Coaches consider trading options
CARLTON coach David Teague says there would be complications with bringing in a player loan system, but he likes the mid-season draft and is not against the idea of a midseason trade period being introduced.
Three-time Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick put the loan system idea — which is commonplace in international soccer competitions — on the agenda on Wednesday, suggesting it could be a win-win for clubs who took part.
Hardwick said a player like developing Tigers’ ruckman Samson Ryan could be ‘loaned’ to a club like Gold Coast, which has had its ruck stocks decimated by injury.
The move would help the Suns with a short-term problem and help Richmond develop a player who otherwise would be unlikely to play AFL football this year.
However, Teague said that while the idea sounded good in theory, strict rules would need to be put around it for it to work in practice.
“It would be a different system for the AFL, but I do like the opportunity if it gives someone an opportunity and a chance to play AFL football,” Teague said.
“That’s what we want — we want the best product out there.
“But I’m not sure how it would go coming into finals if teams are going to loan some real quality players to finals teams and things like that. So there would be some rules around it.”
Teague said he was a big fan the mid-season draft and of would not have a problem if the AFL were to create a midseason trade period as well.
“If the AFL bring it in, then we’ll put some effort and energy around it,” Teague said when asked about the floated mid-season trade period.
“Right now, I like the idea of being able to add to your list in the middle of the year and give opportunity to players that are in good form outside the AFL system to get a chance to play AFL footy.
“At the end of the day we want to put the best product out on the oval.
“People work very hard to get on to an AFL list and if someone’s in form and they missed out through a draft at the start of the year and they’ve got a chance through a draft in the middle of the year, you’d love to see them get that opportunity.”