Rival managers take on Craig Kelly over proposed TAC Cup overhaul, citing ‘horrible conflict of interest’

RIVAL agents have declared war on top player manager Craig Kelly over his plans to revolutionise the under-18 TAC Cup, with the AFLPA receiving complaints over the potential arrangement.

AFL player agent Craig Kelly has come under criticism for his plans of an overhaul of the under-18 TAC Cup.

RIVAL agents have declared war on top player manager Craig Kelly over his plans to revolutionise the under-18 TAC Cup.

Kelly’s management and events company TLA are in discussions with the AFL over plans to overhaul the elite feeder competition in a bid to maximise its commercial value.

Prominent agent Liam Pickering on Tuesday lashed the plan as a “horrible conflict of interest”.

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Counterpart Peter Jess said it “smacked of nepotism” and should be referred to the Australian Competition and Consumer Competition.

“Parents read the papers, kids read the papers. They think ‘We’ll sign with TLA, they run the comp, I’m more chance of getting drafted’,” Pickering said.

“It’s pretty straight forward, I would have thought.”

The AFL Players’ Association, which regulates agents, on Tuesday said it was aware of concerns within the managerial ranks.

Rules implemented in October last year by the AFLPA Agent Accreditation Board state: “Agents can no longer be directly involved in a second-tier competition or within the official talent pathway.”

TLA controls more than 250 of the game’s 800 players, as well as many senior and assistant coaches.

They also have lucrative licencing and event arrangements, including the September Club, Grand Final eve lunch, Grand Final sprint and the Rising Star.

Craig Kelly runs management and events company TLA.

The Herald Sun has been told some rival agents are even prepared to withhold their clients from TLA-controlled events if the powerful firm gets its hands on the TAC Cup.

Pickering, speaking on SEN radio, questioned why the AFL had to outsource the job.

“Surely there’s another consultancy agent that can sell a bit of sponsorship or the AFL have got enough people internally to be able to find a sponsor,” Pickering said.

AFL player agent Liam Pickering has lashed Kelly’s plans.

AFL player agent Peter Jess says it “smacked of nepotism”.

“I just got a phone call from (AFL head of talent) Tristan Salter who runs all that and he said it seemed there wasn’t a conflict because it was separate to the (TLA) player management business. I think there’s going to be serious crossovers.

“It’s a bit rich to say that given Craig Kelly is in the meeting. He’s an accredited agent.

“Other agents are not all that thrilled about a mob with a third of the players suddenly looking like they’ve got control of our elite pathway programs.”

Jess said the potential arrangement was proof the AFL had “lost sight of its corporate governance”.

“Was this tendered? Is this fair and equitable? If you have a marketing department, which the AFL has, why then do you need to engage a third party?” Jess said.

The AFL on Tuesday said it was being transparent.

“We have been talking to leading player managers in the AFL system, including Liam, over the last few days to update them on what is happening and to answer any questions they have raised with us,” league spokesman Patrick Keane said.

Kelly did not return calls.