By Peter Ryan
AFL House reopens after its Christmas break on Monday with just 52 days before Sydney host Melbourne at the SCG in the men’s season’s new-look opening round, which will consist of four matches between the northern-state clubs and four big-drawing Victorian teams.
The league is entering a new era, with Andrew Dillon as CEO overseeing the implementation of a broadcast agreement that kicks off in 2025, the recently signed collective bargaining agreement covering both men and women and the awarding of a licence to Tasmania to create a standalone team.
There’ll be no honeymoon period for new AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, the league administration has a lot on its plate in 2024. Credit: Luis Ascui
With the game’s popularity in the southern states unabated, the competition for fans and talent as fierce as ever and the scrutiny on those in charge at AFL and club level relentless, there will be no let-up in the need for big decisions from headquarters.
Here are five big issues set to occupy the game’s administrators in 2024.
What will the national draft and player movement rules be after a review?
The first answer we should get from the AFL is whether it will allow a mid-season trade period in 2024; a possibility the players remain open to, according to AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield. It’s more likely to be introduced in 2025, and another detail of the broad review that will spark fierce debate among clubs centres on the academy and father-son bidding processes and how they can be fairer after Gold Coast landed young guns Jed Walter, Ethan Reid, Jake Rogers and Will Graham in the first round of the 2023 national draft.
New Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick (right) was pleased when his club landed hulking forward Jed Walter from its own academy at the draft.Credit: Justin McManus
Expect the AFL Draft Value Index – which was introduced in 2015 and remains a mystery to most supporters – to be revised and updated but retained. The father-son system favours some clubs more than others through pure chance – the Daicos brothers (Josh and Nick) were more-than-handy acquisitions for Collingwood at a discounted price and Brisbane will soon add Levi Ashcroft to their list alongside his brother Will. Expect the system to be protected while clubs pour more resources into developing their prospective father-son recruits. The cost of drafting academy graduates will become closer to how the market values them, and clubs will also argue they must receive more incentive to invest in next-generation academy prospects.
With first-round draft picks now commanding a three-year deal as standard practice and stars of the competition being locked in on long-term deals, tweaks to the free agency and trade process may also be necessary to maximise interest levels.
The way free agency compensation is determined and whether it is necessary should also be examined after the Kangaroos received – as they were entitled – pick No.3 for Ben McKay.
Whatever happens, the new CBA has left many clubs with excess cash to spend, so expect the player movement market to be frenetic in 2024, with the re-opening of the pre-season supplementary selection period on Monday just the start of a year-long focus.
The Magpies used four late picks to secure Nick Daicos at pick four as a father-son selection in the 2021 national draft, given his dad Peter (right) was a club legend.Credit: AFL Photos
Either running parallel or integrated into the same review, the AFL has committed to a competitive-balance review as part of the collective bargaining agreement.
The aim is to see if the respective chances of each club winning the premiership are as even as they are purported to be, given the fact seven clubs remain without a flag this century.
Can inconsistent clubs with talent reboot successfully?
Melbourne are working on reclaiming respect after two straight-set finals exits and a tumultuous off-season. Utility Joel Smith is fighting an anti-doping penalty and star midfielder Clayton Oliver is on indefinite leave as the Demons try to create a functioning attack while rebuilding the reputation of their playing group.
The Bulldogs’ leaders now have the initial findings of Peter Jackson’s review to mull over after an off-season of change that saw more than half a dozen coaching and staff changes, eight new players arrive and the club’s return to Whitten Oval as a training base. Losing Bailey Smith to an ACL injury in the final year of his contract was a huge blow pre-Christmas, but the determination to identify what really was behind their failure to make finals is admirable as they do need to change to become a consistent performer.
Bailey Smith won the Western Bulldogs’ two-kilometre time-trial in November and looked set for a big season in 2024 before he sustained a serious knee injury pre-ChristmasCredit: Getty Images
Barring disaster, Carlton will lock in a two-year contract extension for coach Michael Voss before round one. Two sources familiar with the situation but unauthorised to discuss contract negotiations confirmed Radio SEN reports of Voss’ status last week, while Adelaide’s Matthew Nicks and Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir are coaching for an extension in 2024.
