AFL’s academy rules again under spotlight after quirky loophole hands St Kilda exciting talent

The quirky nature of the AFL’s academy rules are again a hot topic after St Kilda gained access to an exciting NGA talent through a quirky loophole.

The quirky nature of the league’s academy rules are again in the spotlight after exciting draft prospect Kye Fincher was granted NGA status because he was born overseas while his mum was working abroad.

St Kilda has access to the in-form talent after he was born in Hong Kong when his mother was on a work secondment as a vet.

Fincher came up through the natural pathway including playing for Brighton Grammar and his grandfather played 61 matches for Footscray and North Melbourne.

He plays for the Sandringham Dragons as a midfielder and half back with elite ball use but sparkled with 26 possessions and 18 kicks in the recent Vic Metro clash.

Kye Fincher is linked to St Kilda in this year’s draft. Picture: Getty Images

Some believe he could be a late first round or early second-round selection in an especially weak draft.

It comes as the Saints continue to push the AFL to overhaul academy and father-son guidelines as the groundswell grows for the AFL to eradicate NGA programs altogether or tighten the rules.

A system set up so Indigenous and multicultural talent could be introduced to the AFL through elite development has instead seen clubs hunting for loopholes.

But while Fincher’s parents are both from Australia he needed only to be born overseas or have one of his parents born in another non-English speaking country to qualify as an NGA talent.

St Kilda does not have a second-round pick so would have to go into points deficit or trade in points for him if they chose to match any bid.

Fincher playing for Vic Metro in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

The club overlooked key position defenders Adrian Cole and Lennox Hofmann last year despite their NGA links to St Kilda.

President Andrew Bassat has labelled the northern academy clubs and compromised draft system as “nonsense”.

“It’s not a level playing field ... our role is meant to be just making up the numbers and not complaining about it,” he told the club’s best-and-fairest last year.

But St Kilda would be crazy not to attempt to mine the NGA system like every other club while simultaneously attempting to lobby the AFL over tighter guidelines.

Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding said St Kilda would be excited to have Fincher as an academy listed player.

“Kye is a high level player. Clubs always ask where they think players will land draft-wise and it’s hard to know but he’s a really good running defender,” he said.

“He’s a good size at 186cm and he’s strong overhead. He’s just played well all year and he’s played good school footy at Brighton Grammar,” he said.

“St Kilda had access to Cam Mackenzie but lost him through rule changes but we have his younger brother Rowan as a bottom-ager this year so he might come through next year.

The Saints missed out on top-10 pick Cam Mackenzie. Picture: Michael Klein

St Kilda had access to Lennox Hofman who Geelong bid on and took, and we have his younger brother with us as well. So we have seven St Kilda NGA players on our Sandringham Dragons list out of 70 this year.”

St Kilda will be keen to secure Fincher if he is available on their draft board at the right price but their advantage pales into insignificance compared to rival clubs

The Suns have a welter of academy options including potential first-rounders Dylan Patterson, Zeke Uwland, Beau Addinsall and other prospects including Kalani White, Cooper Collins and Jai Murray.

The Suns argue that they will not be able to match bids on all of those players, some of whom might not have played AFL if not for academy development, so they will filter into the AFL system if not selected by Gold Coast.