Free Agency - Luke Ball thanks for stuffing the comp

[farquhar]

Free agency will seriously damage AFL. The players wanted it because they have a lot of spare time (as "elite athletes") sitting around watching US sport and soccer. They see all the big contracts and think wouldn't it be great if I could just go to the best team on huge money. They then work through their players asscociation to get this into their collective bargaining agreement with the AFL, because they have rights like "natural justice", no restraints of trade and the ability to choose their employer like everyone else. This ignores the fact they willingly forgoed that right for the sake of an even competition through the draft and salary cap so they would all have an equal chance of premiership success regardless of which team chose you. They sign a contract and have existing mechanisms to be traded to another club even though it may be tricky to arrange.

Luke Ball is the head of the AFLPA and is a champion and sponsor of free agency. I hear he is set for a big career in football administration. He speaks nicely. Has Eddie's imprimatur (Eddie would also like a succession plan to replace Gary Pert at some stage), and the credibility of being a "premiership player".

Luke Ball was a former AFL captain as well (adds to his resume). He also managed to execute a free trade before free agency. He is (similar to Judd) in this era the first of the free agents. Chose a club and left. Whereas Judd's trade sent a very good player (Kennedy) to the Weagles, Luke Ball (former captain) ensured he went to another team and got NOTHING for his original club. What a shameful exercise that was.

Since then he has helped develop the free agency model and employ Prendergast as the AFLPA mouthpiece who has spoken garbage this week justifying free agency. The mechanism by which good players get a shot at playing for a big club and instantly winning a flag, case in point Luke Ball (left his club without compensation) and Brian Lake (the poster boy for every free agency wannabe). Lesser clubs can attract talent through free agency but they have to pay way over the going rate to attract a player (eg. Dawes to Melbourne) as opposed to top clubs which can pay even less than the player's former club (Brian Lake).

If Luke Ball is set for a career in AFL administration (club, AFL) then watch out. We will see more of this rubbish permanently ruining and hampering the competition. It will be back to the 80s when a wealthy team could vacuum up talent for a premiership tilt, think of Carlton recruiting Kernahan, Bradley, Motley, Dorotich and Naley for the 87 flag.

[paddy]

If they really want to demonstrate that FA isnt so that star players can chase a flag, and cash at rich clubs, they should consider making FA moves unable to exceed a certain percentage of the cap.... or say 500k...

perhaps they should dictate this within a club anyway to ensure that all players get more money...

no players pay can exceed a certain percentage of the cap... it would certainly mean the less talented players would get more coin...

[fingers]

Really not sure what FA has to do with Luke Ball. If you think that some token head of the AFLPA is making decisions on FA all on his lonesome ......

GIven that...I dont like that current FA model.

And there is another thread on FA

[plugger66]

Don't get how Luke Ball was involved in FA. maybe look at our CEO if you are really pissed off.

[farquhar]

Plugs, It is always cathartic to get this off your chest. Helps with my sleeping (unlike Essendon CEO I don't need Melatonan). FA has been pushed heavily by the AFLPA, they wanted it and are now trying to justify it.

[plugger66]

Plugs, It is always cathartic to get this off your chest. Helps with my sleeping (unlike Essendon CEO I don't need Melatonan). FA has been pushed heavily by the AFLPA, they wanted it and are now trying to justify it.

Of course they wanted it. The AFL wouldn't have wanted it. My point is our CEO was the CEO of the AFLPA and he would have had a lot more to do with it coming in than Ball. The other option was to say no to the AFLPA and head into court for restraint of trade which from my reading would have been upheld then we really would see some movement and maybe not even have a draft because that maybe restraint of trade because players have no options on where to go.

[SydneySainter]

Plugs, It is always cathartic to get this off your chest. Helps with my sleeping (unlike Essendon CEO I don't need Melatonan). FA has been pushed heavily by the AFLPA, they wanted it and are now trying to justify it.

