AFL 2020: Stephen Milne says rookie list loophole is denying rising kids a chance at the big time

Rookie list success story Stephen Milne has lamented a new list loophole that allows established stars to be counted as rookie players.

Eddie Betts will be a rookie in 2021. Picture: Getty Images

Rookie sensation Stephen Milne says the AFL’s rookie list should be used only for young kids battling to grab an opportunity rather than clubs saving cap space with stars like Eddie Betts.

Milne is one of footy’s most extraordinary rookie-list stories, at one stage holding the record for the most games played by a rookie (275) until he was eventually passed by West Coast’s Dean Cox.

In their era clubs used the rookie list for developing ruckmen and kids who might not have been ready for a two-year primary list contract but had a dash of something exciting in their playing style.

Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Stephen Milne started his career on the rookie list.

For several years clubs have pushed experienced players onto the rookie list but this year the AFL allowed clubs to do so without even having to redraft them.

It means the likes of Eddie Betts, Grant Birchall, Matt Kennedy and Shane Mumford will all be parked on the rookie list by their clubs.

Two years after VFL premiership coach Andy Collins said the rookie-list system was “broken”, Milne agreed he might not have made it given the current use for the rookie list.

“Certainly when I was growing up, I agree. It was for guys who were battlers and had tried to get drafted for three or four years, but they got a second chance. It wasn’t for guys like Eddie Betts.

“He is doing the right thing so it’s nothing against him, but it’s another loophole to get someone on a list and save money. It shouldn’t be about senior players who have played as many games as Eddie. I think if you talked to 20 (former) rookies they would say the same thing.

Eddie Betts will be on the rookie list in 2021. Picture: AAP Images

“It’s for guys who have busted their arse, guys like Kane Lambert and Jake Aarts, who were overlooked for six or seven years and then grab that chance. Not guys who are 34 who are in their last year of footy.”

Milne was famously starring for Essendon’s VFL side when St Kilda plucked him as a rookie, elevated onto the club’s primary list at the start of 2011 and becoming one of footy’s great small forwards.

“I was on a supplementary list getting $300 a game and then onto the rookie. You had to make every post a winner when you got that chance because you knew if you played three or four games for the year you could get dropped and be delisted.

“All those rookie-list guys play on the edge because they don’t know what is around the corner.”

Collins told the Herald Sun in 2018 the AFL had lost the essence of what the rookie list was about and were denying talented kids chances so they could rookie-list senior players as insurance for injury.

“The rookie rules have changed but once upon a time those spots were for mature-age or untried kids, but now guys like Michael Rischitelli get picked up. I find that really funny,” he said.

“The amount of TAC Cup kids I have spoken to who just give up footy now...

“It seems to be keeping blokes in jobs rather than giving chances to kids who haven’t had the opportunity.”

BETTS RETAINED ON BLUES LIST

Betts will be available to play for Carlton from Round 1 next year despite his selfless gesture to keep the club’s list together by transferring onto the rookie list in 2021.

The Blues are one of many clubs to take advantage of new rules which allow players to be transferred straight from the senior list to the rookie list without having to be redrafted in December 10’s rookie draft.

The Blues approached Betts, who has already agreed to take a significant pay cut for 2021, and told him if he played as a rookie they wouldn’t have to make further list cuts.

The salary he had already agreed to for 2021 remains unchanged, but the Blues can exclude $80,000 of that wage from the salary cap.

He and midfielder Matthew Kennedy will both be 2021 rookies for the Blues under David Teague but have all the playing rights of their senior teammates.

Betts’ decision will help the Blues avoid further cuts. Picture: Getty Images

Betts will have to fight for his spot next year with Jack Silvagni back from injury and Lachie Fogarty arriving from Geelong after 13 goals in 15 games this year.

For a 331-game veteran of 16 seasons on the rookie list is another bastardisation of the rookie list, which was once used by clubs for project players and developing ruckmen.

But clubs are only taking advantage of AFL rules to retain key players for 2021.

Blues football boss Brad Lloyd said Betts had again shown he was prepared to put the club ahead of himself.

“We approached Eddie about the possibility of making this decision and as soon as Eddie knew how this opportunity would help the club, he agreed straight away,” Lloyd said.

“Eddie’s selfless act is another example of how committed he is to our football club, his teammates and his willingness to do whatever he can to help this group in its pursuit of success.

“It is also a terrific result that we have been able to recontract Matthew now, without having to endure the wait until the rookie draft. Matthew was keen to stay at the club and we wanted to keep him, so to have that finalised now is a great outcome for all parties.

“We would like to acknowledge the AFL for delivering a rule this off-season that removes that unnecessary anxiety that can exist in the lead up to a draft for uncontracted players.”

HOW CARLISLE, LONIE CAN EXTEND TIME AT SAINTS

St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle will sign a one-year contact with a second-year trigger to remain at Moorabbin.

And small forward Jack Lonie will sign a similar one-season deal with a games-based trigger for another season after failing to find interest from rivals in the trade period.

As AFL clubs assess the draft landscape after finishing the trade period the league’s delisted free agency period starts on Thursday.

If another rival had expressed strong interest in Carlisle the Saints might have considered trading him.

But while he has not yet signed his deal he will remain after a turbulent finals period where he played an excellent elimination final then rushed to be with his wife on the NSW-Victorian border for the birth of their child.

St Kilda has dangled a carrot in front of ex-Melbourne and Hawthorn defender James Frawley, open to recruiting him as defensive insurance.

But while 29-year-old Carlisle was out of the Saints side at times in 2020 he would expect to play a prominent role in the back six.

The Saints have offered Jack Lonie a similar deal. Picture: Michael Klein

Lonie had interest from the Western Bulldogs before they secured Melbourne’s Mitch Hannan, and with the acquisition of Richmond’s Jack Higgins he will have to work hard to keep his spot.

But after 13 games in 2020 he will back himself in to earn a second year on that deal by playing a set amount of games.

St Kilda delisted defender Shane Savage this week and while GWS had some interest and met him, they have cooled and are not expected to recruit him as a delisted free agent.

The Giants, who are likely to retain Shane Mumford on their list as ruck back-up to Braydon Preuss, will instead go to the draft with five picks inside 29.

Sydney’s Robbie Fox was surprisingly delisted after 14 games alongside Jackson Thurlow, Zac Foot and Sam Gray, but the Swans have told Fox they are likely to re-rookie him.

Originally published as AFL 2020: Stephen Milne says rookie list loophole is denying rising kids a chance at the big time