The AFL is looking at changing the rules concerning drafting of Next Generation Academy players. 

Clubs push for more access to own NGA talent amid review

AFL clubs are pushing to return to a smaller protected band for the draft, with the view that the current limit to the top 40 is far to restrictive for clubs.

However, any potential changes to more draft access for NGA players will not apply to the 2023 intake.

Geelong must have some players coming through their NGA they  want access too...

But seriously, maybe they look at the level of resources and length of time allocated to a player to determine whether a club can have priority over them.  And they make the rules the same for all clubs and not have exceptions for the "non-football" state teams.  

 

 

the fact that this is being floated by pravda is proof positive that it's happening in 2024

like @darkhorse72 said - guaranteed the cats have some classy kids coming through

So we lose the Andrew brothers and then they can remove the limitation? How many other clubs did this prevent from obtaining players? 
(saints from getting Mackenzie this last draft is a big one) 

Give us mac andrew back

Still pretty salty about the Mac Andrew situation. 

The fairest thing would have been to allow each club a high drafted player every X years. Them bringing in the rule after the Bulldogs and others had already benefited was totally unfair.

Aside from some clubs having their eyes on young players, perhaps some clubs are spooked about draft implications if Tassie jump on board. 

Hoping we get Riak Andrew from the Dandenong Stingrays from our NGA at the end of this year (if he is good enough to be drafted).

Especially after missing out on his older brother Mac Andrew over a year or so ago. That really annoyed me, especially after the Bulldogs got their NGA player in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan with pick 1# in the 2020 AFL Draft and then the AFL just happened to change the rules to screw over us at the Demons a year later!

Let's hope they implement a much fairer system for the Clubs that develop these young recruits, otherwise, the NGA for Victorian AFL Clubs is almost pointless.

Two NGA prospects heading into this year.

New one that has come through goes by the name of Coren Giliam. 181cm who plays as forward and is listed for Dandenong Stringrays squad. Didn't play on the weekend.

The other is Riak Andrew who is Mac Andrew's brother. 193cm 70kg tall who plays up forward and has speed. Riak is a current member of the Vic Country hub and will definitely be one to keep an eye on this year. Another who's on the Dandenong Stingrays squad. 

On 27/03/2023 at 08:47, dazzledavey36 said:

Two NGA prospects heading into this year.

New one that has come through goes by the name of Coren Giliam. 181cm who plays as forward and is listed for Dandenong Stringrays squad. Didn't play on the weekend.

The other is Riak Andrew who is Mac Andrew's brother. 193cm 70kg tall who plays up forward and has speed. Riak is a current member of the Vic Country hub and will definitely be one to keep an eye on this year. Another who's on the Dandenong Stingrays squad. 

Hopefully if they are any good, they are not top 40 selections.

19 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Hopefully if they are any good, they are not top 40 selections.

Well Riak didn't play yesterday as he had an interrupted pre season with knee surgery so he's definitely off to a good start in being behind the 8 ball. 

He's still a watch this space considering he made the Vic Country hub purely based on potential and not even playing NAB league games last year.

54 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Hopefully if they are any good, they are not top 40 selections.

That's the dilemma.

We want them to be good, but not TOO good otherwise they get drafted early by another team.

The AFL really needs to re-think their selection criteria for NGA prospects because the current system defeats the purpose of the scheme and doesn't provide suitable incentive for clubs to participate.

3 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

That's the dilemma.

We want them to be good, but not TOO good otherwise they get drafted early by another team.

The AFL really needs to re-think their selection criteria for NGA prospects because the current system defeats the purpose of the scheme and doesn't provide suitable incentive for clubs to participate.

There was some talk by the AFL that they were going to be bringing it back to only top 20 prospects again but don't think we'll see that this year.

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

That's the dilemma.

We want them to be good, but not TOO good otherwise they get drafted early by another team.

The AFL really needs to re-think their selection criteria for NGA prospects because the current system defeats the purpose of the scheme and doesn't provide suitable incentive for clubs to participate.

What is the purpose of the scheme?

