Search the Community

I know it's behind the paywall, but for those who can view it (or know how to get around the paywall), the link is here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/star-recruit-jordan-lewis-is-spreading-hawthorn-gospel-at-his-new-club-melbourne/news-story/5331da6c68b450060d13cb5f7b6e76fc Basically, it just outlines that Lewis has been talking extensively to the players about the 'take less money' model that Clarkson used at Hawthorn to assist in player retention, which in turn will help us break our premiership drought. Great to see Lewis doing this and if we keep growing as a group then hopefully that makes it even easier for players to sign on for the right coin. With teams throwing money around, and with a few gun players (Petracca, Gawn, Hunt etc.) out of contract next year, this may help us in retaining players without going overboard about it. The article does say that we aren't currently under an salary cap constraints and with it going up soon we shouldn't have any problems retaining our players. What it may help with is being able to add further players to the list as well to complement what we already have.

2016 DAWES TRENGOVE NEWTON T McDONALD O McDONALD GARLETT PEDERSEN KENT M JONES TERLICH Restricted WATTS GRIMES Unrestricted JETTA Rookies Max KING WAGNER SMITH WHITE MICHIE 2017 DUNN HOGAN SALEM LUMUMBA KENNEDY-HARRIS KENNEDY* FROST SPENCER Mitch KING VANDENBERG WEIDEMAN HULETT TYSON STRETCH NEAL-BULLEN 2018 VINCE PETRACCA GAWN GARLAND BRAYSHAW HUNT HARMES BUGG 2019 N JONES MELKSHAM OLIVER 2020 VINEY

2019 Jones 27, Melksham 24 2018 Brayshaw 19, Petracca 19, Gawn 23, Garland 26 (UFA), 2017 Dunn 27, Hogan 20, Viney 20, Lumumba 28, Kennedy-Harris20, Salem 19, Vandenberg 23, Neal-Bullen 19, Stretch 18, Kennedy* 21, Bugg* 23, Oliver18, Weideman18, King18, Hulett18 2016 Trengove 22, Dawes 26, Grimes 25 (RFA), Watts 24 (RFA), Vince 29, Tyson* 21, Kent 21, M Jones 27, Spencer 25 (UFA), T McDonald22, Terlich 25, Jetta 25, Garlett 25, Frost 21, Newton 22, O McDonald 19, Pedersen 28, King ®19, White ®18, Smith ®20, Hunt 19, Harmes 19, Michie 23, OUT (8): Cross (Ret.), Jamar (Del.), McKenzie (Del.), Riley (Del.), Bail (Del.), Fitzpatrick (Del.), Howe (T), Toumpas (T) INS (8) : Melksham, Kennedy, Bugg, Smith ®, Vandenberg (Upgraded), Harmes (Upgraded), Oliver, Weideman, King, Hulett * = Require confirmation... Those underlined are player I think are the top 11 paid players; RFA is determined by players being among these 11 (obviously this will be wrong but hopefully indicative). Ages are from the 1st April 2015 - an arbitrary date fit for a fool...

2017 Dunn, Hogan,Viney, Lumumba 2016 Dawes, Grimes (RFA), Watts (RFA), Michie*, Vince, Tyson*, Kent, M Jones, Spencer, T McDonald, Terlich*, Jetta, Garlett, Stretch, Frost, Newton, Petracca, Brayshaw, Neal-Bullen, O McDonald 2015 Trengove, Jamar (UFA), Garland (RFA), McKenzie, Howe, N Jones (RFA), Gawn, Fitzpatrick, Toumpas, Pedersen, Salem, Kennedy-Harris, Hunt, Cross, Bail, Riley, Harmes ®, King ® * = Require confirmation... List Spots Available: 0 PL, 2 RL Deletions (10 PL, 1 RL): Clark, Frawley, Byrnes, Nicholson, Clisby, Strauss, Blease, Tapscott, Georgiou ®, Barry, Evans Additions (Bolded have places on PL): Jetta (Upgrade), Stretch, Garlett, Lumumba, Frost, Newton, Petracca, Brayshaw, Neal-Bullen, O McDonald, PSD2, RD2, RD20 Actions: Byrnes retired. Jetta upgraded and signed till 2016. Bail, and Riley given (assumed) 1 year deals Terlich given two years (speculation) Nicholson and Clisby delisted. Frawley FA to Hawthorn for ND3. Stretch acquired in F/S for ND42 Garlett acquired for ND61 and a swap of 5th round picks. Clark swapped for Lumumba. Frost, ND40, and ND53 acquired for ND23. Strauss and Blease delisted. Harmes, King retained on RL. Georgiou delisted form RL. Tapscott delisted. Ben Newton acquired through DFA. Barry retires from AFL. Evans delisted and paid out for 2015. Petracca, Brayshaw, Neal-Bullen, and O McDonald added at the ND.

The above is utterly ridiculous to the fabric of contract based employment in an equalised sport. The NRL allows this but announces it publically, so the AFLPA's solution is just as stupid but without the ethical detergent of telling the truth... Some of you would say "this happens anyway, rp, the deals are done way in advance!" and while you are correct that the 'deals' may be done - the contract is not. To have a player sign a contract months before his previous one is to expire leads us down the road of European football where a player is allowed to sign with anyone up to 6 months before their contract is up. The AFLPA say it is because of 'security' but why should they have the security of TWO current contracts. Fulfil your contract and sign another in the month it expires. Also, clubs should not have the added liability of having these deals set in concrete 8 months before the player is theirs - why should the risk go entirely to the club in this instance? The AFL has to step in to protect the security of the game. No contracts ratified until October 1. No players re-signed by clubs during the season. Players have the security of their contract. They don't need the security of their next one while they are yet to fulfil their last one.

Oh, boy, this is going to be a monster - I have put together a list of things that I would install as AFL chief that would make the game a more even, balanced, and enjoyable spectacle and I haven't changed one on field rule - who knew you could make change off field that affects the onfield... Instead of making it all TL:DR (Too Long; Didn't Read for Old Dee) I have cut them up into some sub headings so it will be easier for people to quote and massage and ridicule and explore what they wish: