TonyK
CibbuanoAFL won't change draft system, says Demetriou
June 20th 2008 06:26
THE AFL will not be bullied into changing the draft system because of the media beat-up surrounding the issue of tanking, according to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.
The issue reared its ugly head again with West Coast coach John Worsfold angrily denying claims his side had ‘tanked’ Friday night’s game against Essendon after withdrawing Daniel Kerr, Michael Braun and Chad Fletcher from the 22.
Demetriou described allegations of tanking as “demeaning” and “bemusing” and warned the media clubs could take legal action against what could be judged as slanderous accusations.
"The sooner we stop talking about it [tanking] and people stop speculating and casting doubts over clubs and moves and who's being left out [the better],” Demetriou said.
“Let's get on with concentrating on football because it's a nonsensical argument and one that people should really start to consider when they talk about it because it won't be long before someone at a club takes action against someone for inferring what's going on,” Demetriou said.
"I don't believe it's [changing the draft system] the appropriate course of action to respond to media nonsense or people criticising the issue when we've had a successful draft for the past 20-odd years.
“This competition is going particularly well. We should remind ourselves of that and the day we start changing rules on inference and nonsense being peddled around is the day we should give it away.”
Demetriou rated the current draft system a success, saying it created a more level playing field for each ofthe 16 clubs.
“The draft is a huge success over a 20-year period. Every club since 1999 has made the preliminary final, so to now be talking about the context of tanking in relation to who gets pick one is a nonsense,” he said.
"Last year and every year we set our clocks and by about round 12 or 13 [the issue of tanking has arisen].
“I could've sworn the last couple of years it's always been about the priority pick, but given now that no club qualifies for the priority pick, Richmond and Carlton, it's now turned to the actual (issue of) who's going to get the first pick.
“I find the whole conversation pathetic. I think it demeans our clubs and I've never subscribed to the theory. There's not much difference between picks one, three or four - in particular in this year's draft.”
The issue reared its ugly head again with West Coast coach John Worsfold angrily denying claims his side had ‘tanked’ Friday night’s game against Essendon after withdrawing Daniel Kerr, Michael Braun and Chad Fletcher from the 22.
Demetriou described allegations of tanking as “demeaning” and “bemusing” and warned the media clubs could take legal action against what could be judged as slanderous accusations.
"The sooner we stop talking about it [tanking] and people stop speculating and casting doubts over clubs and moves and who's being left out [the better],” Demetriou said.
“Let's get on with concentrating on football because it's a nonsensical argument and one that people should really start to consider when they talk about it because it won't be long before someone at a club takes action against someone for inferring what's going on,” Demetriou said.
"I don't believe it's [changing the draft system] the appropriate course of action to respond to media nonsense or people criticising the issue when we've had a successful draft for the past 20-odd years.
“This competition is going particularly well. We should remind ourselves of that and the day we start changing rules on inference and nonsense being peddled around is the day we should give it away.”
Demetriou rated the current draft system a success, saying it created a more level playing field for each ofthe 16 clubs.
“The draft is a huge success over a 20-year period. Every club since 1999 has made the preliminary final, so to now be talking about the context of tanking in relation to who gets pick one is a nonsense,” he said.
"Last year and every year we set our clocks and by about round 12 or 13 [the issue of tanking has arisen].
“I could've sworn the last couple of years it's always been about the priority pick, but given now that no club qualifies for the priority pick, Richmond and Carlton, it's now turned to the actual (issue of) who's going to get the first pick.
“I find the whole conversation pathetic. I think it demeans our clubs and I've never subscribed to the theory. There's not much difference between picks one, three or four - in particular in this year's draft.”
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