Sunday, January 29, 2012

Strap in for the long haul

No comments:
If you were at all perturbed by the season-long preoccupation with Tom Scully in 2011, stand by for more of the same — this time on steroids. The end of the 2012 season will see the AFL’s first flirtation with free agency since the famous ten year rule of the early seventies.

Just so readers are properly acquainted, here are the regulations for free agency qualification for 2012.

    1. A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and is now out of contract.
      The player is not eligible for free agency if his club wishes to retain him. He may only move clubs via a trade or the Draft. If he delists himself, he is subject to the Draft, and may be selected by any club.
    2. A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and has been delisted by his club.
      • The player is a Free Agent and is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
      • The player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • The player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club, which chose to delist him, does not receive any compensation pick for the loss of the player.
    3. A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the 10 highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service.
      • The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
      • If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • His club has the right to match the presented offer.
      • If the club matches the offer, he may choose to remain with his original club, seek a trade or enter the Draft.
      • If the club does not or can not match the offer, the player can move to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period.
    4. A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is NOT one of the 10 highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service.
      • The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
      • If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula.
    5. A player has served ten or more seasons of AFL football at one club, has already come out of contract once in the period after serving his first eight or more seasons at his club, and is now out of contract.
      • The player is eligible to field offers from all rival clubs.
      • If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula.

The media excitement has already begun with queries about Brett Deledio’s decision to suspend negotiations for a new contract. Expect speculation about any players who appear to fit into the above criteria, and don’t expect it to cease unless there is an announcement of a signed contract for that player. In a somewhat stunning move, the AFL will actually fuel speculation by releasing a list of eligible players!

It’s worth noting that this free agency system is the AFL and AFLPA having a bet each way.

Unless delisted, only players who’ve provided significant long-term service at the one club are eligible. So, a player who manages a free agency swap uses his only opportunity for such a change outside of a delisting. It’s hardly free agency, is it?

Of course the AFL are at pains to protect clubs from predatory recruiting by rivals, so, for the best of the eligible players, there’s the protection of the current club simply needing to match the offer of the rival — if they can under their salary cap arrangements — to retain the player. The loyalty and commitment to the cause of a player swayed by such an offer has to be suspect.

Experienced mid-level players have a few more options provided they can manage their contract periods appropriately. Outwardly, there doesn’t seem to be too much in this system for the players, but it’s easily argued that those who are most restricted in this system are, arguably, the least likely to be receptive to rival offers.

For the record, AussieRulesBlog is concerned about the direction that this limited free agency takes the game in. We are, for the most part, traditionalists, but there’re certainly cogent arguments in favour of freeing up some aspects of the system.

It could be argued that the ten year rule provided a lifeline for the North Melbourne Football Club that might not otherwise have existed with their first ever VFL Premiership in 1975. Had Fitzroy won a Premiership in the seventies, or early eighties when they played in a Preliminary Final, perhaps the Brisbane Bears would plod on still, but as rivals to the Lions.

Our early-season prediction? Free agency will dominate discussion for the year! Don’t say we didn’t tell you!

Good luck to you and your team for the season. Go Bombers!
Read More

End of the Phoney War

No comments:

Between September 1939 and May 1940 in north-western Europe a state of war existed between Great Britain and France on one hand and Hitler’s Germany on the other. Despite the declaration of war, nothing much happened in those eight months — what was labelled as “The Phoney War”. Of course, all that changed on May 10 when the Germans invaded the Low Countries.

 

The end of the Australian Open tennis tonight marks the start of southern Australia’s eight-month-long obsession with Aussie Rules for 2012.

 

There have been hints in the media as there have been fewer tennis matches to cover. Brendan Fevola, it seems, may line up for Yarrawonga Pigeons in the Ovens and Murray League — but only for home games, because, he says, he’s getting old. This is the same guy who wanted AFL clubs to use a valuable draft pick on him just a few short months ago!

 

It has been a long, long break, but in less than three weeks we’ll have footy back on television — well, those of us with pay TV will anyway. For the FreeView afficianados, it’ll be March 17. And pay TV’s dedicated AFL channel returns in a new guise, along with the pre-season comp.

 

It won’t be long before there are controversies aplenty to drive our interest. Stay tuned to AussieRulesBlog for our particular take on the important issues in Aussie Rules.

Read More

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Peaks and troughs

No comments:

For most of those of us writing about football, the euphoria of being named on an AFL list, even as a rookie, can only be guessed at. To succeed to the extent of playing at the highest level is the stuff of dreams.

 

Two stories in the media this week piqued our interest. One reported Mick Malthouse’s thoughts on Ben Cousins’ rumoured regression, and the other dealt with efforts to avoid such scenarios in the future.