Of course they wanted it. The AFL wouldn't have wanted it. My point is our CEO was the CEO of the AFLPA and he would have had a lot more to do with it coming in than Ball. The other option was to say no to the AFLPA and head into court for restraint of trade which from my reading would have been upheld then we really would see some movement and maybe not even have a draft because that maybe restraint of trade because players have no options on where to go.

Agreed.

[Stephen Theodore]

Plugs, It is always cathartic to get this off your chest. Helps with my sleeping (unlike Essendon CEO I don't need Melatonan). FA has been pushed heavily by the AFLPA, they wanted it and are now trying to justify it.

Of course they wanted it. The AFL wouldn't have wanted it. My point is our CEO was the CEO of the AFLPA and he would have had a lot more to do with it coming in than Ball. The other option was to say no to the AFLPA and head into court for restraint of trade which from my reading would have been upheld then we really would see some movement and maybe not even have a draft because that maybe restraint of trade because players have no options on where to go.

Agreed.

+1

[stinger]

If they really want to demonstrate that FA isnt so that star players can chase a flag, and cash at rich clubs, they should consider making FA moves unable to exceed a certain percentage of the cap.... or say 500k...

perhaps they should dictate this within a club anyway to ensure that all players get more money...

no players pay can exceed a certain percentage of the cap... it would certainly mean the less talented players would get more coin...

i think a better idea is that the club gaining a player should have to give the losing club an amount of money equal to the first year of the contract..... which could be included in their salary cap....say $500,000 spread over 5 years...after all the losing club invested a substantial sum in the player they are losing

[plugger66]

If they really want to demonstrate that FA isnt so that star players can chase a flag, and cash at rich clubs, they should consider making FA moves unable to exceed a certain percentage of the cap.... or say 500k...

perhaps they should dictate this within a club anyway to ensure that all players get more money...

no players pay can exceed a certain percentage of the cap... it would certainly mean the less talented players would get more coin...

i think a better idea is that the club gaining a player should have to give the losing club an amount of money equal to the first year of the contract..... which could be included in their salary cap....say $500,000 spread over 5 years...after all the losing club invested a substantial sum in the player they are losing

You people do understand the word Free surely?

[3rd generation saint]

I wouldn't actually catagorise Nth Melbourne as a rich club, but they are about to secure their third free agent in Higgins. It is a case of being in a position of success at the right time and for clubs like us to secure our young potential talent, which we are doing.
In a few seasons time if we are in a position to challenge again, there will be free agents wanting to come our way. In fact I'd say the really smart players who want a premiership, should be looking at Port Adelaide, who were a basket case just two seasons ago.
If you look at the NFL, teams like The Saints, The Buccaneers, The Seahawks and even the Patriots, weren't too long ago very poor teams, but all these teams have gone from being bad teams to winning the Superbowl.
Let's face it, the two players we have lost to free agency, were never going to be part of our next premiership challenge, and despite Geelong's prolonged success, I can still see in the not to distant future that they will fall, as will Hawthorn.
Of course, some teams may simply self destruct, like Essendon, who will be next seasons basket case if Hird stays, as I can see him being sacked halfway through the season if he keeps his job that long.

[The Fireman]

I'd like to free my willy

[loris]

It seems Nisbett(?) West Coast Eagles, CEO (??) put forward an idea at a recent meeting of head honchos of the AFL clubs, that, the top 4 clubs in each season be ineligible for participating in free agency. He ascertained the way FA was heading, the big, successful clubs would be the ones to benefit mostly. Seems he was voted down by all clubs with his idea.

[ace]

Luke Ball was the ultimate free agent.
His abuse of the draft by refusing interviews with any other club than Collingwood established that free agency was possible with the club losing a player getting no compensation.
That forced the AFL to put in place a system that allowed free agency but where a club is guaranteed some compensation.

[ace]

Plugs, It is always cathartic to get this off your chest. Helps with my sleeping (unlike Essendon CEO I don't need Melatonan). FA has been pushed heavily by the AFLPA, they wanted it and are now trying to justify it.

