Port Adelaide and Crows keen on having insurance policy with AFL mid-season draft
PORT Adelaide and Adelaide are not sure they will always dip into the AFL mid-season draft, but the SA-based clubs approve of having the option in case there is an injury crisis.
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SOUTH Australia’s AFL clubs are eager for greater clarity on the rules for the reintroduction of the AFL mid-season draft next year.
And as the AFL writes the fine print for the first mid-season draft since 1993 - and the SANFL prepares its response - the Crows and Power are welcoming the insurance policy against serious injury to key players delivered by the new recruiting option.
PORT ADELAIDE is welcoming the “flexibility” offered for AFL list management by a mid-season draft. But Power football boss Chris Davies adds the Port Adelaide Football Club as a foundation member of the SANFL also understands the responsibility and care that must be shown towards the State leagues.
“Having flexibility to adjust your AFL list to cover unexpected needs is a good thing,” Davies told The Advertiser.
“But we also understand the ramifications that come to the SANFL - and other State leagues - with an AFL mid-season draft. Our part in the SANFL makes Port Adelaide well understand the State league issues.”
ADELAIDE wants firm detail from AFL House.
“We are seeking some more clarity from the AFL regarding the rules before we comment publicly,” said Crows list manager Justin Reid.
“Until we get that clarity and have a chat internally about where it all sits I don’t really want to say anything.
“We need to know exactly what we are dealing with first. Our focus right now is on the trade period and we’ll look at the mid-season draft issue when the trade period is finished.’’
Davies noted Port Adelaide could have had four mid-season draft picks this year to cover long-term injuries to Hamish Hartlett, Sam Hayes, Willem Drew and Joel Garner.
“But would we have been able to find four replacements in the state league? Probably not,” Davies said.
“The consequences of mid-season drafting are very much in the detail. We would potentially have to spend up to $50,000 to draft and resettle a mid-season rookie. We would not spend that money for a player to just make up the numbers on our list.
“Our strategy would be to assess our needs and whether the ability of a state-league player met those needs. If there is not a player in the SANFL or another State league that fits the bill, we won’t make a mid-season draft selection just for the sake of picking up another rookie.”
Port Adelaide is keen to review the full rules the AFL develops with the mid-season draft and the SANFL reaction. Of concern to the Power is any SANFL ruling that would prevent a mid-season draftee - such as Norwood midfielder and Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg - from playing for the Magpies.
This would bring into question where a Port Adelaide rookie-listed mid-season draftee is to play when not selected for AFL action.
The AFL’s preliminary rules on the mid-season draft allow clubs to immediately seek rookies from December 1 to March 15 if they have a serious injury that puts a player on the new inactive list.
The mid-season draft would be open only to AFL clubs with salary cap and list space to add rookies - and to players who renominate for the draft.