AFL Pre-season Draft
Encyclopedia
The AFL Pre-season Draft is the drafting of uncontracted players to teams in the Australian Football League
. The draft is conducted after the National AFL Draft
and before the start of the next AFL season. It is conducted at the same time as the AFL rookie draft
. The pre-season draft is a place for any uncontracted players to nominate that missed the AFL Draft
or who were delisted after the main draft. It was first held in 1989 and has diminishing greatly in its importance - the last five years have only averaged 8 selections per year, compared to over 50 in each of the first five years. It is considered that the pre-season draft only still exists to protect the league from writs for restraint-of-trade.
finished last in the 2008 AFL season
, therefore receiving the first pick in each of the three drafts (National, pre-season and rookie). Teams have the choice of whether to participate in the pre-season draft, many clubs fill their playing list at the National Draft, and hence do not participate in the pre-season draft. Also, unlike the national draft, picks in the pre-season drafts cannot be traded between clubs.
s. Until 2008, due to the standard players contract expiring at the end of November, players who did not wish to sign a new contract with their current club were forced to enter the pre-season draft if they were unable to be traded to another club during the trade week held prior to the national draft. There is no free agency in the AFL to allow uncontracted players to easily move clubs. Delisted players had the option of nominating for either the national or pre-season drafts. In 2008 the rules were changed to also give uncontracted players the option of nominating for either draft. However, the number of players being selected after being delisted or coming out of contract is diminishing, as most teams are not prepared to pick them ahead of younger players.
The lack of free agency can become a powerful bargaining tool during trade week, as the team with the first pick can refuse a trade for a current uncontracted player at another club, and then recruit the player that wants to join their team for free with the first pick in the pre-season draft without giving anything to the other club. Conversely, the threat of losing a player for nothing into the pre-season draft can force a team to trade him for less than the player's true value.
The main reason for players not nominating in the National draft is that those who nominate for the Pre-season draft may set the terms for their contracts; in contrast, all players selected in the National Draft are not able to set a minimum acceptable contract period or salary.
Given that changes to each AFL club's playing list is strictly restricted to the three drafts and the trade week, the headline news following each pre-season draft is often who wasn't selected, as much as who was selected. In the 2005 draft this included that Shane Woewodin
, the 2000 Brownlow Medal
winner, was not selected, and hence would not play football at AFL level in 2006. In 2008, the main story was about whether another Brownlow Medallist, Ben Cousins
would be selected, which he subsequently was with Richmond's pick 6.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. The draft is conducted after the National AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
and before the start of the next AFL season. It is conducted at the same time as the AFL rookie draft
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
. The pre-season draft is a place for any uncontracted players to nominate that missed the AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
or who were delisted after the main draft. It was first held in 1989 and has diminishing greatly in its importance - the last five years have only averaged 8 selections per year, compared to over 50 in each of the first five years. It is considered that the pre-season draft only still exists to protect the league from writs for restraint-of-trade.
Eligibility
Clubs receive selections in the draft based on where the finished on the AFL ladder during the year, for example, MelbourneMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
finished last in the 2008 AFL season
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
, therefore receiving the first pick in each of the three drafts (National, pre-season and rookie). Teams have the choice of whether to participate in the pre-season draft, many clubs fill their playing list at the National Draft, and hence do not participate in the pre-season draft. Also, unlike the national draft, picks in the pre-season drafts cannot be traded between clubs.
Players
Historically, the pre-season draft has involved mostly recycled playerRecycled player
In the sport of Australian rules football, the term recycled player is used to refer to senior players who, unwanted by their original club, continue a career at a second....
s. Until 2008, due to the standard players contract expiring at the end of November, players who did not wish to sign a new contract with their current club were forced to enter the pre-season draft if they were unable to be traded to another club during the trade week held prior to the national draft. There is no free agency in the AFL to allow uncontracted players to easily move clubs. Delisted players had the option of nominating for either the national or pre-season drafts. In 2008 the rules were changed to also give uncontracted players the option of nominating for either draft. However, the number of players being selected after being delisted or coming out of contract is diminishing, as most teams are not prepared to pick them ahead of younger players.
