'Doing hi-fives, heel clicks': AFL's 'messy, murky' compo slammed ...

The AFL’s “messy” compensation system has come under fire amid claims clubs are exploiting the mysterious formula to get themselves picks worth more than the player themselves.

North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings made the big call that if his club don’t get pick 3 as compensation for Ben McKay, then they’d hold onto the wantaway defender.

Those comments sparked a heated discussion on AFL Trade Radio with Damien Barrett, and former AFL stars Josh Jenkins and Phil Davis all agreeing the current system was not a “true” reflection of a player’s worth.

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Barrett said the fact Adelaide was handed what is currently pick 19 as compensation for Tom Doedee walking to Brisbane highlighted the “extraordinary” system.

“Tom Doedee – two reconstructions on the knee, has been offered only two years at the Adelaide Crows. Brisbane Lions have swooped and now offered him a deal. Adelaide elected not to match. It would have been staggering had they opted to match because what Adelaide get for losing Tom Doedee is an end of first round selection … that is an extraordinary compensation for some one the Adelaide Crows were only going to give two years of contract to,” he said.

“I’d imagine they were doing hi-fives, some heel clicks and other forms of celebrations behind the scenes.

“I know GWS, or believe GWS was equally very ecstatic with what the AFL determined the loss of Matt Flynn to West Coast was (currently pick 40).

“Matt Flynn hadn’t played footy for the whole back half of this year! Giants will get an end of second round selection for Matt Flynn who played less than half a season this year, has not been able to establish himself as a regular AFL player in his time in the game.

“James Jordon, really nice player … Melbourne got an end of second round for losing him (currently pick 39).

“This whole compensation component to the trade movement, to me it just gets more messy and murkier by the year.

“I would argue the compensation is now too high for these clubs. It’s become too much.

“I don’t agree (McKay is) worth that (pick 3). But if Tom Doedee is worth for Adelaide pick 19 … That is the situation that the 2023 model has now created.”

Jenkins said he disagreed with the “silliness” of the “out of kilter” compensation system and said it should be scrapped entirely.

“When you’ve got players who aren’t getting a game on merit for their club and are seeking opportunity elsewhere, or the club has headhunted them, but to see them moving for a second-round pick is just so strange. It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever because it’s not a true reflection – they are not getting a game on merit,” he said.

“We are kept from the truth about what really happens at AFL House in terms of how these things are dictated to.

“That’s why I strongly land with scrap it altogether.

“You shouldn’t be rewarded for losing a player if you can’t keep them.”

Davis said while he wanted a compensation system to remain, he didn’t agree with the way it was being exploited by clubs.

“When you are lobbying before it even happens, it doesn’t make much sense,” he explained.

“I don’t like it when that is how it becomes constructed – that is not how it’s supposed to be.

“The theory of matching a bid was actually to try and keep a player that was restricted. We know that’s not how it’s used now.”

Ralph explained that Doedee was only offered a two-year deal at the Crows worth an estimated $250,000 after the defender’s season-ending knee injury.

“Collingwood and Brisbane got into a bidding war – my understanding is the deal’s four years with a fifth year trigger at about $680,000 … Almost triple the Adelaide offer,” he explained on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“It is astonishing.”