October will be synonymous with the most difficult, frustrating and hope filled month for AFL fans as Trade Week becomes Trade & Free Agent Signing Month:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/get-ready-for-4-week-free-for-all/story-fn69a32t-1226167211053

We touched a little on this during The Saga © but the main effect I see from the introduction of Free Agency (albeit in a very restricted FA) is that those who qualify for restricted and unrestricted FA will wait until October to talk about their contracts.

Contracts will be signed later and later and fans just need to get used to the new dynamic.

That will be a draining month for many teams (and fans) I am sure, but on the plus side - Demonland's members will swell for entire month before going back down to normal...

Well at least we've had a year of experience with $ully.

Could have sworn I put this in the main board...

If this was moved - I understand why it was, but it touches on something that could probably be discussed outside of the trading board come January...

And if I put it here, then I hope a mod agrees with me and moves it.

October will be synonymous with the most difficult, frustrating and hope filled month for AFL fans as Trade Week becomes Trade & Free Agent Signing Month:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/get-ready-for-4-week-free-for-all/story-fn69a32t-1226167211053

We touched a little on this during The Saga © but the main effect I see from the introduction of Free Agency (albeit in a very restricted FA) is that those who qualify for restricted and unrestricted FA will wait until October to talk about their contracts.

Contracts will be signed later and later and fans just need to get used to the new dynamic.

That will be a draining month for many teams (and fans) I am sure, but on the plus side - Demonland's members will swell for entire month before going back down to normal...

Does anyone know If we were to lose a 10 Year player or 2,,, if we get compensation in some form?

Can we trade our 2012 first round draft pick in October of next year and use what will then be our first pick (in round 2) for Viney? Can we be a little sneaky like this?

Can we trade our 2012 first round draft pick in October of next year and use what will then be our first pick (in round 2) for Viney? Can we be a little sneaky like this?

No as we are required to match best offer and that is done before trades begin. We can of course decline to take him and swap the pick.

Does anyone know If we were to lose a 10 Year player or 2,,, if we get compensation in some form?

On The Run Home this evening they had Hawthorn's list manager on, and they were discussing that there will be compensation for clubs who lose players to free agency in the form of draft picks, not dissimilar to the compo we've seen with GC and GWS, though I'm not sure they'd be staggered in different years.

I think compensation for lost free agents is a terrific initiative and one that should help protect weaker clubs.

This should do the trick.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/89809/default.aspx

On The Run Home this evening they had Hawthorn's list manager on, and they were discussing that there will be compensation for clubs who lose players to free agency in the form of draft picks, not dissimilar to the compo we've seen with GC and GWS, though I'm not sure they'd be staggered in different years.

I think compensation for lost free agents is a terrific initiative and one that should help protect weaker clubs.

If that's what eventuates, I will be much happier about the arrangement. I had formed the view that it was a recipe for the top 6 or so clubs to become more dominant by attracting the best of the eligible players from the smaller fry.

This should do the trick.

http://www.afl.com.a...09/default.aspx

Good one. That explains it all nicely. Again, I really like the compensation idea. I love US sport, but the words 'free agency' rang alarm bells for me when mentioned by the AFL. Sensible stuff.

On The Run Home this evening they had Hawthorn's list manager on, and they were discussing that there will be compensation for clubs who lose players to free agency in the form of draft picks, not dissimilar to the compo we've seen with GC and GWS, though I'm not sure they'd be staggered in different years.

I think compensation for lost free agents is a terrific initiative and one that should help protect weaker clubs.

Thanks pantaloons. Thats a good thing then.

"His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice."

This applies to a couple of different scenarios. How is it fair that a club is not allowed to try to match an offer from a rival club?

"His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice."

This applies to a couple of different scenarios. How is it fair that a club is not allowed to try to match an offer from a rival club?

It could have been worded better but the club can match or even exceed the offer but unlike restricted FA (where if the club chooses to match the offer - the player must stay), unrestricted FA allows the player to go anywhere on any contract.

No as we are required to match best offer and that is done before trades begin. We can of course decline to take him and swap the pick.

No we can not!!!!! There'd be a mutiny.

I am not too sure how I feel about FA at the moment. On the plus side though, we won't have too many players who qualify for a little while. Hopefully by that time we have a side which is pushing for a premiership and therefore are in the position where player would prefer remain with us for less money so they can enjoy the success, ala Dane Swan. It is going to bring a whole lot of negativity to the game though IMO. Welcome to the brave new world. The people who are going to love it the most are the Journos, they are going to have a deadset field day, what with all the rumours and innuendo to be spewed forth as fact.

Edit: Come to think of it, maybe all of the extra trade rumour mongering might just make them have to have some accountability. If there is constant trade talk on the scale of this year and last, surely reputations will be sullied if someone is consistently wrong and changing their "facts" won't they?

Edit: Come to think of it, maybe all of the extra trade rumour mongering might just make them have to have some accountability. If there is constant trade talk on the scale of this year and last, surely reputations will be sullied if someone is consistently wrong and changing their "facts" won't they?

you'd like to think so....but I doubt it.....too many hack scribblers, outsourced proof readers and desperate sub editors without scruples.....alas

One main thing i don't like about the system is that the raiding team does not have to provide any form of compensation.

