Fremantle disadvantaged with father-son rule
Fremantle remain one of only two clubs without genuine access to father-son or academy selections as the AFL prepares to usher in a complex new bidding process for young players this year.
A convoluted points-based mechanism will be introduced to eradicate anomalies in the old father-son bidding system that allowed some clubs a disproportionate advantage.
The points mechanism, details of which were revealed yesterday, also covers the bidding process for players from the NSW and Queensland academies.
But the AFL has so far given little thought to filling the black hole in the father-son system that effectively robs Fremantle and Port Adelaide of the chance to recruit players under the “romantic” rule, which originated more than 60 years ago.
Fremantle have had just one father-son selection in their history and are set for several more years of frustration before they reach a level playing field with other clubs.
Draft rules stipulate that youngsters only qualify for father-son selection if their dad played 100 games for the club.
Fremantle also have access to the sons of former WAFL players who made 150 appearances for East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Perth or Swan Districts before the Dockers joined the AFL in 1995.
But the pool of eligible players is extremely limited.
Brett Peake, son of former East Fremantle champion Brian Peake, played 75 games for the Dockers as a father-son selection before finishing his career at St Kilda.
Only 32 players in Dockers history have played 100 games for the club.
Of those, 12 are still playing and only four are aged 40 or over, meaning the number of potential teenage father-son selections available to Fremantle pales in comparison to the long-established Victorian clubs.
Expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney have first access to their academy players, as do Brisbane and Sydney, who also have priority on sons of former Fitzroy and Swans/South Melbourne play-ers respectively.
AFL legal boss Andrew Dillon yesterday confirmed the league was considering lowering the games-qualification threshold, which would open up more avenues for clubs like Fremantle and Port Adelaide to compete.
The 100-game threshold could be slashed to 50 games or as low as one match, though the latter is unlikely.
State league games qualification thresholds would also be lowered. But even if the changes are rubber-stamped, they would not come into effect until the 2016 national draft.
Under the new system to be introduced this year, clubs have to secure a father-son or academy player in a bidding auction and will then have picks later in the draft pushed back.
The move to stiffen the bidding system gained momentum after Essendon was able to take Joe Daniher with pick No.10 in the 2012 draft, despite the young forward being rated as a potential top-three pick.
The new bidding system will take place either live on draft night or shortly prior to the draft — after the draft combine — in order to generate a more accurate market value for each player.
