Momentum building to raise AFL draft age
Trading and drafting
Updated May 13, 2017 — 1.46pm first published at 1.38pm
Calls to raise the AFL draft age are growing louder, with current and former coaches, players and agents supporting the idea.
Players can be drafted and debut at 17, so long as they turn 18 in their first year on an AFL list.
Top draft pick, Essendon's 18-year-old Andy McGrath. Young footballers need life experience, say senior AFL figures. Credit:Paul Jeffers
Premiership-winning coach Paul Roos says football comes at the cost of education, while Blues boss Brendon Bolton believes "life experience" before entering the AFL is pivotal.
Recently retired legends Brent Harvey and Matthew Pavlich - now embarking on their first careers outside of footy - see the benefits.
And player agent Adam Ramanauskas has a model that he thinks could benefit players, the AFL and state leagues.
Roos said coaches didn't want players to have to compromise their education.
"Last year only one coach was strong on the draft age staying," he told News Corp.
"If it was up to senior coaches the draft age would be older ... it's just ridiculous we're asking kids to play school football, under-18 national championships, TAC Cup and do Year 12 (in one year)."
Bolton didn't lend complete support to the age being raised but said he saw benefits.
"If players are drafted (older), being able to give more life experiences as well as being a professional footballer is important," he said.
"It just gives more perspective and that value of gratitude. I like the idea of (having) life experiences not just being a professional footballer emerging."
Earlier this year, Pavlich said drafting kids at 18 brought "a risk of robbing young men of at least one or two important years of their life's development".
"A broader perspective on life is critical to long term success in the game," he said.
"I believe 19 or even 20 is the right age to be drafted."
Former Essendon midfielder turned agent Ramanauskas said his firm belief was that players were not ready at the current age.
"They should have the option of when they want to nominate - at 18, 19 or 20," he suggested on RSN Breakfast.
"If they nominate for the draft and don't get drafted they go into the state league comps so we strengthen ... the TAC Cup, the SANFL, the WAFL.
"Rather than a club sitting a player on their list for three, four, five years and pay exorbitant amount of money for him to develop there and not be ready."
Speaking on the same radio program, Harvey agreed.
"I reckon lifting the age to 19 still keeps the talent (in the system)," he said.
- AAP
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