AFL’s free agency compensation under fire after Richmond received end of second round pick for Brandon Ellis
The AFL’s free agency compensation is under scrutiny again after Richmond was given an end of second round draft pick for losing Brandon Ellis on a deal very similar to moves in previous years. So what’s the difference?
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Disappointed Richmond officials requested the AFL review the free agency compensation it received for the loss of Brandon Ellis as the league’s formula for awarding draft picks for the loss of free agents comes under fire again.
The Tigers were handed an end of second round pick for Ellis, currently No.39, after he officially joined Gold Coast on Saturday.
As revealed by the Herald Sun, Ellis has accepted a five-year, $3 million deal to join the Suns.
It was a contract the Tigers had hoped would net them an end of first round compensation selection, which would have been pick 20 given Richmond’s premiership status and the Suns’ freshly awarded priority pick.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale revealed the Tigers were so unhappy with the compensation, the club urged the AFL to review it.
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“We were very dissapointed with the offer of a 2nd Rd pick for Brandon Ellis and asked the @AFL to review it. @AFL has since explained that the points allocated (based on age & average $$$), fell just short of the points required for the awarding of a 1st Rd pick in 2019,” Gale tweeted.
The AFL has refused to explain its compensation “formula”, which is said to be based on age, salary and contract length, but can be altered at the discretion of a committee.
The Ellis pick has many scratching their heads given recent cases at other clubs.
We were very dissapointed with the offer of a 2nd Rd pick for Brandon Ellis and asked the @AFL to review it. @AFL has since explained that the points allocated (based on age & average $$$), fell just short of the points required for the awarding of a 1st Rd pick in 2019.
— Brendon Gale (@brendongale25) October 5, 2019
West Coast last year got an end of first round compensation pick for losing Scott Lycett to Port Adelaide on a deal widely reported to be exactly the same — $3 million over five years.
Like Richmond, the Eagles were premiers. Like Ellis, Lycett was 26. Yet there is 19 draft picks difference.
Steven Motlop signed on for less at Port Adelaide when he left Geelong at the end of 2017.
Motlop accepted a four-year deal worth around $2 million, leading to a belief the Cats would get an end of second round pick (No.35) to compensate.
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Cam Ellis-Yolmen has signed with Brisbane Lions
When pick 19 came back there was surprise. When the Cats used pick 19 to bring Gary Ablett home there was cynicism.
Former Adelaide onballer Cam Ellis-Yolman on Saturday finalised a three-year free agency contract offer from the Brisbane Lions.
The Crows received a third-round pick — No. 47 — as compensation after choosing not to match the deal.
Brisbane might not be done there, with Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott attending the Pies’ best and fairest on Friday night before touring the Lions’ facilities the next day.