Richmond coach Damien Hardwick wants the draft age lifted to 20
Damien Hardwick has supported fellow coach Luke Beveridge and gone a step further, advocating an even greater change to the draft age. He wants to see players better prepared for life after football.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Richmond dual premiership coach Damien Hardwick has thrown his support behind a radical change to the AFL draft age, wanting to see players join clubs at the age of 20.
Hardwick joined Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge’s call to raise the draft age from 18, saying players will benefit from valuable training and education before they begin their AFL careers.
Hardwick suggested coronavirus induced concessions, namely the culling of list sizes, will see less players drafted each year, giving greater justification for raising the draft age.
Asked if he would like the age lifted to 19, Hardwick said he would like to see it raised “a little bit higher” despite the “detrimental” impact on players currently in the under-18 system.
Relive classic AFL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly
“For the benefits of the kids coming through in future, I think I could probably go a little bit higher (than 19) … One year out of school is OK, but two years would be even better for mine,” Hardwick said on Fox Footy Live.
“I understand it’s going to be detrimental to the kids that are possibly drafted now.
“What I do love about lifting the draft age is the players will have some sort of education or some sort of training behind them.
“The AFL career only averages out to about three or four years for most so at least they can fall back onto something.”
MORE AFL NEWS:
The top 25 AFL draft prospects to watch in 2020 topped by the next Lance Franklin
Mark Robinson lists his 20 greatest modern day VFL/AFL players
Collingwood super fan Kyron McGuire passes away after battle with brain cancer
Jack Newnes says players will need plenty of notice before the AFL season can resume
Hardwick argued players drafted straight from high school are at greater risk outside the ‘AFL bubble’ if their career is cut short.
“We’re drafting kids at 18 years of age and they haven’t even experienced life really,” he said.
“The more we can give the experience about what it is to live a normal life and not in an AFL bubble is going to be very important for them for the back-end of their career.
“The life experience is so important.”
Originally published as Richmond coach Damien Hardwick wants the draft age lifted to 20
Ablett family reveal details of son’s condition
Jordan and Gary Ablett had been reluctant to discuss many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Injury-hit Demons stun Crows in Norwood thriller
Struck down by a host of injuries across their team, the Dees have managed to keep their AFLW season alive by pulling off a thrilling victory over the Crows.