"State League" players to top for AFL Nab flog challenge

[Jim05]

First 5 announced
Mitch Brown
Patrenko
Clint Jones
James Magner
Mitch Clisby

Lol impressive list.

3 practice matches, dont think they require any ability lol
Jones might take out one or two of his ex team mates lol

[stan]

First 5 announced
Mitch Brown
Patrenko
Clint Jones
James Magner
Mitch Clisby

Lol impressive list.

3 practice matches, dont think they require any ability lol
Jones might take out one or two of his ex team mates lol

Lol perhaps. Could be interesting.

[stan]

I think this thread might be better of in the AFL section. Could one of the mods please move it.

[Wedgie]

I think this thread might be better of in the AFL section. Could one of the mods please move it.

I think its fair enough to be here and maybe a similar discussion there as it impacts on SANFL clubs and their players

[on the rails]

Essendon sign Lewis Johnston also and North's recruiting is rooted!

[PhilH]

From Eagles Twitter;

Contrary to reports there has been no agreement reached between Petrenko, WWTFC and the Bombers. We will keep you updated ‪#‎wwtfc‬

[locky801]

Essendon sign Lewis Johnston also and North's recruiting is rooted!

YEP sure is, but hopefully Lewis will decline the offer

[Aerie]

It would likely be longer than the NAB Cup wouldn't it? Presuming the Essendon players cop the ban. What a mess.

Anyway, good luck to any individual player that gets a chance on the big stage again. After all, that is what it is all about...

[redden whites]

make the pricks pay a transfer fee .

[Mr Fuller]

Seriously, what (if any) compensation would SANFL clubs get from Essendon (or AFL?) if players sign these 'temporary contracts' ?

It seems to me that that AFL have signed off on this deal without giving a stuff about the clubs that will be affected in this i.e. Norwood, Eagles, North etc. Not really surprising I guess.

I don't blame the players for chasing the opportunity but the unknown duration of these contacts at this late stage is atrocious. Given the ASADA invetsigation has been dragging on for a couple of years now, is it likely that the penalty of the Essendon players will be known in the next month? If not, will the SANFL players be signed for just the NAB cup or beyond?

This situation is absolutly farcical.

[locky801]

from the NAFC website

http://www.nafc.com.au/newsevents?target=latestnews

click on full article once the page opens

[on the rails]

According to ch 9 news Lewis Johnston set to join also. If this extends into season proper then North lose their two key recruits for 2015 so the impact is massive but regardless of $$$ compensation and freeing up salary cap space where the hell do you get equal replacements 6 weeks out from start of season??? YOU CAN'T!!!

Afl continues to **** the lower leagues and the SANFL bends over again!

[Jim05]

Cant see it extending into the season proper but you never know, id be disappointed if top up players didnt return to their SANFL clubs in time for the start of the SANFL season

[on the rails]

The AFL don't give a shit if you read the NAFC release - Essendon didn't even have the decency to contact North directly and to date have not engaged with the NAFC!

[locky801]

And let alone the injury risk, yes i know it can happen anytime anywhere but if SANFL Clubs lose a couple of their "Star Players" for the season what comeback are they going to have.

This is going to open up a minefield

[Squawk]

Where do you start with this - the whole situation is absolutely farcical.
Essendon has brought the game into disrepute and found guilty of such by the AFL. Penalty? "Booted out" of 2013 finals series, a $2m fine and loss of draft picks. Their head coach got suspended for 12 months yet IIRC Hird was paid during this period, with AFL knowledge? As for loss of draft picks - the same happens for salary cap breaches and IMHO drug use is much worse.
Fast forward to 2015. Now the above penalty looks ridiculously light. The sanctions meant the AFL wasn't penalised under the TV rights deal for not having 9 games a week. They also seem to mean that Essendon was not forced as a club to miss any football either - because now we have a situation where 25 guys are sitting out to protect 18 identities. WTF for? What does this mean for their salaries? And the salary cap when 25 players have to get paid something plus payments need to be made to 'top up' players? And then they are also sitting out in the hope any penalties are backdated? FFS. If you get reported and go to the Tribunal you get suspended for matches and/or fined. But if it's drugs, the penalty will be backdated and be time based rather than league games as part of the home and away and/or finals series?
And then the top up players - as others have said, ultimately it is other feeder comps that will suffer. And who does this all ultimately benefit? The AFL itself who is simply making up the "rules" as it goes along, to satisfy the AFLPA and broadcast rights holders.

[Wedgie]

Im only shitty about the fact some players will to be replace players who aren't even suspended.
Yes they're doing the noble thing but for standing out of AFL games when they're eligible to play they should cop at least a year of deregistering.
Unforgivable IMHO.
Essendon are now up there with the Crows and Port for ******* us around and should be hated by all SANFL fans.

[Jim05]

Can definately see everyones point. When the use of top up players was first mooted by the AFL, Essendon put in a submission to use local players and VFL reserves players. For some reason the AFL knocked it on the head and decided that all top up players must be from a state league club and have been on an AFL list in the last two years, this narrows the pool significantly.
I still dont understand why the other players refuse to play, its not as if everyone doesnt know who the ones with infraction notices are, been public knowledge for some time

[Squawk]

Can definately see everyones point. When the use of top up players was first mooted by the AFL, Essendon put in a submission to use local players and VFL reserves players. For some reason the AFL knocked it on the head and decided that all top up players must be from a state league club and have been on an AFL list in the last two years, this narrows the pool significantly.
I still dont understand why the other players refuse to play, its not as if everyone doesnt know who the ones with infraction notices are, been public knowledge for some time

Clearly the AFL wants to preserve some sort of capability integrity - they don't want lowly teams smashing them by 20 goals or no one will turn up or watch it on TV either! Too many angry stakeholders......

[Jim05]

Can definately see everyones point. When the use of top up players was first mooted by the AFL, Essendon put in a submission to use local players and VFL reserves players. For some reason the AFL knocked it on the head and decided that all top up players must be from a state league club and have been on an AFL list in the last two years, this narrows the pool significantly.
I still dont understand why the other players refuse to play, its not as if everyone doesnt know who the ones with infraction notices are, been public knowledge for some time

Clearly the AFL wants to preserve some sort of capability integrity - they don't want lowly teams smashing them by 20 goals or no one will turn up or watch it on TV either! Too many angry stakeholders......

Its practice matches!
Not even playing for a Cup anymore, just a series of glorified trial games. Most teams rest 3/4 of their players anyway and play kids