer, MatthewMatthew Kreuzer Carlton Northern Knights TAC Cup
2008 Watts, JackJack Watts Melbourne Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup
2009 Scully, TomTom Scully Melbourne Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
2010 Swallow, DavidDavid Swallow Gold Coast East Fremantle Football Club WAFL
2011 Patton, JonathonJonathon Patton Greater Western Sydney Eastern Ranges TAC Cup
2012 Whitfield, LachieLachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
2013 Boyd, TomTom Boyd Greater Western Sydney Eastern Ranges TAC Cup
2014 McCartin, PaddyPaddy McCartin St Kilda Geelong Falcons TAC Cup
2015 Weitering, JacobJacob Weitering Carlton Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
2016 McGrath, AndrewAndrew McGrath Essendon Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup

As of 2016, Adelaide, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide are the only clubs never to have had the first overall selection of an AFL Draft.

Pre-season draft

Rookie draft

Held at the same time as the pre-season draft, the rookie draft is a chance for clubs to recruit players for their Rookie list. Rookies are usually picked as young, developing players and can be elevated from the rookie list during the year, if there is a long term injury or retirement to a senior player in the team. Once the rookie is elevated, he remains that way until the end of the year, where they can be officially upgraded to the senior list, or placed back on the rookie list, or delisted/not offered a new contract. Teams are allowed to have four to six rookies, but the Queensland and NSW teams may have more.

International rookies

Rookies are also available to be selected from overseas countries and players on the list do not count towards the salary cap. Notable examples are Irish Tommy Walsh of Sydney; Canadian Mike Pyke of Sydney, a former rugby union international; and Americans Seamus McNamara and Mason Cox, both former college basketball players who were rookie listed by Collingwood.

In 2006, the AFL introduced a new scheme where clubs can maintain two international rookies (excluding Irish players) outside of the regular rookie list.[6]

The rule was adjusted in 2010 to group international rookies with players recruited from other sports, and refers to them as Category B rookies. Up to three can be listed in addition to up to six Category A rookies.[7]

See also

References

  1. Quayle, Emma (17 November 2006). "When the draft blew in". The Age. Archived from the original on 18 November 2006.
  2. Foreman, Glen (25 November 2008). "Fremantle Dockers coach Mark Harvey raises concerns over draft". Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  3. "AFL approves draft, trading rule changes". 30 April 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  4. Gill, Katrina; Tanking talk ‘pathetic’, says Demetriou; 20 June 2008
  5. Father–Son Rule
  6. Quayle, Emma (25 August 2006). "Clubs to get new overseas talent scheme". The Age.
  7. "Rookie players".
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