The lack of free agency can become a powerful bargaining tool during trade week, as the team with the first pick can refuse a trade for a current uncontracted player at another club, and then recruit the player that wants to join their team for free with the first pick in the pre-season draft without giving anything to the other club. Conversely, the threat of losing a player for nothing into the pre-season draft can force a team to trade him for less than the player's true value.
The main reason for players not nominating in the National draft is that those who nominate for the Pre-season draft may set the terms for their contracts; in contrast, all players selected in the National Draft are not able to set a minimum acceptable contract period or salary.
Given that changes to each AFL club's playing list is strictly restricted to the three drafts and the trade week, the headline news following each pre-season draft is often who wasn't selected, as much as who was selected. In the 2005 draft this included that Shane Woewodin
Shane Woewodin
Shane Woewodin was an Australian rules football player who played 200 games with the Melbourne and Collingwood Football Clubs. He was the recipient of the Brownlow Medal in 2000.-Early career:...
, the 2000 Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
winner, was not selected, and hence would not play football at AFL level in 2006. In 2008, the main story was about whether another Brownlow Medallist, Ben Cousins
Ben Cousins
Benjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
would be selected, which he subsequently was with Richmond's pick 6.
Number 1 Picks
Number 1 picks in the Pre-season drafts are as follows. As the pre-season was originally held towards the end of the pre-season in January or February, the naming of the draft is based on the following season. This is different to the naming of the national draft (which occurs in November), which is named according to the season just completed. Hence the 2008 National Draft was held on 30 November 2008, whilst the 2008 Pre-season Draft was held on 11 December 2007.- 1989 - Brian WintonBrian WintonBrian J. Winton is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond, Essendon and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League ....
- 1990 - David ClokeDavid ClokeDavid Cloke is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL.Cloke was a powerful ruckman and occasional forward who enjoyed a marvellous career at two VFL/AFL clubs. He began with Oakleigh where he played alongside his brother Peter, and in 1974 he went to Richmond...
- 1991 - Michael McLeanMichael McLean (footballer)Michael "Magic" McLean is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with both Footscray and Brisbane in the VFL/AFL.- Early life :...
- 1992 - Ashley GreenAshley Green (footballer)Ashley Green is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League .Green was initially a 1989 VFL Draftee, chosen by Essendon with the 19th selection...
- 1993 - Richard OsborneRichard OsborneRichard Osborne is a former Australian rules footballer who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL/AFL. He played a total of 283 games in 17 seasons, and played with four different clubs, as well as representing Victoria 7 times in interstate competition.Originally from Bulleen/Templestowe, he...
- 1994 - Dermott BreretonDermott BreretonDermott Hugh Brereton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League, regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. Of Irish descent , he is known for his aggressive style of play. Brereton kicked 464 goals and played in five Premierships for during...
- 1995 - Paul RoosPaul Roos (Australian rules footballer)Paul Roos is a former Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL and Australian Football League.Playing the majority of his career with Fitzroy, Roos was one of the teams greats, captaining the side for a long time and was acknowledged as its best player for several seasons, being named...
- 1996 - Brian McInnes
- 1997 - Stephen PaxmanStephen Paxman-Fitzroy career :He began his career with the Fitzroy Football Club in 1991, he went on to play 102 games for the club before the club merged with Brisbane Lions.-Port Adelaide career :...
- 1998 - Jamie ShanahanJamie ShanahanJames "Jamie" Shanahan is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Melbourne in the Australian Football League .-Early career:...
- 1999 - David CalthorpeDavid CalthorpeDavid Calthorpe is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon, the Brisbane Lions and the Kangaroos in the AFL....
- 2000 - Shane O'BreeShane O'BreeShane O'Bree is a former professional Australian rules football player whose 246 game Australian Football League career was played with two clubs.- Early life :...