 

Let’s look at the positive story first. As we’ve already noted, getting onto an AFL list and, potentially, playing at that level is something all footy fans dream of and so few achieve. For those who do get onto a list, the hard work is only just starting. But this bright fluffy cloud obscures a dark and stormy centre.

 

The AFL Players’ Association and the AFL are certainly doing their bit to improve the chances of the youngsters coming into the game. For years now, draftees have been forced to endure sessions designed to alert them to the demands that will be made of them by their clubs, their clubs’ supporters and the football industry generally. But now this preparation strategy is being taken to a new level with similar sessions for players in the footy ‘mid-life’ and for those facing retirement — there are, after all, only a limited number of gigs in the footy media and most of them aren’t anything close to full-time.

 

Stories like this are almost de rigeur for this time of year, but welcome nevertheless. No program to educate players will ever be 100% successful and there will be some players who, despite on-field success, run off the rails. And that, of course, brings us to Ben Cousins.

 

If, as is rumoured, Cousins has regressed and has returned to drugs, it is sad for him. Having been addicted to nicotine for twenty odd years, we understand some of the forces involved. It certainly took us a number of attempts and a certain set of circumstances to kick the habit. For eleven years we dreamed about having a cigarette. Eventually we succumbed and we were smoking again at the same pace within a few weeks. It was a further two years before we decided we didn’t like the taste of smoking and kicked it — for good this time. We were fortunate to have a quite normal life with no notoriety, an average wage, a responsible full-time job, a family and children who depended on us. Quite a lot different to Cousins.

 

Anyone who hasn’t been addicted to a substance has no idea. Those who don’t realise they’re addicted have even less idea.

 

We hope that Ben can find a way to get his life together and keep his mind in a good space. It’s not a battle that can be won in a couple of years.

 

Mick Malthouse’s comments on the world of young AFL footballers today not only provide a context for Cousins’ situation, but also show how important the programs the AFLPA and AFL are putting in place are. The tabloid journalists might not agree, but wouldn’t it be nice if we never had another “Fevola”, or another “Cousins”? And wouldn’t it be magnificent for those young men who might otherwise have self-destructed to live fulfilling and creditable lives and have the respect of the community.

 

Best wishes, Ben.

Read More

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Wagers of sin

No comments:
AussieRulesBlog is staggered by a report in The Age of a punter wagering $18,000 on the Sydney Swans missing the final eight in 2012. Let’s not beat around the bush — this issue of gambling on AFL is becoming a more and more significant one.

We’re not wowsers here at AussieRulesBlog Central, but the punt simply isn’t one of our vices. We don’t understand why someone would wager more than 20% of our annual pre-tax salary on an AFL team not making the final eight. Even were we a millionaire, we wouldn’t see this as an entertainment.

With the recent suspensions of Gold Coast’s Nathan Bock for the heinous crime of telling someone he’d be playing — uncharacteristically — forward and the Barcodes’ Captain Nick Maxwell for a similar offence, no-one should mistake the direction the gambling industry would have our wonderful game take.

Cricket shows the temptations available when the gambling industry starts introducing books on exotic incidents and statistics. Pakistani players have paid, perhaps with their careers.

Admittedly, cricket offers far greater opportunity for manipulation to satisfy the format of exotic wagers, but the Maxwell and Bock incidents confirm that AFL is not immune.

Who’s to say that in some future Grand Final a key position forward noted for accuracy in front of goal inexplicably misses the first x shots? Is it nerves? Is it the result of a financial inducement? Is his team disadvantaged by these misses? Many would say that missed shots in the third quarter cost Geelong a Grand Final in 2008.*

According to The Age’s report, wagers on not making the 2012 Final Series have been placed on only one other team with the bookmaker in question at the time of writing. The imbalance of the wagers alone — only two teams out of seventeen, given that GWS is a lock in the bottom eight, and notwithstanding the quantum of the bets — provides a prima facie case for investigation.

In our view, the AFL needs to move as quickly as possible to outlaw, or at the very least heavily restrict, exotic betting on AFL games. If wagers are restricted to win or loss, in a two-horse race, there’s little attraction for nefarious people to get involved and sully the game. Without action, this problem will escalate.

We’re also moved to wonder whether the reporter or The Age were influenced to produce the story — especially since it concludes with rundowns on markets for games won (another exotic bet) and the ubiquitous Brownlow market (before a single practice game has been played), amongst others.

What is it they say about a fool and his money?

