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ALASTAIR CLARKSON DISMISSES DRAFT REBUILD, ADMITS FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE AFL
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has lashed the AFL for not providing details on what list sizes will look like next year and once again declared his scepticism of the draft.
The Hawks became the first team to lose to Adelaide in 2020 on Tuesday evening and were comfortably beaten by the 0-13 side.
A frustrated Clarkson believes the AFL should have already given clubs clarity on list sizes for 2021, with cuts expected given the impact of COVID-19.
"I can't understand what the delay is on that," the Hawthorn coach said post-game.
"So please, AFL, give us some information. We need it badly."
Hawthorn has repeatedly been urged to rebuild via the draft by experts and greats of the club given their ageing list and 2020 struggles.
Clarkson however believes the AFL has created a draft system so compromised by Academy access that clubs can’t rebuild using it.
Numerous top prospects in the 2020 National Draft are already bound to clubs thanks to the Academy systems, including likely number one pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs) via the Next Generation Academy and Braeden Campbell (Sydney) via the Sydney Academy.
"It's a bug-bear of mine ... this talk of maybe Queensland getting the Grand Final and wouldn't it be great for the code up there," Clarkson said.
"Yet there's two clubs up there that get the whole state in terms of access to junior talent.
"Sydney and GWS share the whole of New South Wales in terms of any talent that comes through that state. And Brisbane and Gold Coast do it to the north.
"When there's that sort of compromise in what is meant to be an equal national competition, it makes it very, very difficult to find the talent necessary to give yourself a really good chance.
"Gold Coast has got access to parts of Northern Territory as well so any significant Aboriginal talent like Cyril Rioli is going to come through the Gold Coast system.
"That is going to make it enormously difficult for a lot of other clubs like North Melbourne and us ... to find our path back.
"It's sounding like I am sooking about whether we can bounce and we will, but it just makes it more difficult.
"People say 'oh, why don't you just rebuild, just go to the draft'.
"You can't go to the draft, it's so compromised.
"So you have to do it with other mechanisms, free agency, depths of your rookie lists."
The AFL will reportedly make changes to Next Generation Academy access in future years, making at least the first round of the draft less compromised.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has lashed the AFL for not providing details on what list sizes will look like next year and once again declared his scepticism of the draft.
The Hawks became the first team to lose to Adelaide in 2020 on Tuesday evening and were comfortably beaten by the 0-13 side.
A frustrated Clarkson believes the AFL should have already given clubs clarity on list sizes for 2021, with cuts expected given the impact of COVID-19.
"I can't understand what the delay is on that," the Hawthorn coach said post-game.
"So please, AFL, give us some information. We need it badly."
Hawthorn has repeatedly been urged to rebuild via the draft by experts and greats of the club given their ageing list and 2020 struggles.
Clarkson however believes the AFL has created a draft system so compromised by Academy access that clubs can’t rebuild using it.
Numerous top prospects in the 2020 National Draft are already bound to clubs thanks to the Academy systems, including likely number one pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs) via the Next Generation Academy and Braeden Campbell (Sydney) via the Sydney Academy.
"It's a bug-bear of mine ... this talk of maybe Queensland getting the Grand Final and wouldn't it be great for the code up there," Clarkson said.
"Yet there's two clubs up there that get the whole state in terms of access to junior talent.
"Sydney and GWS share the whole of New South Wales in terms of any talent that comes through that state. And Brisbane and Gold Coast do it to the north.
"When there's that sort of compromise in what is meant to be an equal national competition, it makes it very, very difficult to find the talent necessary to give yourself a really good chance.
"Gold Coast has got access to parts of Northern Territory as well so any significant Aboriginal talent like Cyril Rioli is going to come through the Gold Coast system.
"That is going to make it enormously difficult for a lot of other clubs like North Melbourne and us ... to find our path back.
"It's sounding like I am sooking about whether we can bounce and we will, but it just makes it more difficult.
"People say 'oh, why don't you just rebuild, just go to the draft'.
"You can't go to the draft, it's so compromised.
"So you have to do it with other mechanisms, free agency, depths of your rookie lists."
The AFL will reportedly make changes to Next Generation Academy access in future years, making at least the first round of the draft less compromised.
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