- 2001 - Brett VossBrett VossBrett Charles Voss is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Lions and the St Kilda Football Club.He was drafted by the Brisbane Bears as a zone selection in 1995...
- 2002 - Aaron LordAaron LordAaron Lord is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong and Hawthorn in the AFL.A forward pocket specialist, Lord made his league debut in 1994 with Geelong...
- 2003 - Stephen PowellStephen PowellStephen Powell was an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .A journeyman in the AFL, Powell made his debut with the Western Bulldogs as a 20-year-old in 1997. He became known as a solid player whose hardness at the ball was very valuable, continuing this role as the...
- 2004 - Jade RawlingsJade RawlingsJade Rawlings was the caretaker coach of the Richmond Tigers Football Club, and is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the AFL with the Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and the North Melbourne Football Clubs....
- 2005 - Trent KnobelTrent KnobelTrent Knobel is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Knobel, a ruckman originally from the Gold Coast, was recruited to the AFL in his home state with the Brisbane Lions onto their rookie list. He made his debut in 2000 after a rookie elevation...
- 2006 - Dylan McLaren
- 2007 - Cain AcklandCain AcklandCain Ackland is an Australian rules football player formerly in the Australian Football League.He was drafted by Port Adelaide in the second round of the 1999 AFL National Draft...
- 2008 - David GourdisDavid GourdisDavid Gourdis is an Australian rules football player for the Richmond Football Club. He was overlooked at the 2007 AFL Draft, despite ranking no.1 in the 20m sprint , and ranked no.1 in the running vertical jump , at the AFL Draft Camp in Canberra.The same year in December 2007, the Richmond...
- 2009 - Liam JurrahLiam JurrahLiam Jungarrayi Jurrah is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club....
- 2010 - Joel MacdonaldJoel MacdonaldJoel Macdonald is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League , having previously played for the Brisbane Lions.-Football career:...
- 2011 - Nathan AblettNathan AblettNathan Ablett is an Australian rules footballer who played for Gold Coast and Geelong in the Australian Football League...
Notable pre-season draft picks
- Ben Graham - #40 1992 Preseason Draft
- Justin PeckettJustin PeckettJustin "Frankie" Peckett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .Picked up by the Saints as an impressive 16-year-old, in 1990 Peckett won the St Kilda under 19's best and fairest and remained on the list for the 1991 season, before he was delisted at the end of the...
- #49 1992 Preseason Draft - Darryl WakelinDarryl WakelinDarryl Wakelin is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Port Adelaide in the Australian Football League as a defender.-St Kilda:...
- #11 1993 Pre-Season Draft - Craig McRaeCraig McRaeCraig McRae is a former Australian rules footballer.Originally from South Australian National Football League club Glenelg, McRae was drafted by AFL club Brisbane as the 22nd pick in the 1994 draft and had an immediate impact, kicking two goals in his first game in 1995, and played every game of...
- #22 1993 Pre-Season Draft - Paul RoosPaul Roos (Australian rules footballer)Paul Roos is a former Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL and Australian Football League.Playing the majority of his career with Fitzroy, Roos was one of the teams greats, captaining the side for a long time and was acknowledged as its best player for several seasons, being named...
- #1 1995 pre-season draft - Peter VardyPeter Vardy (footballer)Peter Vardy is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Adelaide and Melbourne in the AFL.A small forward, Vardy started his career at Adelaide where he was an AFL Rising Star nominee in 1997...
- #7 1995 Pre-Season Draft - Tyson Edwards - #21 1995 Pre-Season Draft
- Peter BellPeter F. BellPeter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team...
- #15 1996 Pre-Season Draft - Stephen PaxmanStephen Paxman-Fitzroy career :He began his career with the Fitzroy Football Club in 1991, he went on to play 102 games for the club before the club merged with Brisbane Lions.-Port Adelaide career :...
- #1 1997 pre-season draft - Simon GoodwinSimon GoodwinSimon Goodwin is a former Australian rules footballer, who is a dual premiership player with the Adelaide Football Club and is now an assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club.-Early career :...
