Equalisation is a massive issue.

Solution:

• Make the salary cap smaller for the top clubs from the previous year. i.e. Give $100k extra in the cap for every ladder spot.

• Make the draft order giving 2 picks to the non finalists before the finalists get any picks.

• Allow free agency after the first contract but give a loyalty discount in the salary cap for players who stay with their initial club.

30 minutes ago, No. 31 said:

All valid observations but if it continues there will indeed be a drop-off, incremental and over a long time span.

If the AFL was serious about equalisation wouldn't they increase the salary & soft cap for clubs that finish lower on the ladder? 🤔

Salary and soft cap changes for the bottom sides is so logical to me that I use it to highlight to people how uninterested in equalisation the AFL is.

As for the drop off, I’ve often wondered if the AFL has run the numbers on big club hereditary supporter retention vs disgruntled fans and figured that future generations will outgrow the angry folks abandoning the sport.

I don't think father-son needs to go, but anything like academy, FS or NGA picks really needs some change, at the very minimum the points value for each draft pick needs to change immensely, and teams should be required to use a first round pick to bid on a first rounder

West Coast have also had 4 or 5? forced concussion retirements. Obviously with no replacements and i dont even think salary cap relief?
im all for equalising the draft but forced concussion should probably get a compo pick along the lines of free agency picks

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

They’ve done very well, but the ability to add Impey, Scrimshaw and Karl Amon (who signed with them when they were rubbish over us when we’d won a flag) reset their backline. Along with Sicily it gave them a platform to take off once the rest of the side hit competence. Then 1 good year and Barrass and Battle lob in.

Midfield they really built up from a lot of home grown players. Newcombe is an incredible find but they also got the benefit of covid keeping him hidden and the benefit of Box Hill’s decades of attracting quality. North VFL unearthed a good player in Cooper Lord who is at Carlton, they finally hid one away with Cooper Trembath.

Forwards they’ve found some gems. Still, I’m not sure even Ginnivan and Chol level players sign at North, that’s how limited North’s ability to land talent has been until recently. I guess North tried a Ginnivan with Jaidyn Stephenson.

They managed to keep making additions to some level even when they were in a position that looked kind of no where when Mitchell took over.

Josh Battle also made some interesting comments when admitting he took less at Hawthorn than the Saints offer, something along the lines of the Hawks having access to investment portfolios to grow wealth. Extra earnings in business, marketing, property (cough Geelong cough) is what I’m suspicious about.

Impey for mine is a real good get. Hard workder, quick and good ball user. i rate him more than i rate karl amon. he is the real gem at HFC. I also like Hardwick - a real old school tough nut. We have no one in our backline that compares to those two. Infact our entire backline bar Turner just appears slow, hesitant and unskillful.

13 minutes ago, biggestred said:

West Coast have also had 4 or 5? forced concussion retirements. Obviously with no replacements and i dont even think salary cap relief?
im all for equalising the draft but forced concussion should probably get a compo pick along the lines of free agency picks

We are still being handicapped because Angus Brayshaw is still in our books.

That should not be happening.