No compensation for SANFL clubs for loss of players to AFL’s mid-season draft
The return of the mid-season draft angered the SANFL and its clubs, now there is frustration at the lack of compensation for losing players.
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The SANFL clubs raided by the AFL in the mid-season draft are frustrated at being short-changed by the lack of compensation for losing key players.
West Adelaide, Glenelg and South Adelaide will receive partial reimbursement of pre-committed player expenses for the players, but no other compensation as they face the rest of the season without significant components to their plans.
The Bloods were hardest hit, losing Will Snelling and John Noble, while the Tigers had Lachlan Hosie plucked from their club and ruckman Michael Knoll was taken from the Panthers.
Panthers chief executive Neill Sharpe claimed the three clubs have been hard done by given the lack of compensation.
“All the clubs have been short-changed in this,” he said. “Certainly West Adelaide has been dealt a serious blow.
“Glenelg loses the leading goalkicker and we lose the Fos Williams Medallist (best on ground in the SANFL’s win over the WAFL). It is a fair chunk for the three clubs and we are not going to find replacements.”
The Panthers received a small reimbursement for expenses when they lost key forward Hayden McLean in the pre-season supplementary draft in March.
“It is deflating given the work that goes into these players and we lose them for next to nothing,” Sharpe said. “But the reality is we have to get on with it, we have just got to find a way.”
Bloods football manager Andrew Marks said his club was always trying to provide the best career opportunities for the players.
“We are extremely proud when we have players drafted, but we would like to be rewarded for helping give these players those opportunities,” he said.
SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson released a statement shortly after it was announced
five players, including Port Adelaide’s drafting of its state league captain Cam Sutcliffe, from the league had been picked up in the controversial draft.
While he congratulated the players, he said the league stood firm in its opposition to a mid-season draft.
“The AFL’s decision, made contrary to feedback provided by the SANFL and other state leagues, to enable its clubs to add players from state league team lists midway through the season will have a significantly detrimental impact on SANFL clubs who work hard to develop their players and teams lists and position themselves for success,” he said.
“It will not be possible for the West Adelaide, South Adelaide and Glenelg football clubs to find replacements for their players taken in the mid-season draft at this stage of the season and there is no compensation for player loss.
“We are proud of SANFL clubs’ successful development of our strong pool of talent in SA, and the players who represent the competition with distinction. As such, SANFL’s disapproval of the mid-season draft should not be represented in anyway as opposition to the pathway of players to the highest level of Australian football.
“This mid-season disruption comes at the expense of our SANFL clubs, their coaches, players, volunteers, members, sponsors and supporters.
“We have a strong and vibrant state league competition, the fabric of which should be cherished and protected. Decisions made that erode the vibrancy of the competition are not in the interest of Australian football.”