Having a draft like in AFL

[Joe Mac]

All that said, AFL is doing a lot right and even if they aren't used by rugby, it is with considering some of their ideas. Some of the best things that the Rebs so far have done have been directly stolen from AFL. Watching kids play some sort of junior rugby on aami park at half time was heartwarming for me.

I couldn't agree more. I went to the Swans v Bombers game over the weekend and after the game they opened ANZ stadium so all the kids could run on and kick the footy. There were literally thousands of kids and footies everywhere and you could tell they were all having a ball.

We are a lot we could learn from the AFL and if we dont start learning soon, we could lose even more market share to them...

 

[The Mayor of Perth]

Maybe we should just look across the ditch and adapt their model to what we need.

 

[TOCC]

essentially the new 'pooled rugby academy' will be like a semi-quasi draft system..

 

[Rob42]

I couldn't agree more. I went to the Swans v Bombers game over the weekend and after the game they opened ANZ stadium so all the kids could run on and kick the footy. There were literally thousands of kids and footies everywhere and you could tell they were all having a ball.

We are a lot we could learn from the AFL and if we dont start learning soon, we could lose even more market share to them...

Waratahs have done this on several occasions - even many of the players (including some of the Hurricanes players at that game last year) stay on the field to mingle, which I think it pretty impressive after a full game.

 

[Joe Mac]

TOCC what is this pooled academy that you speak of?

 

[TOCC]

TOCC what is this pooled academy that you speak of?

It's supposed to be a ARU run academy system which pools players rather them having them spread across the teams, if a team were to have a injury they could call on players from the academy system regardless of what team you are from.

 

[barbarian]

TOCC what is this pooled academy that you speak of?

As of next year there will no longer be Academies at the Brumbies and Force. Not sure of the specifics, but there will only be two academies- one Sydney based and one Brisbane based. The players will be allocated to S15 sides by the ARU (not sure if that is correct, just what I recall reading).

 

[Ash]

The NZ system is that each franchise locks up their top 25 (? or so players), and the rest go in a draft from which other teams can grab players relatively freely. If I remember correctly, that's how, for example, Brett was grabbed from the 'Saders, and the Clan picked up a few handy players as well.

 

[Joe Mac]

Sounds good to me Ash

 

[Joe Mac]

It's supposed to be a ARU run academy system which pools players rather them having them spread across the teams, if a team were to have a injury they could call on players from the academy system regardless of what team you are from.

Thanks TOCC and Barbarian. That sounds to me like a cost cutting exercise that actually might limit the amount of young talent we retain in our sport... Do you think it is a good idea?

 

[barbarian]

I think we will have to wait and see. At the moment the academy system is heavily bias in favour of NSW and Queensland, as very few players are keen to relocate to the ACT and Perth for what is essentially an unpaid apprentiship. That means they get first dibs on most of the young talent, and it is up tot he other teams to 'poach' young players. This new system should remove this situation, so all teams have a fair crack at getting in young talent.

It also allows the ARU to centralise the development of players 18-21, which should be a good thing.

 

[Bowside]

I'd eventually like to see a pooled academy in every province. But just have bigger ones in QLD and NSW. If rugby could offer something more to academy players, say a free university degree or set them up with a job, in addition to modest match payments they would earn for playing academy and club games, than i think we could maybe poach a lot of talent away from the AFL in Victoria and WA. Also might mean we wouldn't lose so many players to the toyota cup.

I think with some prudent budgeting it can be done.

 

[Joe Mac]

Or maybe we could use the money from the draft to fund it Bowside? What say ye?

 

[barbarian]

I'd eventually like to see a pooled academy in every province. But just have bigger ones in QLD and NSW. If rugby could offer something more to academy players, say a free university degree or set them up with a job, in addition to modest match payments they would earn for playing academy and club games, than i think we could maybe poach a lot of talent away from the AFL in Victoria and WA. Also might mean we wouldn't lose so many players to the toyota cup.

I think with some prudent budgeting it can be done.

You missed the one thing that needs to happen before all that- the ARU discovers a magical hippo that shits out money.

 

[liquor box]

I thought every signed player with the ARU got free education? I am sure I read that at one stage and was shocked by it. If it was not paid by the ARU I think they would have plenty of "friends" at universities that want to play in their sanctioned comps that might be able to find a spot

 

[Bowside]

I thought every signed player with the ARU got free education? I am sure I read that at one stage and was shocked by it. If it was not paid by the ARU I think they would have plenty of "friends" at universities that want to play in their sanctioned comps that might be able to find a spot

Yeah that's what I was hinting at.

But the magical hippo sounds good aswell.

 

[James Buchanan]

I've seen a lot of people banging on about 'restrictions of trade' recently in this thread and others. I was wondering just how many people who talk about it know just what the law regarding it is.

 

[Joe Mac]

How do we create a G&GR poll on whether reads would like to see a draft?