* Note: We have absolutely no evidence of any impropriety by any Geelong player. We use this example merely to support our contention that such incidents could be used by bookmakers.
Read More

Strap in for the long haul

If you were at all perturbed by the season-long preoccupation with Tom Scully in 2011, stand by for more of the same — this time on steroids. The end of the 2012 season will see the AFL’s first flirtation with free agency since the famous ten year rule of the early seventies.

Just so readers are properly acquainted, here are the regulations for free agency qualification for 2012.

    1. A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and is now out of contract.
      The player is not eligible for free agency if his club wishes to retain him. He may only move clubs via a trade or the Draft. If he delists himself, he is subject to the Draft, and may be selected by any club.
    2. A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and has been delisted by his club.
      • The player is a Free Agent and is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
      • The player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • The player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club, which chose to delist him, does not receive any compensation pick for the loss of the player.
    3. A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the 10 highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service.
      • The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
      • If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • His club has the right to match the presented offer.
      • If the club matches the offer, he may choose to remain with his original club, seek a trade or enter the Draft.
      • If the club does not or can not match the offer, the player can move to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period.
    4. A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is NOT one of the 10 highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service.
      • The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
      • If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula.
    5. A player has served ten or more seasons of AFL football at one club, has already come out of contract once in the period after serving his first eight or more seasons at his club, and is now out of contract.
      • The player is eligible to field offers from all rival clubs.
      • If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
      • His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
      • His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula.

The media excitement has already begun with queries about Brett Deledio’s decision to suspend negotiations for a new contract. Expect speculation about any players who appear to fit into the above criteria, and don’t expect it to cease unless there is an announcement of a signed contract for that player. In a somewhat stunning move, the AFL will actually fuel speculation by releasing a list of eligible players!

It’s worth noting that this free agency system is the AFL and AFLPA having a bet each way.

Unless delisted, only players who’ve provided significant long-term service at the one club are eligible. So, a player who manages a free agency swap uses his only opportunity for such a change outside of a delisting. It’s hardly free agency, is it?

Of course the AFL are at pains to protect clubs from predatory recruiting by rivals, so, for the best of the eligible players, there’s the protection of the current club simply needing to match the offer of the rival — if they can under their salary cap arrangements — to retain the player. The loyalty and commitment to the cause of a player swayed by such an offer has to be suspect.

Experienced mid-level players have a few more options provided they can manage their contract periods appropriately. Outwardly, there doesn’t seem to be too much in this system for the players, but it’s easily argued that those who are most restricted in this system are, arguably, the least likely to be receptive to rival offers.

For the record, AussieRulesBlog is concerned about the direction that this limited free agency takes the game in. We are, for the most part, traditionalists, but there’re certainly cogent arguments in favour of freeing up some aspects of the system.

It could be argued that the ten year rule provided a lifeline for the North Melbourne Football Club that might not otherwise have existed with their first ever VFL Premiership in 1975. Had Fitzroy won a Premiership in the seventies, or early eighties when they played in a Preliminary Final, perhaps the Brisbane Bears would plod on still, but as rivals to the Lions.

Our early-season prediction? Free agency will dominate discussion for the year! Don’t say we didn’t tell you!

Good luck to you and your team for the season. Go Bombers!

End of the Phoney War

Between September 1939 and May 1940 in north-western Europe a state of war existed between Great Britain and France on one hand and Hitler’s Germany on the other. Despite the declaration of war, nothing much happened in those eight months — what was labelled as “The Phoney War”. Of course, all that changed on May 10 when the Germans invaded the Low Countries.

 

The end of the Australian Open tennis tonight marks the start of southern Australia’s eight-month-long obsession with Aussie Rules for 2012.

 

There have been hints in the media as there have been fewer tennis matches to cover. Brendan Fevola, it seems, may line up for Yarrawonga Pigeons in the Ovens and Murray League — but only for home games, because, he says, he’s getting old. This is the same guy who wanted AFL clubs to use a valuable draft pick on him just a few short months ago!

 

It has been a long, long break, but in less than three weeks we’ll have footy back on television — well, those of us with pay TV will anyway. For the FreeView afficianados, it’ll be March 17. And pay TV’s dedicated AFL channel returns in a new guise, along with the pre-season comp.

 

It won’t be long before there are controversies aplenty to drive our interest. Stay tuned to AussieRulesBlog for our particular take on the important issues in Aussie Rules.

Peaks and troughs

For most of those of us writing about football, the euphoria of being named on an AFL list, even as a rookie, can only be guessed at. To succeed to the extent of playing at the highest level is the stuff of dreams.

 

Two stories in the media this week piqued our interest. One reported Mick Malthouse’s thoughts on Ben Cousins’ rumoured regression, and the other dealt with efforts to avoid such scenarios in the future.

