bornadog
21-03-2014, 09:27 AM
Emma Quayle (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/by/Emma-Quayle)Football writer with The Age
Clubs have been angered by an AFL directive that they can no longer interview potential draftees unless they notify the league in advance.
In a tightening of draft rules aimed at protecting player welfare, clubs have been warned that they risk being investigated unless they let the AFL know where and when they plan to meet with any teenage prospects.
Clubs who use aggressive interviewing techniques are on notice, with the AFL also clamping down on those who defy existing rules by conducting their own medical, physical or psychological evaluations of players.
Concerned at the number of draftees being asked to complete multiple psychological surveys for numerous teams, the AFL has told clubs they must lodge any forms or questionnaires with the league before providing them to players.
While some clubs did not see the changes as a huge impediment, several recruiting managers told The Age they considered the crackdown over-the-top and would rather be sanctioned than alert the league to a potential "smokey" selection in the draft.
"If I've got a player I think no one else knows about, there's no way I'm telling the AFL I'm talking to him. I'll take the fine," said one recruiting manager.
Added another: "It's crazy. It's impossible to see what the AFL would get out of having a log of who's talking to who. It's far too controlling. It's a punishment for being thorough."
Under the tightened rules, clubs must email AFL talent academies manager Michael Ablett before they intend to conduct any "structured" interviews with 18- or 19-year-old players, notifying him of where the interview will take place, when, and how long it is expected to last.
In a memo circulated on Wednesday clubs were told they were "currently given permission by the AFL to freely interview players they have an interest in". Clubs can interview players at any time of the year, except when they are sitting school exams.
The memo also reminded clubs of their obligation to "treat all players with respect when it comes to the line of questioning, along with techniques and tactics employed".
The AFL has been concerned at feedback received from draftees in the last couple of years, with some feeling intimidated by club staff in interviews.
The memo said all AFL club staff present at interviews "must be introduced to the player and their role within the AFL club clearly communicated".
The AFL conducts all of the medical, physical and psychological testing of draft prospects at the annual draft combine and state screening sessions, and distributes the data to all clubs. Clubs can then request follow-up medical assessments or scans.
Ablett said the AFL planned to work with clubs to improve its management and distribution of this information, with clubs believing they should have access to psychological profiles, in particular, earlier than they currently receive them.
He said any information provided to the AFL about which players were being interviewed would be shared only with the players' state league club, but that the league wanted to gather information on how many times clubs were going back to see players.
The AFL is beginning a review of the entire talented player pathway program, which is operating under the direction of the football operations department again this year.
"We're not trying to prevent clubs from working as hard as they can or from looking for a competitive edge. This is about putting strong guidelines in place for the betterment of the players," Ablett said.
"We've been aware over the past few years that whether it be psychological, physical or medical testing, clubs have been doing things that may be outside protocol, and we're now much better resourced to take action.
"We don't want kids to be breaking down in interviews or filling out questionnaires for 16 clubs when there's no need for that to happen. But we'll work with clubs on what's fair and reasonable, we're not walking around with an iron fist."
The AFL last year fined Essendon $20,000, with half suspended, after the club had a handful of players train ahead of the rookie draft before lodging the appropriate paperwork with the AFL.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/clubs-angry-as-afl-takes-control-of-predraft-interview-process-20140320-hvkie.html#ixzz2wXpByLSB
Clubs have been angered by an AFL directive that they can no longer interview potential draftees unless they notify the league in advance.
In a tightening of draft rules aimed at protecting player welfare, clubs have been warned that they risk being investigated unless they let the AFL know where and when they plan to meet with any teenage prospects.
Clubs who use aggressive interviewing techniques are on notice, with the AFL also clamping down on those who defy existing rules by conducting their own medical, physical or psychological evaluations of players.
Concerned at the number of draftees being asked to complete multiple psychological surveys for numerous teams, the AFL has told clubs they must lodge any forms or questionnaires with the league before providing them to players.
While some clubs did not see the changes as a huge impediment, several recruiting managers told The Age they considered the crackdown over-the-top and would rather be sanctioned than alert the league to a potential "smokey" selection in the draft.
"If I've got a player I think no one else knows about, there's no way I'm telling the AFL I'm talking to him. I'll take the fine," said one recruiting manager.
Added another: "It's crazy. It's impossible to see what the AFL would get out of having a log of who's talking to who. It's far too controlling. It's a punishment for being thorough."
Under the tightened rules, clubs must email AFL talent academies manager Michael Ablett before they intend to conduct any "structured" interviews with 18- or 19-year-old players, notifying him of where the interview will take place, when, and how long it is expected to last.
In a memo circulated on Wednesday clubs were told they were "currently given permission by the AFL to freely interview players they have an interest in". Clubs can interview players at any time of the year, except when they are sitting school exams.
The memo also reminded clubs of their obligation to "treat all players with respect when it comes to the line of questioning, along with techniques and tactics employed".
The AFL has been concerned at feedback received from draftees in the last couple of years, with some feeling intimidated by club staff in interviews.
The memo said all AFL club staff present at interviews "must be introduced to the player and their role within the AFL club clearly communicated".
The AFL conducts all of the medical, physical and psychological testing of draft prospects at the annual draft combine and state screening sessions, and distributes the data to all clubs. Clubs can then request follow-up medical assessments or scans.
Ablett said the AFL planned to work with clubs to improve its management and distribution of this information, with clubs believing they should have access to psychological profiles, in particular, earlier than they currently receive them.
He said any information provided to the AFL about which players were being interviewed would be shared only with the players' state league club, but that the league wanted to gather information on how many times clubs were going back to see players.
The AFL is beginning a review of the entire talented player pathway program, which is operating under the direction of the football operations department again this year.
"We're not trying to prevent clubs from working as hard as they can or from looking for a competitive edge. This is about putting strong guidelines in place for the betterment of the players," Ablett said.
"We've been aware over the past few years that whether it be psychological, physical or medical testing, clubs have been doing things that may be outside protocol, and we're now much better resourced to take action.
"We don't want kids to be breaking down in interviews or filling out questionnaires for 16 clubs when there's no need for that to happen. But we'll work with clubs on what's fair and reasonable, we're not walking around with an iron fist."
The AFL last year fined Essendon $20,000, with half suspended, after the club had a handful of players train ahead of the rookie draft before lodging the appropriate paperwork with the AFL.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/clubs-angry-as-afl-takes-control-of-predraft-interview-process-20140320-hvkie.html#ixzz2wXpByLSB