AFLW star Chloe Molloy says league is ready to scrap state-based draft system

One of the AFLW’s best players has backed calls for an overhaul of the league’s draft system which would stop players nominating a home state or region to be chosen to. HAVE YOUR SAY

AFLW superstar Chloe Molloy says it is time to blow up the state-based draft system and force teenagers to nominate for a national pool that could relocate them to the other side of the country.

Molloy, 25, proudly calls herself a Sydneysider after the Victorian left Collingwood last year when she signed a historic five-year contract with the Swans.

The three-time All-Australian and one of the most loved faces of women’s football has the support of almost the entire football industry in calling for a truly national draft.

“I think we’re ready. We’ve got some really mature heads coming through that we (Swans) picked up, and Sydney is not home for them,” Molloy told the Herald Sun at a Kayo Sports campaign.

“Clubs are getting to the point where they’re really accommodating of girls moving interstate, so I’d love to see it.

“I’d love to see our talent just get drafted to wherever you go and I definitely think the league is ready for that progression.”

Molloy sported ‘I love Sydney’ socks at the airport and her return to Melbourne over Christmas was the first time she properly visited Victoria since making the move to the harbour city 12 months ago.

Chloe Molloy says she has “engulfed” herself in life as a Sydneysider. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/Getty Images

“I engulfed myself in Sydney,” the 2018 Rising Star winner and Swans co-captain said.

“Kate Mahony, whose (Sydney’s football boss), noted back when I was getting interviewed that she’d had players call Melbourne home, but would come to Sydney, play footy and then go back.

“But I was like, ‘I’m not committing long term to keep a halfway home’. I’m a Sydneysider.

“I wanted to immerse myself in Sydney, stay in Sydney and call Sydney home because I didn’t want to sign long-term and be back and forth.”

Last year about 70 per cent of the 569 AFLW draft prospects nominated nationally in a clear sign the next generation also thinks it is ready.

One AFLW list boss told the Herald Sun: “I haven’t spoken to one player in our interviews that would have had an issue with going national. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t do it (this)”.

But the AFL has not committed to a national draft and could be reluctant to force girls to relocate when they are not being paid as full-time professionals.

Chloe Molloy after being drafted to Collingwood in 2017.

Last year’s Number 1 Kristie Lee Weston-Turner.

Even by the time the Collective Bargaining Agreement ends in 2027 the average AFLW salary will be just $82,000.

“The pay is always going to be a dispute in AFLW, isn’t it? But if you put it on the players a little bit, I love having something outside of footy (to earn from),” Molloy said.

“I know girls have to study when they move interstate and it’s not easy to say just get a job.

“Financially there’s probably a handful of players that could support themselves moving interstate, and I’ll put the Sydney cap on and say cost of living in Sydney is not as easy as down in Melbourne.

“But we’re ready for it, clubs are willing to accommodate it and so are the AFLPA and I think so are the AFL.”

Clubs and agents are also desperate to tear up the payment tiers system that they believe they outgrew years ago.

In 2023 the payments were $87,192 (tier one) through to $51,290 (tier four) with clubs capped on how many players they could sign in each tier.

Binning the tiers would provide clubs the flexibility to divide that cash among their 30 players as they see fit and they fit.

“That would actually make it more intriguing to see how clubs go about it,” Molloy said.

“I’d actually be so interested to see how clubs end up putting their list together because then it comes down to who can manage their list the best.”

AFL boss Andrew Dillon at last year’s AFLW draft. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The AFL is the biggest employer of female athletes in the country and a look at Molloy’s diary shows she is already effectively a full-time footballer.

“We’ve been pretty big on extra sessions and optional sessions and we’re actually entering the VFLW,” she said.

“We’ve got five games against some sides where they’ll play their AFLW-listed players as well, which is exciting.

“I think it’s actually a good opportunity for fans to come and watch those games because I know we’re going to be playing 21-22 AFLW-listed players.

“That happens in April and then we’ll end up having a scrimmage again and then we actually have three or four weeks off, and then we’re into pre-season.

“We’re in pre-pre-season at the minute. This is all we’ve ever wanted, though – to play kind of all year round.

“So we’ve had a month and a bit off – but even then you keep fit. So honestly my next calendar block looks like a lot of football.”