 

Let’s look at the positive story first. As we’ve already noted, getting onto an AFL list and, potentially, playing at that level is something all footy fans dream of and so few achieve. For those who do get onto a list, the hard work is only just starting. But this bright fluffy cloud obscures a dark and stormy centre.

 

The AFL Players’ Association and the AFL are certainly doing their bit to improve the chances of the youngsters coming into the game. For years now, draftees have been forced to endure sessions designed to alert them to the demands that will be made of them by their clubs, their clubs’ supporters and the football industry generally. But now this preparation strategy is being taken to a new level with similar sessions for players in the footy ‘mid-life’ and for those facing retirement — there are, after all, only a limited number of gigs in the footy media and most of them aren’t anything close to full-time.

 

Stories like this are almost de rigeur for this time of year, but welcome nevertheless. No program to educate players will ever be 100% successful and there will be some players who, despite on-field success, run off the rails. And that, of course, brings us to Ben Cousins.

 

If, as is rumoured, Cousins has regressed and has returned to drugs, it is sad for him. Having been addicted to nicotine for twenty odd years, we understand some of the forces involved. It certainly took us a number of attempts and a certain set of circumstances to kick the habit. For eleven years we dreamed about having a cigarette. Eventually we succumbed and we were smoking again at the same pace within a few weeks. It was a further two years before we decided we didn’t like the taste of smoking and kicked it — for good this time. We were fortunate to have a quite normal life with no notoriety, an average wage, a responsible full-time job, a family and children who depended on us. Quite a lot different to Cousins.

 

Anyone who hasn’t been addicted to a substance has no idea. Those who don’t realise they’re addicted have even less idea.

 

We hope that Ben can find a way to get his life together and keep his mind in a good space. It’s not a battle that can be won in a couple of years.

 

Mick Malthouse’s comments on the world of young AFL footballers today not only provide a context for Cousins’ situation, but also show how important the programs the AFLPA and AFL are putting in place are. The tabloid journalists might not agree, but wouldn’t it be nice if we never had another “Fevola”, or another “Cousins”? And wouldn’t it be magnificent for those young men who might otherwise have self-destructed to live fulfilling and creditable lives and have the respect of the community.

 

Best wishes, Ben.

Wagers of sin

AussieRulesBlog is staggered by a report in The Age of a punter wagering $18,000 on the Sydney Swans missing the final eight in 2012. Let’s not beat around the bush — this issue of gambling on AFL is becoming a more and more significant one.

We’re not wowsers here at AussieRulesBlog Central, but the punt simply isn’t one of our vices. We don’t understand why someone would wager more than 20% of our annual pre-tax salary on an AFL team not making the final eight. Even were we a millionaire, we wouldn’t see this as an entertainment.

With the recent suspensions of Gold Coast’s Nathan Bock for the heinous crime of telling someone he’d be playing — uncharacteristically — forward and the Barcodes’ Captain Nick Maxwell for a similar offence, no-one should mistake the direction the gambling industry would have our wonderful game take.

Cricket shows the temptations available when the gambling industry starts introducing books on exotic incidents and statistics. Pakistani players have paid, perhaps with their careers.

Admittedly, cricket offers far greater opportunity for manipulation to satisfy the format of exotic wagers, but the Maxwell and Bock incidents confirm that AFL is not immune.

Who’s to say that in some future Grand Final a key position forward noted for accuracy in front of goal inexplicably misses the first x shots? Is it nerves? Is it the result of a financial inducement? Is his team disadvantaged by these misses? Many would say that missed shots in the third quarter cost Geelong a Grand Final in 2008.*

According to The Age’s report, wagers on not making the 2012 Final Series have been placed on only one other team with the bookmaker in question at the time of writing. The imbalance of the wagers alone — only two teams out of seventeen, given that GWS is a lock in the bottom eight, and notwithstanding the quantum of the bets — provides a prima facie case for investigation.

In our view, the AFL needs to move as quickly as possible to outlaw, or at the very least heavily restrict, exotic betting on AFL games. If wagers are restricted to win or loss, in a two-horse race, there’s little attraction for nefarious people to get involved and sully the game. Without action, this problem will escalate.

We’re also moved to wonder whether the reporter or The Age were influenced to produce the story — especially since it concludes with rundowns on markets for games won (another exotic bet) and the ubiquitous Brownlow market (before a single practice game has been played), amongst others.

What is it they say about a fool and his money?

* Note: We have absolutely no evidence of any impropriety by any Geelong player. We use this example merely to support our contention that such incidents could be used by bookmakers.