And, don’t forget West Coast, who need to be better than they have been in the past two seasons, with coach Adam Simpson looking to repay the board’s faith in him.
What compensation will Hawthorn be liable to pay after its cultural review?
With Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) action still pending on the allegations of historical racism at Hawthorn as well as debate about the level of compensation the Hawks should pay to affected parties, this issue will continue to grab headlines in 2024.
North Melbourne coach and former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.Credit: Getty Images
Although seven months have passed since the AFL closed an investigation into the matter and declared that “no adverse findings have been made in the independent investigation against any of the individuals against whom allegations have been made” while acknowledging “the hurt, pain and anguish” the complainants felt following their time at Hawthorn, many loose ends remain.
The way in which the cultural safety review, or Binmada Report, which led to the accusations was commissioned and handled by Hawthorn has been the subject of an AFL investigation, and led to resultant negotiations about the Hawks’ liability, with their president Andrew Gowers keen to reach a resolution.
No formal action has been taken and sources close to the matter, who are not authorised to speak until its conclusion, said little progress was expected until the AHRC process was complete and the AFL can see a clearer pathway to resolving the matter.
The bottom line is there have been no winners from the process, and Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt all denied the allegations of historical racism levelled at them by a number of former Indigenous players and families.
Can the expansion clubs pack their stadiums with supporters?
The Giants were brilliant in 2023, but to prove they are making inroads in Sydney, they need bigger crowds at their home games. They got their way with the creation of the opening round after the conservative choice was made to play Gather Round in South Australia. They play Victorian teams in five of their eight matches at Giants Stadium, three games in their preferred Saturday afternoon twilight slot and an Anzac Day match against the Lions in Canberra. Steps forward are needed.
At least the Giants have performed well on field. It’s do-or-die time for the Suns under new coach Damien Hardwick. They have the talent. They have the expertise. Now they need results. Will the crowds follow?
Damien Hardwick arrives at Gold Coast with a sunny outlook on the club’s future.Credit: Getty
As for Tasmania, the AFL will not compromise on the need for a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point as the proposal is evaluated as a “project of state significance”. More interesting is whether the plan for the team to enter the competition in 2028 can remain on track. The first step towards that goal is to have teams in the VFL and VFLW by 2025.
Will independent doctors be introduced?
Concussion is a perennial issue nowadays. With class-action litigation from former players pending against the AFL, the issue now informs every decision the league makes in relation to on-field matters from the rules it establishes about head-high contact to its match review officer’s decisions.
The big debate this season will focus on whether the league heeds the recommendations arising from state coroner John Cain’s inquest into the death of Richmond’s Shane Tuck and appoints independent doctors to assist club doctors when a decision is required about a players’ ability to continue playing after sustaining head contact.
Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir leaves the ground after an on-field collision with teammate Lachie Jones last season.Credit: AFL Photos
The players think there would be pros and cons to the introduction of independent doctors. Players’ Association president Patrick Dangerfield said last Monday that, based on conversations he has had with people in competitions where independent doctors are used, club doctors were often more willing to rule players out than independent doctors.
There are already concussion spotters in the AFL’s match review centre, but an incident with Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir last season saw the club fined $100,000 and again raised doubts about the current system. Perhaps club doctors would appreciate the chance to share the decision-making burden.
Collingwood premiership player Nathan Murphy feared he might be forced into retirement when he had to face neurologists, AFL-appointed concussion experts and the Magpies’ board before being given the green light to play on in 2024.
He won’t be the last player to undergo this process, while the return of Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw from the concussion he suffered in the qualifying final, which led to a rule change, will be closely watched.
And, for one more issue that the league’s new chief and his team must consider this season; surely a pre-grand final bye would be better than a pre-finals bye.
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