http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/a ... 6450436364
AFL to overhaul its draft system in wake of tanking controversies
THE AFL will use a confidential formula devised by an economics professor to decide whether clubs deserve a priority draft pick.
In the wake of several "tanking" controversies that have plagued the AFL in recent seasons,
the league will decide every September whether a club has qualified for extra draft assistance.
University of Melbourne professor Jeff Borland has developed a formula to objectively measure clubs' performance.
Injury rates and consistency of team performance throughout the season will be taken into account, as well as win-loss records, previous finals appearances and percentages in recent seasons.
"Special assistance is now ultimately a matter for the commission's discretion and will be awarded only in exceptional circumstances," AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said.
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"The decision of the commission to award special assistance will be based on a club's on-field performance in recent years and any other matter the commission regards as relevant.
"A confidential formula will be used to help assess recent on-field performance, but this will be only one relevant consideration."
The AFL Commission has the power to allocate priority picks in exceptional circumstances.
Previously, clubs with consecutive years of winning four games or fewer earned the right to have a priority selection before the start of the first round of that year's national draft.
As well, clubs that finished a home-and-away season with 16 points or fewer would automatically qualify for a priority concession selection after the first round of the draft in the same year as their poor-performing season.
Under the new rule, Anderson's department will make a recommendation to the commission.. It is unlikely next month that either lowly Gold Coast or Greater Western Sydney will be looked upon favourably by the commission following the generous draft concessions made to help them build from scratch.
The league revised its thinking in February by immediately abandoning the eligibility criteria for priority draft picks, which were considered controversial because of the perception clubs were prepared to "tank" to be better placed in the draft.
Anderson said feedback from clubs was unanimous that special assistance should not automatically operate after one poor season and that much stricter conditions should apply around any draft selection provided before round one of the national draft.
The commission has advised all clubs it would now be very difficult for a team to receive a priority pick after one bad year.
The last club to earn a priority pick before the start of the national draft was Melbourne in 2009 when it selected Tom Scully, now with GWS.
Carlton was the previous club to have benefited from the priority pick rule before the start of the draft by recruiting Matthew Kreuzer with the prized No 1 selection in 2007.
The Blues went winless in their final 11 games, including six for caretaker coach Brett Ratten, in order to secure Kreuzer.
Since 1997 when the recently abolished rule was established, it was utilised 26 times in 14 seasons and been activated in all years, bar one.
Under the previous rule, Gold Coast would have automatically qualified for a priority pick this year before the draft in November as it won three games last year and will not accumulate more than 16 points this season.
Meanwhile, the league has changed the rookie rules to enhance the development of local players. Clubs may now list one Irish player under the new rule that allows for three extra rookies for development players.
Irish, unlike other international players, previously took a spot on the main rookie list and this change is in recognition of the risk clubs were taking in recruiting and retaining Irish players, relative to local talent.
Clubs may now select a father-son player with a rookie pre-selection, if that player nominated for the drafts and was not selected by another club.
"All clubs were consulted concerning the current operation of the rookie list, and the rule changes approved by the commission resulted from this feedback," Anderson said.
Blind freddy can you see it yet????
Not only is there tanking but now AFL HQ decide on draft picks......
Eddie Mcguire just jumped out of his seat with Joy..
After all the AFL and Demetruio are Eddies bitches.. :D
Wow Demetruio really has a spell on you blind freddy's doesn't he...
Because you've lost the argument and you cant handle it, or the truth.