- #18 1996 Pre-Season Draft - Shane WoewodinShane WoewodinShane Woewodin was an Australian rules football player who played 200 games with the Melbourne and Collingwood Football Clubs. He was the recipient of the Brownlow Medal in 2000.-Early career:...
- #18 1997 Pre-Season Draft - Joel SmithJoel SmithJoel Smith is a former Australian rules footballer.Beginning his career in 1995 as a bright young prospect for St Kilda, Smith was touted as the future of the club....
- #2 1998 Pre-Season Draft - Jared PoultonJared PoultonJared Poulton is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Debuting with the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1999, he was noted as an impact player...
- #5 1999 pre-season draft - Shane O'BreeShane O'BreeShane O'Bree is a former professional Australian rules football player whose 246 game Australian Football League career was played with two clubs.- Early life :...
- #1 2000 pre-season draft - Brett VossBrett VossBrett Charles Voss is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Lions and the St Kilda Football Club.He was drafted by the Brisbane Bears as a zone selection in 1995...
- #1 2001 Pre Season Draft - Craig BoltonCraig BoltonCraig Bolton is an Australian rules footballer who has played with the Brisbane Lions and the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League . He often plays at full back or on the half back flank...
- #3 2003 pre-season draft - Nick StevensNick StevensNick Stevens is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Originally from St Marys in the VMFL, Stevens was recruited in the 1997 AFL Draft to the Port Adelaide Football Club where he became a very prominent outside midfielder...
- #2 2004 pre-season draft - Jacob SurjanJacob SurjanJacob Adam Surjan is an Australian rules footballer of Croatian descent and current player of the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Early career:...
- #10 2004 pre-season draft - Josh MahoneyJosh MahoneyJoshua William Paul "Josh" Mahoney , is a former professional Australian rules footballer.- VFL career :After beginning his career in the TAC Cup with the Western Jets, Mahoney moved to the Williamstown Seagulls in the VFL, playing 19 games with them in 1996...
- #12 2004 pre-season draft - Eddie BettsEddie BettsEddie Betts is an Australian rules footballer playing for Carlton in the Australian Football League .-Early life:Betts grew up in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and played for the Mines Rovers Football Club...
- #3 2005 pre-season draft - Scott CamporealeScott CamporealeScott Camporeale is a former Australian rules footballer who spent the majority of his AFL career with the Carlton Football Club.-AFL career:...
- #4 2006 pre-season draft - Mal MichaelMal MichaelMalcolm Roberto "Mal" Michael is a former Australian rules footballer. He is notable for his successful professional Australian Football League career. Following a career spanned 238 games and three clubs in two Australian states he is best known as a triple premiership full-back with the...
- #2 2007 pre-season draft - Cameron ClokeCameron ClokeCameron Cloke is former Australian rules footballer. He is the son of former Richmond and Collingwood champion David Cloke.-AFL career:...
- #9 2007 pre-season draft - Scott WelshScott WelshScott Nathan Welsh is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League . He is the nephew of former Glenelg and North Melbourne player Kym Hodgeman, and cousin of former Glenelg and Richmond player Ben Moore.Debuting with the Kangaroos in 1996 as a 17-year-old,...
- #4 2008 pre-season draft - Ben CousinsBen CousinsBenjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
- #6 2009 pre-season draft - Nathan AblettNathan AblettNathan Ablett is an Australian rules footballer who played for Gold Coast and Geelong in the Australian Football League...
- #1 2011 pre-season draft - Bachar HouliBachar HouliBachar Houli is an Australian rules footballer for Richmond in the Australian Football League . Houli plays as a midfielder. He is the first devout Muslim to play in the AFL.- Early career :...
- #3 2011 pre-season draft - Cameron BruceCameron BruceCameron Bruce is a professional Australian rules football player, who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club after being selected by the Hawks in the Pre-season Draft, as was widely speculated to occur after he quit playing for the Melbourne Football Club, with whom he had played for 11 seasons, and...
- #5 2011 pre-season draft - John Anthony - #6 2011 pre-season draft