Of course they wanted it. The AFL wouldn't have wanted it. My point is our CEO was the CEO of the AFLPA and he would have had a lot more to do with it coming in than Ball. The other option was to say no to the AFLPA and head into court for restraint of trade which from my reading would have been upheld then we really would see some movement and maybe not even have a draft because that maybe restraint of trade because players have no options on where to go.

It is all about structures.
If players can be employed by a multiple of clubs then they can claim restraint of trade.
If however the AFL were to employ all players in their competition they would be competing with the VFL and VFL clubs for players.
The AFL could second players - assign players to clubs.
No restraint of trade involved.

[Austinnn]

I believe players should be able to have a say in where they spend their careers like the rest of us do. The unusual nature of their salary etc shouldn't be a trade off for being shackled to whichever club calls their name until they retire or are traded.

I totally support the AFLPA here and even if the FA has a few flaws, it was inevitable at some stage, and will get smoothed out over time.

Plugger is dead right here, it's up to the club to build something that players won't want to leave except for the money grabbers and glory hunters.

Whining about players being able to choose their own destiny only proves you have little respect for them as humans.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

oh my ...... what a sad sad story you make up ...
Luke Ball is really the leader of ISIS as well ...

[Enrico_Misso]

Can someone explain how Frawley is worth pick 3?
23 I would believe, but pick THREE!!!

Or does it include a compensation package for Melbourne being foolish enough to pick up "The Prince" from Collingwood.
If you haven't seen the You tube of his farewell speech at the Collingwood B&F it is an absolute classic.

Three minutes of indecipherable clichés and clap-trap.
Perhaps a Melbourne supporter could translate what it means - they obviously see something in him that absolutely NO-ONE else does (Milne was right).

[Statsman]

It's not about Frawley being worth pick #3. In the free agency model the lower teams are over compensated for losing players because they are behind the 8-ball to begin with while the upper teams get under compensated because they are already up and about and don't need the extra help. Given that premise I don't see the problem with Melbourne being gifted #3 for Frawley and Hawthorn only getting a late first rounder for Buddy.

[Enrico_Misso]

Frawley finished 7th in the Melbourne B&F between Tom McDonald and Neville Jetta.

Hawthorn got pick 19 for Franklin.
Bulldogs got pick 26 for Higgins
Carlton got nothing for Waite
We got pick13 for Goddard
We got pick 25 for NDS

But Melbourne gets pick 3 for FRAWLEY !!!!!
How does that work???????????

Please explain?

[plugger66]

Frawley finished 7th in the Melbourne B&F between Tom McDonald and Neville Jetta.

Hawthorn got pick 19 for Franklin.
Bulldogs got pick 26 for Higgins
Carlton got nothing for Waite
We got pick13 for Goddard
We got pick 25 for NDS

But Melbourne gets pick 3 for FRAWLEY !!!!!
How does that work???????????

Please explain?

It is based on age and he is as close to the youngest you can be to be a FA. It is based on length of contract and 4 years is way over average contract and lastly its based on the amount he will earn and the rumour is 600K. That easily makes him a first band pick. Franklin was also a first band as was BJ. We unfortunately finished to high. I don't see how its that hard except we can only go on rumours with the salary. You can pretty much guess if you believe the rumoured salary.

[Statsman]

Franklin, Frawley and Goddard were all compensated with round one picks commensurate with where their team was on the ladder. Higgins and Dal Santo are nearly cooked so only rated worth a second round pick. I would have thought Waite warranted a second round pick too, so Carlton are a bit stiff (but screw 'em). While Frawley isn't in the same class as Buddy or BJ, he's only 26 and has 5-6 years of footy left in him so Melbourne lose that future value. They are also a basket case so the AFL probably threw them a bit of a bone to make up for not giving them a priority pick.

[Statsman]

It's a pity we didn't cash out BJ a year later once we were closer to bottoming out and we'd have got a much higher pick for him.

[plugger66]

It's a pity we didn't cash out BJ a year later once we were closer to bottoming out and we'd have got a much higher pick for him.

I actually mentioned that a while ago. We can do it next year with Jack if he was interested in leaving. Personally I wouldn't but its an option.