Adelaide Crows draft stocks take a hit as Gold Coast handed unprecedented special assistance package
The Crows’ draft plans have been dealt a massive hit after the AFL handed Gold Coast an unprecedented rescue package that includes this year’s prized second pick.
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Adelaide has copped another off-season hit, being one of the big losers from the unprecedented assistance package the AFL has delivered to rescue ailing Gold Coast.
While the Crows are undergoing a big list rebuild and could lose as many as seven experienced players to rivals, their draft plans also have suffered a blow, with the first-round pick they obtained from Carlton last year slipping from number three to four following the AFL’s decision to hand the Suns a draft bonanza.
This is despite a frustrated Adelaide understood to have strongly lobbied the AFL not to be pushed down the first-round draft order after orchestrating a historic draft day trade with the Blues last year.
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The trade saw the Crows swap pick 19 (used on midfielder Liam Stocker) and their first round pick this year for Carlton’s first round selection.
Adelaide now has pick four and the Blues pick nine.
Gold Coast — coming off a first wooden spoon following consecutive 17th-placed finishes — has remarkably been awarded four extra top-20 selections in the next three drafts, including number one this year.
This will enable it to pair the two clear draft standouts, Victorian midfielders Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, together with the first two picks.
It also means the Suns, who are closing in on signing out-of-contract Crow Hugh Greenwood to a long-term contract, will have five top-six picks from the past two drafts.
While Adelaide’s first pick slips from three to four, Port Adelaide’s opening selection goes from nine to 10.
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan was publicly philosophical about the AFL’s assistance package.
“Our club acknowledges that it is in the best interests of the AFL and our sport more broadly to ensure all clubs are healthy and sustainable and we support the need for an appropriate assistance package being provided to Gold Coast,” Fagan said.
“We also understand the significant interest in our view on this issue given we were involved in a trade for a future first round selection which falls in the upcoming national draft.
“We have spoken with the league on several occasions in recent times and clearly and firmly expressed our view.
“Whether the allocation of a priority pick to the Suns has any impact on our club is unlikely to be known until the national draft itself.”
The Suns’ lucrative package includes the top pick and a priority pick at the end of the first round (currently No. 20) this year, a bonus selection in the middle of the first round in 2020 (currently No. 11) and an end-of-first-round pick in 2021 (No. 19).
It also includes expanded Academy player access for three years, including the provision of the Darwin region as an Academy zone, ability to pre-sign Gold Coast Academy players without bidding and an increased rookie list (up to 10 players).
The package is subject to review in years two and three.
It is a massive leg-up for the Queensland club, which has failed to make the finals in any of its nine years in the AFL.
The Suns’ best finish was 12th in 2014.
Port towed the politically correct line, with chief executive Keith Thomas saying: “We understand the AFL’s desire to assist Gold Coast and our only focus is on what we are doing in order to win our next AFL premiership’’.
In handing out the generous assistance package, AFL general counsel and general manager game development Andrew Dillon said the league took on board a request from the Suns in August — and at a detailed strategy outlined a year ago — to seek help to “enable them to deliver upon their football strategy’’.
Dillon said it was the AFL’s view that a three-year support package was critical to providing a sustainable solution to the current challenges the Suns are facing.
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“There is no doubt the Suns have had enormous challenges throughout their short history and it is to the benefit of the entire competition that they are competitive,” he said.
“The AFL and football fans want a strong and even competition and while the endeavour and intent can’t be faulted by the Gold Coast Football Club there have been executional challenges along the journey that have impacted the on-field competitiveness of the team.
“The club, led by (chairman) Tony Cochrane and (chief executive) Mark Evans, will continue to build strength in the organisation and delivering on their football strategy is crucial to the club’s long-term success.
“The special assistance approved by the AFL Commission will contribute to this.’’
Cochrane acknowledged the AFL’s support, saying he hoped the assistance package would help the club become sustainable on and off the field.
Originally published as Adelaide Crows draft stocks take a hit as Gold Coast handed unprecedented special assistance package