So Carlton, with their bottomless salary cap, can offer Goddard a figure that Stkilda can't match, and they'll get him while keeping all of their other players, and draft picks.

This should do the trick.

http://www.afl.com.a...09/default.aspx

Can drive a truck through this one already......

Dean Brogan wants to go to Brisbane instead of being delisted.

Brisbane offer Luke Power to Port instead of retiring.

Both clubs get a compensation pick for players who wouldn't have been there. Can't wait to see Adrians excuses for this one when it becomes abused.

Can drive a truck through this one already......

Dean Brogan wants to go to Brisbane instead of being delisted.

Brisbane offer Luke Power to Port instead of retiring.

Both clubs get a compensation pick for players who wouldn't have been there. Can't wait to see Adrians excuses for this one when it becomes abused.

Yes but it's far better than no compo at all. Compo will be linked to contract length and payment at the new club - in those cases I'd expect end of 3rd or 4th round compo - those guys would be on one-year relatively low pay deals, on the other hand if Goddard went next year I'd expect something like Scully compo because he's be on $800K x 4 years.

There were problems with the GC and GWS uncontracted player rules and major faults with the U17 draft rules - the U17 should have required player trades only with greater than 3 years service and no on-trading. The uncontracted player was tricky because why is it fairer that Callan Ward should go than Tom Scully?

How would you write the FA rules to improve them? I think they look pretty good. The AFL has also changed the vets rule from 2013 forward so that clubs can offer an extra $100K outside the cap to ALL players with 10 years service - this helps clubs retain long-serving players.

you'd like to think so....but I doubt it.....too many hack scribblers, outsourced proof readers and desperate sub editors without scruples.....alas

Just wishful thinking DC Imagine though, if Barrett and Hutchy keep getting things wrong by following every rumour they hear like it's fact, surely they will become quickly irrelevant if others are doing proper journalistic work and uncovering the truth. But yeah, probably wishful thinking.

This should do the trick.

http://www.afl.com.a...09/default.aspx

So really the key has to be pick our top 10 most important players over the next few years and ensure they are our top 10 payed in each of the years when their contract expires...

What this doesn't say is, how do they determine the highest paid? Is it based on their most recent contract in total? Or does it just mean for the most recent season?

If it is the latter, it could see back ended contracts being more beneficial...

Bump.

With this list (http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/130821/default.aspx) I thought we could have a look at who would be tempting for what we require.

Everyone will go straight to the unrestricted stars (Mitchell, Hodge, Montagna, Johnson, Chapman) but I would like to go after a few leaders that we might actually persuade to come:

The Old Hands

Simon Black

A 32 year old with not much time left might not be that appealing but it is his leadership I am looking for, and his consistency (27.5 disposals in wins in 2011, 26.7 in losses). If he is slighted about what they did to Power, he may want a change.

Brad Sewell

Would be huge if we could land him as the Hawks try to keep Hodge and Mitchell... We search for our Sewell in Magner and Couch, let's go get Sewell.

Corey Enright

Will be 31 and may not offer much on the field but, again, our dearth of senior players is the reason we go after him.

As for using FA to get good players at prices above their value (what we had to do to get Clark) there is:

The Solid Stakes

Salopek

Somewhat stalled with injury but finished the year strongly. 26 and solid.

Rosa

Kicked up a gear last year but still no more than a good, solid player.

Butler

Brought back for the finals after injury and is a solid mid-sized defender. If we are looking in the 'Solid Stakes,' I would go for Butler.

*By all means go after Montagna and co. but the leaders are a priority we have to look into to...

Do you think we will have room to secure a free agency player?

Our first round pick is reserved for Viney.

We have nominated to use both our compensation picks.

We will most definitely want to use our second and third round picks in a deep draft.

That's 5 players who will need to come off the list before we even look at securing a free agent. And that's without elevating any rookies.

Of course we may trade 2 picks to gain 1 player or some other factor may come into play.

So here's my take on the players.

Salopek is passed it in my eyes. Too injury prone to bother looking at now.

Sewell would be ambitious. I just cannot see him leaving the Hawks.

Enright is interesting. I usually instantly dismiss older players due to Bailey's youth policy, but who knows what Neeld might think. We could certainly use him if we could get 30ish games out of him over 2 years.

Another one - Chris Knights from the crows. Has had his injury problems but seems to be getting over them. But do we really need another mid sized forward who could push into the mid?

We really need Petterd to step up and own one of those spots this year.

Rosa would be a good target. I would be very happy if we picked him up for nothing. Why would he want to leave West Coast though? He has been getting decent game time.

Not really salivating at those options .I think the rebuild is nearly done .Time to focus on improving our team play and individual weaknesses .A bit of success and the desire to win every game will come along soon .

So some players are not FAs, they have extensions in their current contracts...

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131239/default.aspx

I would like the AFL to clear this up by negotiating in the next CBA to reveal all contracts and a clubs 'payroll' structure. This would look similar this one for the Knicks below.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm

If I was going to bring in a mid I'd get serious with the Scully picks and (quoting the great man) "Whatever it takes" to get either Dangerfield or Boak

and

PS: Yes I would love Pendlebury but I am trying to be realistic, Dangerfield is just ready to start breaking open games while I rate Boak highly and think he would be very good for our midfield