Mick Malthouse reveals his trade plan to save battling clubs

IF Nat Fyfe leaves Fremantle, will he only consider teams with an assured premiership horizon? That limits the field and shouldn’t happen, writes MICK MALTHOUSE.

Nat Fyfe could consider his free agency options. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

BUDDY Franklin is lining up for Greater Western Sydney. Patrick Dangerfield is in Carlton’s midfield against Melbourne. James Frawley was a rock in St Kilda’s backline on Saturday. And Eddie Betts is sneaking goals for the Demons.

Can you imagine that?

GWS, Carlton, St Kilda and Melbourne are the bottom teams from the year these four free agents exited their clubs.

So if big-name free agents and out-of-contract players went to the AFL’s lower clubs instead of constantly topping up the top-end clubs, the competition would look very different — less upside down triangle and more rectangle.

In a real-life scenario, Nat Fyfe is considering his options as a free agent at the end of next year. A Brownlow medallist on the move is sure to excite the interest of every club.

But if Fyfe leaves Fremantle for lack of “a strong future”, will he only consider teams with an assured premiership horizon?

That immediately limits the field.

I’m proposing a change to the AFL’s trade system. A big change.

Free agents and players who are out of contract are mostly being lured to the big clubs — Hawthorn, Sydney, Geelong and Collingwood — the clubs that have tasted premiership success in recent years.

Nat Fyfe could consider his free agency options. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

The free agent from a battling club has struggled for long enough and he wants a taste of finals football.

The young gun who has spent his first years at a club in the bottom 10 wants success — and perhaps he feels he’s entitled to it.

Players have a short-term view of the future.

Don’t be fooled that the fixture has anything to do with where clubs finish the season.

Sure, finals football is like chocolate compared with the carob of missing out. The bigger pay cheque helps, too, but that makes it all about the individual player.

What about the clubs? Where does that leave the overall competition?

I see a two-tier competition forming at a dramatic rate.

Our top eight this year was virtually locked in after Round 4 — and it was no surprise, either.

Don’t be fooled that the fixture has anything to do with where clubs finish the season.

If your team doesn’t have the talent and the depth to compete, then your team has no chance of playing finals. What a pity for the supporters who pay for the memberships and attend every game.

So how can we even things up?

Put all free agents into Pool A at the end of the season and all out-of-contract players into Pool B.

Under Mick Malthouse’s plan, Patrick Dangerfield would be playing for Carlton. Picture: Michael Klein

It’s the player’s choice whether he enters the pool system or renegotiates his contract and stays.

The bottom four clubs from that season enter a lottery with a token for each year they’ve finished from 15th to 18th in the previous three years, because there’s always movement and sometimes anomalies.

The first club opts for Pool A or B, depending on the sort of player it wants and its budget. It can only choose from one pool at a time. The option then moves to the next club from the lottery until we start moving up the ladder.

The rules of free agency still apply, though I propose scrapping any compensation for the club giving up the free agent. Compensation in the past has varied, so a flat zero compensation plan keeps it level across the board.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MICK MALTHOUSE’S TRADE/FREE AGENCY PLAN? SCROLL DOWN TO HAVE YOUR SAY

Compensation for out-of-contract players in Pool B, however, should be favourable for the original club.

The AFL, clubs and players entering the draft must sign an agreement to avoid restraint of trade becoming an issue.

This is not about punishing success or bringing down the power brokers. This is about growing and maintaining a healthy competition.

I don’t want the AFL to become like the EPL in which — aside from last year’s Leicester aberration — Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are the repetitive top four clubs.

This plan stems from a desire to see growth every year and genuine competition. It centres on list management. If lists are more even, clubs will be more even and the home-and-away fixture will be red hot — every season.

We need to stop the lower clubs from becoming a stepping stone — or a nursery — for launching young talent

Out-of-contract Gold Coast Sun’s midfielder Jaeger O’Meara has gained interest from several clubs this season, despite 18 months on the sidelines with injury, and there’s no question why given his talent.

The Suns will finish in the bottom five this season, leaving the 22-year-old with a stay or go dilemma.

Victoria has been touted as his preferred destination if he decides to move, even though he is from Western Australia.

Does that make Hawthorn and Geelong the frontrunners?

If he really wants to leave the Suns, the fair option is to enter Pool B for a trade to one of the bottom four sides. Fair for the league, fair for the supporters.

Eddie Betts would be playing for the Demons if Mick had his way. Picture: Getty Images

O’Meara doesn’t miss out, his talent will be harnessed in any team, and every club gets a better chance to achieve success in the not too distant future.

Already last year’s NAB Rising Star Jesse Hogan is in the sights of 17 recruiters after delaying contract talks with Melbourne until he can work out where the club is headed.

His contract doesn’t expire until the end of next season, so surely his focus at this stage is on the Demons. Well at least it should be.

When an 18-year-old enters the draft, he signs on to play at whichever club takes him — interstate or at home.

The colours of the jumper don’t matter, because he just wants to play AFL football.

Increasingly, players are choosing to move on, move up or move home after a brief time at the club that has nurtured him through the biggest transition of his life.

We need to change this mentality and stop the lower clubs from becoming a stepping stone — or a nursery — for launching young talent.

Finances and resources are a separate off-field issue for clubs that I’ll address another time, but if we start evening up the lists, we begin to even out the competition and create an environment where the next generation of stars feel comfortable committing long term.

In six weeks, a host of free agency and out-of-contract players — some young, some aged, some big names — will decide their fate or have it decided for them.

As a fan of our great game, my wish is for that talent to be spread more evenly to help each club and footy in general to thrive.

THE MALTHOUSE MODEL

HOW IT WORKS

1. The bottom four clubs enter a lottery with a token for each year they’ve finished bottom four in the previous three years.

2. The first club opts for Pool A or B, depending on the sort of player it wants and its budget. It can only choose from one pool at a time.

3.The option then moves to the next club from the lottery until we start moving up the ladder.

Pool A – All free agents

No compensation for free agents.

Top six free agents in 2017: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Dustin Martin (Richmond), Josh Kennedy (Sydney), Josh Kennedy (West Coast), Tom Rockcliff (Brisbane), Steven Motlop (Geelong).

Pool B – Out of contract players

Proper compensation to uncontracted player’s club.

Top six out of contract players in 2017L Jesse Hogan (Melbourne), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Dylan Shiel (GWS), Joe Daniher (Essendon), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Jack Billings (St Kilda).

Does Mick’s two-pool trade plan work for your club? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW