North miss out on priority access to Ryley Sanders, could have four picks in first round of 2023 draft

Cats coach Chris Scott has not held back in his assessment of North’s assistance package, likening the haul to the picks that Alastair Clarkson used to turn Hawthorn into a superpower.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Augus 12, 2023. AFL. Alastair Clarkson, senior coach of the Kangaroos before the round 22 match between North Melbourne and Essendon at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Photo by Michael Klein.

Chris Scott has lashed the generous draft assistance package gifted to North Melbourne by the AFL Commission on Monday, likening the handouts to the priority picks that transformed Hawthorn into a superpower under Alastair Clarkson.

Scott, a dual premiership coach, said the AFL had to “get out of the way and let the system operate without this blatant manipulation” in sentiments supported by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon and privately by several other clubs.

“If you finish second last, you get second pick in the draft – and they’ve had that for a number of years now because they chose to go down a certain path,” Scott said.

“The problem here is in any business there is always a lag. So you can’t look at this season and say, ‘Well, OK. You finished second last, so we need to support you again’.

“The supports already been there over the previous years.

“What the AFL can’t do is in three years is go, ‘Now all of a sudden you’ve got a dominant midfield because we gave you all these picks, and now we’re going to take something away’.

“They never take away. ‘Clarko’, he’s a genius. Because that Hawthorn team was built on the back of (Luke) Hodge pick No. 1, (Lance) Franklin pick No. 5 and (Jarryd) Roughead pick No. 2 – and he was a priority pick.

“So you get that lag and then all of a sudden it goes bang.”

Scott likened it to how Hawthorn acquired talent before their premiership era. Photo by Michael Klein.

The Kangaroos were handed pick No. 19 in this year’s draft as well as No. 19 and 20 in next year’s draft.

They hold six top-20 selections across the next two drafts and that will become seven when departing free agent Ben McKay joins Essendon.

When McKay crosses it is expected the Roos will have picks Nos. 2, 3, 15 and 20, as well as three top-20 picks next year.

“It’s compensation for being bad – you already get that. It just shouldn’t be the AFL’s job to manipulate things,” Scott told AFL360.

“There are clubs who have performed at a lower level than North Melbourne over the last decade that haven’t got one single thing.

“How many priority picks have the Saints got in the last decade? I don’t understand how you can play in prelim finals and get compensation priority picks year after year after year.”

The Roos reached preliminary finals in 2014-15 and also made finals in 2016.

Lyon said: “The real question is if you put yourself in the hole … to keep going back to head office and asking for assistance, I think there’s a bit to be said to dig yourself out”.

The Kangaroos were denied priority access to Next Generation Academy star Ryley Sanders.

But with a suite of picks they are now in a strong position to simply draft Sanders. Four other clubs privately told the Herald Sun the package was excessive.

The Roos however were not given priority access to Ryley Sanders. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

They said the Roos had endured “self-inflicted pain” and did not deserve the handouts.

One club said: “It’s a load of s***. What’s the incentive to do things better if you know you’re just going to get bailed out?”

The Roos are likely to trade multiple picks to help broker trades. They will bring in Dylan Stephens (Sydney) and Zac Fisher (Carlton) in the trade period and could make a play for Harley Reid by securing West Coast’s No. 1 pick.

North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt welcomed the decision.

“We’ve worked closely with the AFL over the past few weeks to build out an assistance package,” Watt said.

“We put a strong case forward given our recent results and the steps we’ve taken to improve on and off the field, and we especially thank Andrew Dillon, Laura Kane and Ned Guy for listening to us.

“We’re looking at every way to improve our list – whether that’s bringing in more high-end draft talent or players with proven AFL experience.

“These selections will give the club flexibility to achieve those aims at the trade and draft table this year and next.”