In a time when adversaries can turn quickly into allies and vice versa, Essendon have found common cause with Carlton on the issue of the draft rules, in particular for father-sons.
The Bombers have joined the Blues in pushing hard for the AFL hierarchy to rethink the plan to change the draft bidding rules for father-sons. Under an energetic new president in Andrew Welsh, the Bombers have made a powerful case for the status quo to remain until the drafts compromised by Tasmania’s entry are completed.
Welsh confirmed on Monday that Essendon’s position on the proposed changes – which the AFL has put on hold lately – was the “same as Carlton”, their ancient foe. Both clubs have talented prospective father-sons, Cody Walker (Carlton) and Koby Bewick (son of Essendon dual premiership player Darren), in 2026 and 2027 respectively, and don’t want the rule changed until they’ve had their lick of the ice cream.
“Push it back. Post the compromise, post-Tasmania,” Welsh told this masthead of the father-son and draft rules (which include academies).
“I don’t understand what the reason to be doing it now is. We put a lot of time into the programs, as clubs do, to help nurture father-son talent, put a lot of time into developing them because, for me, the family lineage within football clubs is something special to our game.
“And if the AFL looked to be changing that I don’t think the right time is now. We’re already coming to a challenging period with the expansion team and compromise drafts. I think it’s a lot to take on.”
Welsh has been quietly lobbying the AFL, which likewise has a new chairman in Craig Drummond. Drummond is certainly listening to the pitch, which the Bombers and Blues – with Port Adelaide (who have Doug Cochrane, an elite NGA recruit this year) – have pushed as a matter of fairness.
Essendon had access to the Davey brothers, sons of Alwyn, as late picks. Neither made it as long-term players. Their last gun son was the laconic scion of the Daniher clan, Joe Daniher, who escaped a struggling Essendon to flourish in Brisbane.
The AFL had been prepared to bring in the new rules, which would make it much more expensive for clubs to draft father-son and academy players who attract early bids. For example, Port calculated that it would potentially cost them picks four and eight or thereabouts to select Cochrane, if he was bid at pick No 1. In effect, it could wipe out whatever return they garnered for Zak Butters if (or more likely, when) he leaves this year.
The Essendon and Carlton case is built on the notion that other clubs have prospered under father-son and academy rules – Brisbane spectacularly so in 2022, Collingwood, the Dogs and Geelong previously (plus the Swans and Suns academies) – and that to change it when they have their turn is unfair. Neither they, nor Port, are saying that the rule shouldn’t change. They want a stay of execution for the old rule.
Welsh also has added the angle that unlocking Essendon’s vast and latent supporter base is a goldmine for the competition (ditto for Carlton, who at least played in a preliminary final in 2023).
“I’ve really felt that they’re [the AFL] looking and wanting to help support us in any way they can,” said Welsh, who felt Drummond and the executive were receptive. “Because regardless of what people say, a good Essendon is a good AFL. We’ve got over a million supporters around the country… we are everywhere. Over a period of time, a lot of them have just become immobilised.
“Where we look at the growth of the game into new territory and all these new parts of Queensland and NSW, we’ve got a million supporters that are immobilised…that’s a big growth area for not just our club but the AFL.”
Three of Melbourne’s biggest four clubs – Essendon, Carlton and Richmond – are in the ladder’s lower reaches, while the Collingwood cash cow might be heading into recession, too. In the days of Andrew Demetriou, such a scenario would be short odds to end with a pragmatic decision that helped the struggling powerhouses get up the ladder.
What will Drummond’s commission do? It is no longer a fait accompli, as this column had been told, that the rule will change to the one that almost everyone agrees should come in. Wisely, Essendon and Carlton’s argument is about a delay, not a scrapping of the rule change.
There is already a delay on the decision. Racing followers know that the longer punters wait for the outcome of a protest, the more likely it will be upheld.
Bewick is only one player, even if he’s exceptional. Welsh’s position on the current Dons list is that every player should have the opportunity to be a premiership player.
“We believe every player on our list will have the opportunity to play in our next Premiership. Our oldest player at the moment is Zach [Merrett].
“So we believe what we’re building, and the playing list that we’ve built and will continue to build, will give every player the ability to have an opportunity to play in our next premiership.”
Wisely, Welsh would not be pinned down on timelines at a club that hasn’t won a final since the Iraq War. “If we were to say we were going to win a premiership or be in contention by this date, it’s just not [what] the reality is. We don’t want to be lying to our club and to our fans around putting unrealistic expectations, but we’re not hiding from the expectations.”
Welsh said a new five-year plan would be put forward at Essendon, which will begin from 2027.
Whether Brad Scott endures beyond his contract, as Welsh clearly wishes, or not, the plan for which there are few, if any, shortcuts seems likely to endure under this president and board.
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Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.