1 minute ago, Jontee said:

What is the purpose of the scheme?

 

Next Generation Academy background

The Next Generation Academies (NGA's) are a joint initiative between the AFL and AFL Clubs aimed at the attraction, retention and development of all talented players (both male and female), whilst growing participation in the under-represented segments of our community.

A key objective of the NGA's is to increase the talent pool of Indigenous and Multicultural players. These groups are significantly under-represented in the AFL comparative to the population, and therefore AFL Clubs are incentivised through draft concessions for their role in growing this talent pool. However, the primary function of the NGA's is to provide a Club based talent program to all kids, using the AFL Clubs' profile and expertise to raise awareness and interest in the programs.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

There was some talk by the AFL that they were going to be bringing it back to only top 20 prospects again but don't think we'll see that this year.

The AFL will carefully monitor the progress of Melbournes NGA's and adopt whatever policy denies us access.

That is interesting.  In his book Shaun Burgoyne said indigenous were over represented at AFL level.  But regardless any program that gives indigenous or under priveliged a pathway way to success or higher status is a good thing.

I can understand why the AFL has the top 40 going to the draft else clubs will try and hide players in the NGA (Remember WCE and Brett Heady to the bush)

It's a thorny issue, @Jontee.

Under the current system, a club that identifies, nurtures and develops a young player who looks like being a very good footballer is facing odds of seventeen to one against of being able to draft that player.

The big issue is the entire system is flawed and needs to be overhauled.

It needs to be a much fairer system.

The fact that that the Western Bulldogs got their NGA product with the number #1 pick in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in the 2020 AFL Draft and we could not even bid on Mac Andrew who went to Gold Coast with the number #5 pick in the 2021 AFL Draft was grossly unfair.

Personally, I think the Melbourne Football Club should of made a bigger stink about this matter, but it may have been seen as "over the top" due to the fact we were 2021 AFL Premiers at the time. But still, an official complaint to the AFL should of been made.

 

Unfortunately, we sadly "rolled over" and should have fought the AFL more on the unfair changing of the rules. Especially when teams like Sydney, GWS and Gold Coast have a distinct advantage with their own Interstate Academies.

If this serious problem is not resolved it makes the NGA Academies almost pointless for Victorian AFL Clubs, in particular, to bother to financially support. Clubs want to see reward for effort and if you don't allow this then the whole idea of having an NGA Academy is a waste of time.

Edited March 27, 20232 yr by Supreme_Demon

On 27/03/2023 at 08:47, dazzledavey36 said:

Two NGA prospects heading into this year.

New one that has come through goes by the name of Coren Giliam. 181cm who plays as forward and is listed for Dandenong Stringrays squad. Didn't play on the weekend.

The other is Riak Andrew who is Mac Andrew's brother. 193cm 70kg tall who plays up forward and has speed. Riak is a current member of the Vic Country hub and will definitely be one to keep an eye on this year. Another who's on the Dandenong Stingrays squad. 

 

On 27/03/2023 at 08:49, Redleg said:

Hopefully if they are any good, they are not top 40 selections.

it's interesting to note that at present we have no 'B' rookie spots free and both our b rooks would be eligible to be retained as b rookies for the 24 season so early prognosis is theyd be unlikely but obviously plenty to still play out and so much could change

They shouldn't have changed it after Ugle-Hagan went no 1. The happy medium would be 20 40 is ridiculous.

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

They shouldn't have changed it after Ugle-Hagan went no 1. The happy medium would be 20 40 is ridiculous.

Dogs had to pay ‘fairly’ for him. Agree it should have stayed the same, but no, knee jerk overreaction from the AFL

193cm at 70kg 

13 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

They shouldn't have changed it after Ugle-Hagan went no 1. The happy medium would be 20 40 is ridiculous.

100% agree. It basically means there is no point having an academy, because if you put time into them and they develop too well you don't get to take them anyway.

I can see the merit in maybe no access to top 10, but other than that I think it should be fair game.

Also, if every other team has that then the Swans & Lions should as well (different for Giants and Suns as they are still in their infancy).