James Frawley set to join Hawthorn through free agency, sparks backlash from Paul Roos

THE AFLPA has launched a passionate defence of free agency despite Paul Roos labelling it the game’s “greatest de-equalisation policy”.

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THE AFL Players’ union has launched a passionate defence of free agency despite Melbourne coach Paul Roos labelling it the game’s “greatest de-equalisation policy” in 100 years.

The Herald Sun revealed on Thursday that defender James Frawley was set to join Hawthorn over Geelong and Fremantle when free agency officially begins on Friday, putting an end to months of speculation about his future.

The gun All-Australian full-back will further bolster one of the AFL’s strongest backlines as the Hawks shoot for a third-straight premiership next season.

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His decision is expected to net Melbourne pick No. 3 in free agency compensation, depending on the terms of his new contract at Waverley.

Geelong had offered a five-year deal worth about $500,000 a season but it is believed Frawley, 26 preferred to remain in Melbourne, rather than join best mate Jared Rivers in Geelong.

“We’re disappointed, but that’s the game. He had the choice and unfortunately we didn’t get it in the end,” Geelong captain Joel Selwood told Channel 7.

Frawley’s decision prompted a fresh round of attacks on free agency from Roos and St Kilda coach Alan Richardson, who said the current model was unfairly favouring the top clubs at expense of the developing teams.

“Free agency is the greatest de-equalisation policy we’ve had in the last 100 years of footy,” Roos said.

“The players wanted it and the clubs have just got to deal with it. Probably about five years ago we had as even a competition as what we’d ever seen.

“Now we’ve got another factor that’s been introduced which is clearly going to benefit the top clubs and we’re already seeing that.”

Industry leaders will review three years of free agency when this year’s window closes on October 15, with the Players’ Association calling for eligibility to be cut from eight years to six years.

Frawley made the All-Australian team in 2010.

But AFL Players’ Association senior executive Ian Prendergast said the players should not carry the burden of equalising the competition.

Prendergast said bottom clubs which lose players, such as Melbourne, were compensated with potentially favourable draft choices.

“This is about players having fundamental choices about where they work and it is a choice that we all take for granted,” Prendergast said.

“But it is a right that players deserve and players should not be asked to continue carrying the can on equalisation.

“There are other systems that have been put in place to try and address some of those issues.”

Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold was unaware of Frawley’s decision yesterday but said the club did not apologise for trying to attract football’s best players, coaches and administrators.

“Obviously we lost a fairly major player (Lance Franklin) last year through this free agency and part of our business plan is to become a destination club, but that’s at all levels, not just players,” Newbold said.

Prendergast said Franklin’s decision to leave Hawthorn last year meant free agency was not all one-way traffic.

“It is too early to say whether that trend is something we should be concerned about, particularly given the competitive balance measures that have been introduced by the AFL and the impact they are intended to have over the next two years,” Prendergast said.

“If clubs do have a capacity to spend 100 per cent of the cap they need to be able to spend it on something and I think if clubs are willing to put good people in place and build strong cultures.

“Free agency should be a really positive tool they can use to help regenerate their list.”

Originally published as James Frawley set to join Hawthorn through free agency, sparks backlash from Paul Roos