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

http://www.afl.com.a...39/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...es/new_york.htm

Good luck paying Jeremy Lin 760,000$ next year

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...

BUMP.

One thing that I didn't quite realise was the flow on effect of the above is that clubs that are chasing FAs will not want to 'hamstring' themselves with fringe players being signed up BEFORE the FA period starts.

They will therefore wait to sign up their fringe players (think Bate, Petterd, Fitz, Spencer, Strauss, etc for us this year) until the last few days of October when the FA period is coming to a close.

This means that there will be more uncertainty when it comes to lists and possibly, with frustrated players being forced to wait, more OOC fringe players heading for the PSD or the National Draft instead of re-signing with their wavering club.

I believe there will be quite some movement this October.

Note: this CAN be moved to the T&D board but it doesn't really discuss any trades or drafting, only the policies and there effects.

The quicker we get to October and the fringe players are moved on or re-signed the better.

You'd think that we are a terrible team because Cook and Gysberts were taken where they were taken.

I believe there will be quite a lot of comment on FA in a positive/negative sense leading up to those last few days. I'm sensing more negative comment from officials, players who face a busy October. And the AFL may face more fire than they bargained for in terms of feedback on poaching.

Thing is, when there is change not a lot embrace it straight away. Now that it's in, people will just have to get over it. The landscape has changed.

This should be on the main board but anyway...

Two new things have come to me lately: FA in relation to the Rookie List and 'Sign and Trades' in the AFL for RFA.

Both would be rare (if they are legal), but I have not heard any commentator talking about the possibilities of them.

Unrestricted Free Agent signing as a Rookie: I think this should be able to happen and would be beneficial in regard to Jurrah. A player whose contract has lapsed, should have the opportunity to sign as a rookie for anyone they wish. Now this may mean that Goddard could go and sign as a rookie but it is up to the player to agree, so what player in their right mind is going to agree to it unless it was in their best interests?

Remember UFA can sign for $1 if they like - any price.

With the Sign and Trade - there might be a rule where a contract can't be traded after it has been signed but I believe that as long as the player agrees - you can do that. This will be a controversial action but is a way for clubs to get a better deal for leaving RFAs.

One thing is that in the US - the player and the destination club is happy to go along with this as it is a way of clubs struggling with 'salary cap space' to offer the player more than they would otherwise be able to.

With our hard cap this may make more difficult and more of a game of bluff between clubs.